A moving video of Ratan Tata's final speech at the Dibrugarh Cancer Centre in Assam has gone viral on social media. The speech was delivered in April 2022 when Ratan Tata attended the inauguration of the centre, with PM Narendra Modi in attendance. A frail-looking Tata admitted to not knowing Hindi "well" during the speech: "I cannot speak Hindi well, so I will speak in English." However, shortly afterwards, he spoke in broken Hindi.
In his speech, Tata praised PM Narendra Modi, saying, "This Prime Minister and his government have achieved many great advances, and it is humbling and, at the same time, a quest of great pride to know that this event today is a culmination of many months of very advanced thinking."
The video has been widely shared online after his death. The Dibrugarh Cancer Centre was built by the Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) in partnership with the state government and Tata Trusts. It is part of a plan to set up 17 medical centres in Assam.
The viral video shows the 84-year-old Tata, with the help of an announcer, walking up to the microphone. Addressing the crowd, he called the opening of cancer hospitals a significant day for Assam. "Today, Assam can tell the world that a small state in India can treat cancer."
He also thanked PM Modi, saying, "I thank the Modi government for not forgetting Assam, and I hope this state will move forward. India's flag, and India will progress."
86-year-old Ratan Tata died at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai on October 9. His funeral was held with state honours in Mumbai on Thursday.