Winning is essential to be a world-beater, kindness is not. A ruthless streak is compulsory for conquerors, compassion is optional. We might notice people for their achievements, but we remember them for their grace.
In a quirk of fate, the journeys of two legends, united by a common creed, came to an end on consecutive days. Ratan Tata, India’s most admired industrialist and philanthropist, passed away on October 9 and Rafael Nadal, Spain’s tennis superstar, announced his retirement the following day.
Both were guided by a timeless set of values and an inviolable personal code of conduct. Both rose to the top of their respective professions, giving 100 per cent of themselves every single day, engaging with kings without ever losing the common touch.
There is no comparison when it comes to their impact – Tata built a world-class multinational conglomerate, shaped multiple fledgling industries, and positively impacted the course of a developing country with his accomplishments. Nadal, in his own self-effacing words, was a commoner, “I’m a normal and common person,” he once told El Espanol. “I don’t see myself as a role model of anything. I’m just a guy who plays tennis well.”
The greatest legacies are not left by those who strive to etch their names into history — a fleeting and misguided pursuit given the transient nature of life. Enduring legacies are the outcome of lives lived with a strong moral compass. Over time, these legacies become more visible, revealed by the actions and values of future generations.
On hearing of the Spaniard’s retirement, current world number one Jannik Sinner (whose stoic demeanour under pressure is so reminiscent of Nadal), said- “He’s an unbelievable person. He taught us young players how to behave on the court, how to handle situations on the court … Also to stay humble at the same time, not changing with his success.”
The Tata Group’s global reputation for integrity and honesty is a legacy of the principles established by Jamshedji Tata and upheld with unwavering commitment by Ratan Tata.
Nadal will also be remembered for an unusual reason. His warm friendship with Roger Federer — one of his fiercest rivals — throughout their playing days. In sporting competition, or competition of any kind for that matter, rivals are expected to annihilate one another, and advised to avoid any personal equation that could be exploited in the battlefield. Post retirement, we are happy to see former foes on cordial terms, making polite noises about how they pushed each other to greater heights. Jimmy Connors famously snarled when speaking of his arch rival Bjorn Borg, “I’ll chase that son of a b—h to the ends of the earth”. Meanwhile Nadal — tired of being questioned by a puzzled press about his friendship with Federer — once clarified: “I don’t want to look like I’m gonna be his boyfriend!”.
Their bond was proof that fierce competitors can also be great friends, united by shared values and a deep appreciation for one another’s skills and personalities. The lasting visual memory of their rivalry will not be a moment on court, but that of the two ageing lions, holding hands and weeping at Federer’s farewell ceremony during the Laver Cup in 2022.
It is also perhaps worth recalling that a principled set of values and clarity about what really matters in life is not something that we’re born with. Formative influences during childhood are vital, and both Nadal and Tata were fortunate to be shaped by family members of uncommon integrity.
Ratan Tata had the life-affirming support of his grandmother: “My grandmother raised us in every way. Shortly after my mother remarried, boys at school started saying all kinds of things about us — constantly and aggressively. But our grandmother taught us to maintain our dignity at all costs, a value that has stayed with me to this day.”
Nadal had the deeply pragmatic worldview of his uncle Toni, a brutal task master but also an empathetic soul, always informing his inner voice. Toni reminded his nephew: “When you think you are the king of the world, you are really stupid in my opinion because in this life every single person is important.”
In a world that seems to reward boastfulness, attention-seeking, and division, we were fortunate to witness the dignity, inclusivity, and warmth of these remarkably gracious icons. The words of Australian poet Adam Lindsay Gordon come to mind when thinking of their legacies: “Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own.”
The writer is a marketing and consumer research professional
