Fact Check: Viral message attributed to Ratan Tata is false

Ratan Tata is famous not just for his successful industrial ventures but also for his wisdom and philanthropy. However, many fake inspirational quotes attributed to him have been doing the rounds of social media.

One such message has gone viral and a few mainstream media websites have even reported the same. The message in Hindi reads:

"नमस्कार सम्मानित साथियों। वर्ष 2020 जीवित रहने का साल है ना की लाभ -हानि की गणना करने का या चिंता करने का। यह बात सम्मानित रतन टाटा ने अपने संदेश में 100% सही कही है। आइए- लॉक डाउन का पालन करते हुए अपने सभी भाई बंधुओं रिश्ते नाते दारों के बीच सतर्क रहें! सुरक्षित रहें! घर पर रहे! सामाजिक दूरी का पालन करें! मास्क पहने!तभी हम वर्ष 2021 में अपनों के साथ अपना जन्मदिन मना पाएंगे। -परम पिता परमेश्वर से इसी कामना के साथ आपका दोस्त"

In English it translates to: "2020 is the year to survive and not worry about profits and losses. It is important to be alive and not talk about plans and dreams. Ratan Tata has said this in his message. Let's stay alert during the lockdown...Stay safe! Stay at home! Follow social distancing! Wear Masks! Only then will be we able to celebrate our birthday in 2021 with our loved ones."

Dainik Savera, a local news media website, published a report about Mr Tata's "message" and also uploaded a video on 3 May on YouTube.

The Hindi edition of Prabhat Khabar also carried this news on 3 May.

The same has been shared by several Twitter users.

Fact Check:

Mr Tata, on Twitter, clarified that it is a fake quote that has been attributed to him. "I'm afraid this too, has not been said by me. I will endeavour to call out fake news whenever I can, but would encourage you to always verify news sources. My picture alongside a quote does not guarantee me having said it, a problem that many people face," he tweeted.

Many news media outlets, including Economic Times and Hindustan Times also rubbished the fake quote.

Therefore, the viral message that claims to be a quote from Ratan Tata is FALSE.