Cyrus and I shared a laugh last month on a bench in London, says former strategy head of Tata Sons

• Captains of India Inc came out in droves to express shock over Cyrus Mistry’s death.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Mistry was a business leader who believed in India’s economic prowess.
• Cyrus Mistry was a warm, friendly, and congenial person who built a strong relationship with the TCS family, said a statement by the company.
• Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asks police to conduct a detailed investigation into the road accident that killed Cyrus Mistry.

From disbelief to grief, the sudden death of Cyrus Mistry, the former boss of Tata Sons, evoked many reactions from people from all walks of life. Many from corporate India took to social networking platform Twitter to express their shock, while many of his friends contacted by BI said they were in a state of shock and could not comment on the matter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his tweet said: “The untimely demise of Shri Cyrus Mistry is shocking. He was a promising business leader who believed in India’s economic prowess. His passing away is a big loss to the world of commerce and industry. Condolences to his family and friends. May his soul rest in peace.”

On a journey back from Ahmedabad, local sources in Palghar, said that a Mercedes with four people in it hit a divider and killed two people in the car instantly. One of them was Cyrus Mistry.

Cyrus was a warm, friendly, and congenial person: TCS

“Tata Consultancy Services mourns the untimely demise of our former chairman, Shri Cyrus Mistry. He was a warm, friendly, and congenial person who built a strong relationship with the TCS family during his time as the Chairman of the company. We offer our deepest condolences and prayers to his family and friends in their time of loss,” said a statement by TCS.

Finance MInister Nirmala Sitharaman said that his death had come as a shock. She said that he was committed to carrying forward and strengthening his business in infrastructure and infra projects. "He desired to keep contributing to India's economic progress. Condolences to his family and friends," the FM said on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Mistry was the sixth chairman of the Tata Sons board and only second from outside the Tata family. He was ousted in a boardroom coup in October 2016, following which he fought a bitter legal battle with Tata Sons.

Mistry’s family holds 18.37% in Tata Sons. Even as the who’s who of the country expressed their shock and disbelief, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asked the police to conduct a detailed investigation into the road accident that killed Cyrus Mistry.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took to Twitter and said: “Saddened by the tragic news of the sudden news of demise of former Chairman of Tata Sons, Cyrus Mistry. He was among the brightest business minds of the country, who made a significant contribution to India’s growth story.” Gandhi offered his condolences to Mistry’s friends, family and admirers.

Despite his high profile legal battle with the Tata Sons board, Mistry had admirers undoubtedly. Harsh Goenka of the RPG Group also took to Twitter to say that he was shocked to hear of the news of his sudden demise. Calling him a friend, gentleman and a man of substance, Goenka said, “He was instrumental in creating the global construction giant Shapoorji Pallonji and ably led the Tata Group.

Similarly, CP Gurnani of Tech Mahindra said that the industry had lost a “brilliant mind and a gentle soul”. Many others like Ashishkumar CHauhan of the National Stock Exchange and Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari express condolences.

Professor Nirmalaya Kumar, former member of the Group Executive Council at Tata Sons, took to Twitter to say: “My dear friend, ex-boss and chairman of Tata Sons. Thank you for the life lessons. Inconsolable - We shared a laugh last month on a park bench in London. RIP.” He further said that Mistry had given him an opportunity that no one else would have and mentored him with patience.