Somerville College today conferred a Foundation Fellowship on Tata Sons Chairman Natarajan (N.) Chandrasekaran, in recognition of his transformational philanthropy and pivotal role in enabling the Ratan Tata Building and the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development. The ceremony on 23 September 2025 was attended by senior university and government figures—including the Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey, High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami, and the UK Prime Minister’s adviser Varun Chandra, and formalises a lifelong bond between Mr. Chandrasekaran and Somerville College.
Somerville College is pleased to announce the election of distinguished business leader Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, as a Foundation Fellow of Somerville College.
A Foundation Fellowship is the highest honour conferred by Somerville College for philanthropy. Chandra , as he is popularly called was elected to the Fellowship by outgoing Principal Baroness Jan Royall and the Governing Body of Somerville College in summer 2025. The ceremony of conferral was held on September 23rd 2025, in the company of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Professor Irene Tracey, the High Commissioner of India, HE Vikram Doraiswami, Mr Varun Chandra, the UK Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on Business and Investment, and many other distinguished friends and colleagues from the Tata Group and the University of Oxford.
Chandra was elected a Foundation Fellow in recognition of his instrumental role in enabling the creation of Somerville College’s new flagship teaching and learning hub, the Ratan Tata Building. Named in honour of Chandra’s mentor, the revered philanthropist Mr Ratan Tata, Somerville’s new building will create a permanent home for the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development, which has been leading research into pressing matters of sustainability and development affecting India and the world since 2013.
A Foundation Fellowship is a great honour, creating a lifelong bond between its recipient and Oxford. And yet, as a marker of our gratitude for the years of friendship, shared dreams and transformative support which the Tata Group has shown this College and the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development…well, it was the very least we could do.
Catherine Royle, Principal of Somerville College, said: “Chairman Chandrasekaran is a shining testament to the power of meritocracy and just how much can be achieved through intellect and hard work. I am delighted that we have been able to recognise his contribution to the ongoing partnership between Somerville College, the OICSD and the Tata Group through this well-deserved honour.”
N Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons commented: “This rare institution has been quietly blazing a trail on behalf of the most pressing social causes facing our world for almost 150 years, and continues to do so today. Their work chimes powerfully with the values of our business and its shining light, Mr Ratan Tata.
Chandra continued, “. I am confident that the fertile interdisciplinary environment of Somerville College and the enduring bridge the OICSD creates between Oxford and India mean that this partnership will only grow in the years to come. Working together, we have the opportunity to tackle some of the biggest environmental and social questions facing the world.”
Natarajan Chandrasekaran earned a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Sciences from the Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu, followed by a Master of Computer Applications (MCA) from the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli. Ever since finishing his academic studies, Mr Chandrasekaran has devoted himself single-mindedly to furthering the cause of his beloved Tata Group, rising first to become Chairman of Tata Consulting Services, before taking on the Chairmanship of other key Tata Group subsidiaries and finally his current position as Chairman of Tata Sons and the Tata Group, India’s largest business conglomerate.
Chandra joins former Chairman of the Tata Group Mr Ratan Tata (1937-2024) and Tata Group Trustee Mr Mehli Mistry as Foundation Fellows of Somerville College.
