“You cannot go on forever…I wish you let me enjoy life the way I want to,” Mr Ratan Tata told shareholders who were keen that he continues at the helm of the Tata Group.

This was Mr Tata's last appearance at a TCS shareholders' meeting as Chairman.

Standing up out of turn, shareholders persuaded Mr Tata to refrain from relinquishing the Chairman's office.

A shareholder suggested that Mr Tata take cues from Mr Keshub Mahindra, who despite being over 85, continues to chair Mahindra & Mahindra.

To this, Mr Tata responded: ‘I am not Mr Mahindra.'

Reacting to another anguished shareholder, who said that a new Chairman of the Tata Group will not have the same charisma and appeal as he has, Mr Tata retorted: “I too faced the same thing when I took over as Chairman from JRD (Tata).”

Nine-member panel

Mr Tata is expected to pass on the baton this year, when he turns 75 years in December.

A nine-member selection committee has been given the mandate "to decide on a suitable successor".

The committee is looking at suitable candidates both within the organisation and outside.

Over the years, names such as Mr Arun Sarin, formerly of Vodafone, Ms Indra Nooyi of Pepsi, Mr Keki Dadiseth of Unilever, Mr Carlos Ghosn of Renault and Mr Noel Tata of Tata Retail have figured in the sweepstakes.

On Friday, Mr Tata did not offer any comments on a possible successor as the onus was now on the succession committee.