Mumbai and Bengaluru, Oct. 10 -- The divided trustees of Tata Trusts meet in Mumbai on Friday, a year and a day after former chairman Ratan Tata's death, in the backdrop of a void that the conglomerate still struggles to fill. The discord at the Trusts spotlights Tata's unquestioned authority during his tenure, as well as the consequences of his decision to prevent a potential centralization of powers.

Friday's meeting will be the first since the acrimony at Tata Trusts surfaced. It may also set the tone for the philanthropic entities' future, especially after the Trusts broke tradition by removing one trustee from the Tata Sons board. Details of their displeasure and the removal were first reported by Mint on 24 September.

Tata's decis...