"Grief Is The Price To Pay For Love" Shantanu Naidu Pays Tribute To His Mentor And Friend Ratan Tata

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The world is privy to the frienship between Ratan Tata and Tata Trust's youngest GM, Shantanu Naidu. Their heartwarming bond became the center of attention when a video featuring Tata celebrating his birthday along with Naidu went viral. The young entrepreneur became the talk of the town not because of being the young Deputy GM of Tata Group, but because of his close association with Ratan Tata and his unconventional hiring.

Ratan Tata passed away on 9th October 2024, marking the end of an era defined by visionary leadership, ethical business practices, and unwavering dedication to philanthropy. His legacy transcends the corporate world, as he not only built a global business empire but also redefined the role of business in society, laying clear focus on sustainability, and social impact.

As the nation bids adieu to Tata Sons Chairman Emeritus, Shantanu Naidu’s heartfelt post on LinkedIn has deeply moved countless individuals. For Ratan Tata, Naidu was his "trusted friend," and their tale of friendship is nothing short of extraordinary. Despite the vast age difference, their relationship blossomed into a bond built on mutual respect, shared values, and a deep passion for animal welfare.

A Bond Beyond Generations

Naidu’s connection with the TATA group goes back several decades. The Naidu family has been associated with the TATA group in various professional roles for five generations. Before starting work at the Tata Trust in 2017, Shantanu worked as a Design Engineer at Tata Elxsi.

Interestingly, when Naidu returned to India after completing his MBA, he received a call from Ratan Tata. The businessman said, “I have a lot of work to be done in my office. Would you like to be my assistant?” and Shantanu didn’t know how to react.

He took a deep breath, thought for a while, and eventually agreed to take up the role offered by Mr. Tata.

When Ideas Rule the Roost

Shantanu Naidu is an avid dog lover, just like Mr. Ratan Tata. The fact that so many stray dogs die on the streets of Mumbai due to accidents has always irked him. As a design engineering student, he set out to find a solution to the problem with a bunch of fellow students.

He came up with a design for dog collars with reflectors that can be easily spotted by drivers at night. However, being a student organization, they didn’t have the finances to implement the design on a large scale. So, Naidu made a Facebook post to see if there’s any takers for the idea.

Overcoming obstacles

Soon, word spread about the work of Shantanu and his friends, and it got featured on several popular social pages. The real break came when the Tata group decided to feature the story in the Tata newsletter.

Once the news became well-known, the demand for dog collars shot up. But being a student organization that made dog collars from donated denims, they didn’t have the means to manufacture and supply. 

So, taking his father’s advice, Shantanu decided to write a letter to Ratan Tata.

"I was hesitant at first, but then I said to myself, ‘Why not?’ So I wrote him a handwritten letter and forgot all about it!"

It was a handwritten letter, and Shantanu didn’t expect much to happen. So much so that he forgot about it in a few days. 

But within two months, he heard back from Ratan Tata, and the rest is history.

Upon meeting him at his Mumbai office next, Shantanu discovered that his love for dogs was shared by Mr. Tata as well. The business tycoon was touched by the work that Shantanu was doing and showed his keen interest in making the idea a reality. Hence, Motopaws was born, an animal welfare organisation founded by Naidu. He later also founded Goodfellows India, a startup that provides youth companionship to senior citizens in India, which was backed by Ratan Tata.  

In several interviews, Naidu had referred that people affectionately refer to Ratan Tata as ‘Boss’, but for him, he is something else altogether. “I like to call him the ‘Millennial Dumbledore’- I think that name suits him the best," Naidu had said, reflecting fondly on his association with Ratan Tata. 

The Last Goodbye

“The hole that this friendship has now left with me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to fill. Grief is the price to pay for love. Goodbye, my dear lighthouse”, wrote the 30-year old entrepreneur in his Linkedin post as he paid tribute to the visionary business leader. 

Naidu’s words resonate with a collective sense of loss, honoring the legacy of a visionary whose compassion and wisdom inspired many.

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