Shantanu Naidu: Ratan Tata’s millennial manager and closest friend.

New Delhi, VNI 11th October  Shantanu Naidu, the youngest general manager at Ratan Tata’s office, expressed deep sorrow after his mentor passed away on Thursday. According to media reports,  the 30-year-old described the loss as leaving a “deep void” and referred to Tata as his “lighthouse.” Their unique friendship began in 2014 when Naidu was a design engineer at one of Tata's companies. This unexpected relationship flourished over their shared passion for animals. Who is Shantanu Naidu, the millennial who became Ratan Tata’s close confidant? Naidu, the youngest general manager in Ratan Tata’s office, was devastated by the loss of his mentor. Ratan Tata, the 86-year-old philanthropist and industrialist, passed away at Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital on Wednesday night. True friendships often transcend age and are built on shared perspectives and mutual respect. According to media reports, the bond between Shantanu Naidu and Ratan Tata was one such example—a connection that went beyond generational divides. Naidu, who became a trusted assistant to Tata, expressed profound grief over the passing of the visionary leader, who died after an age-related illness. Tata took his last breath on Wednesday night at Breach Candy Hospital.  According to media reports ,in a heartfelt tribute to his "lighthouse," Naidu spoke of the "deep void" that his mentor's passing had left in his life. “The space left by this friendship is one I will spend a lifetime trying to fill. Grief is the price we pay for love. Goodbye, my dear lighthouse,” Naidu wrote. Naidu’s rise from an engineering intern to a key figure in Tata’s life is an inspiring story. Here’s a look at their remarkable journey: A friendship sparked by love for animals Naidu’s unexpected friendship with Ratan Tata blossomed because of their mutual love for animals. In an interview with Brut, Naidu revealed that in 2014, while working as an automotive design engineer at Pune’s Tata Elxsi, he was disturbed by seeing a dead dog on the road. This pushed him to create reflective collars for stray dogs to prevent nighttime accidents. A letter that started it all As Naidu’s dog collar project grew, he struggled with funding. His father suggested that he write a letter to Ratan Tata. Though hesitant at first, Naidu eventually wrote the letter. Two months later, he received a reply from Tata, inviting him to meet. Tata’s support for Motopaws Tata was impressed by Naidu’s initiative and decided to support his NGO, Motopaws. Naidu fondly refers to it as a project “backed by Ratan Tata.” Motopaws expanded rapidly, introducing innovations like reflective dog collars and sensor-based devices to prevent tiger poaching, reducing animal-related accidents across India. Pursuing higher education and staying connected In 2016, Naidu left for the U.S. to pursue an MBA at Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. He excelled, winning accolades like the Hemmeter Entrepreneurship Award and the Johnson Leadership Case Competition. Despite being abroad, he remained in close contact with Tata. Upon graduating, Tata invited him to work in his office. Naidu’s role as Tata’s assistant As Tata’s assistant, Naidu took notes during meetings and provided feedback on startup investments. He also helped set up Tata’s Instagram account, which brought the 86-year-old philanthropist closer to a younger audience. Over the last decade, Naidu became one of Tata’s closest companions, with their friendship going viral after a video of them celebrating Tata’s birthday surfaced online. Naidu’s innovative solution to protect stray dogs from road accidents now spans 20 cities across four countries, gaining widespread recognition.  According to media report, launching Goodfellows: A project for the elderly In 2021, Naidu founded Goodfellows, a venture aimed at providing companionship to senior citizens. Tata endorsed the initiative, saying, “You don’t understand what loneliness is until you’ve spent time wishing for someone’s company.” Goodfellows is now reportedly worth Rs 5 crore. A memoir of his time with Ratan Tata Beyond his professional role, Naidu authored a memoir titled I Came Upon a Lighthouse, published by HarperCollins in 2021. The book offers a personal account of his experiences and deep bond with Ratan Tata.