Shantanu Naidu, the trusted assistant and close friend of the late industrialist Ratan Tata, penned a heartfelt tribute on LinkedIn, sharing his profound grief and the enduring impact of their unique friendship.
Naidu, known for his dedication to animal welfare, first met Tata in 2014 after creating reflective collars to protect stray dogs from traffic accidents. Tata, recognizing Naidu’s efforts, invited him to join his team, marking the beginning of a special bond that would last for years. Over the past decade, Naidu became a close confidante to Tata, who never married and had no children.
In his post, Naidu shared a picture with Tata and expressed the deep void left by his passing. “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,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government declared a day of mourning in the state to pay tribute to Ratan Tata. A statement issued by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the national flag on government offices will be flown at half-mast on October 10th as a sign of mourning. All entertainment events have been canceled for the day.
Tata’s mortal remains will be kept at the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in south Mumbai from 10 am to 4 pm on Thursday for people to pay their respects. His last rites will be performed later that day in the Worli area of Mumbai.
