New Delhi: The great industrialist Ratan Tata passed away on October 9, 2024, and many felt his absence, especially the youngest of his friends, Shantanu Naidu. Their unique bond transcending generations has been etched splendidly through Naidu’s memoirs, I Came Upon A Lighthouse. It shows how their friendship was woven with both values and common interest.
How Their Friendship Began
Shantanu Naidu had first sent an emotional letter to Ratan Tata after which they met for the first time. At that time Naidu was on internship in the Tata Group after completing his course of engineering. Tata was very much impressed with innovative ideas of Naidu, especially the one for helping animals. Since both of them shared a passion for animals, it helped strengthen their bonding.
He requested a farewell dinner from Tata when he was leaving for the United States to complete his studies. To impress Tata, Naidu bought his favorite Brooks Brothers shirt. He spent half of his salary of the last month but felt that this is a price he was willing to pay in honor of their friendship.
The Brooks Brothers Shirt Incident
But this shirt, he would admit, much later in their life, was not made for him. In his first trip to the U.S., strolling around New York City, he tore it. Tata came to know about this mishap and insisted on getting a new shirt of the same make for Naidu. When Naidu refused at the shop, Tata remained pushy: “Can’t I give my friend a shirt?” Such incidents, and countless others, spoke to their friendship-its warmth and kindness.
After Tata’s death, Shantanu Naidu put his heart on social media saying that he would spend all his remaining life trying to fill up the hollow space left in by Tata. He said Tata was his “dear lighthouse,” proof of how much he cared for Tata.
