Pune Engineer Shantanu Naidu Reflects on the Loss of Ratan Tata: A Friendship Beyond Generations

Naidu’s journey began in 2014 as a young engineer at Tata Elxsi in Pune. It was here he founded Motopaws, a project aimed at protecting stray dogs from road accidents by designing reflective collars. Facing financial challenges, Naidu penned a letter to Ratan Tata, a known advocate for animal welfare. To his surprise, Tata replied two months later, inviting him to Mumbai. This meeting ignited a lasting friendship, with Tata even inviting Naidu to meet his dogs at home.

In 2016, Naidu pursued an MBA at Cornell University, where he remained close to Tata. Upon his return, Tata offered him a position as his assistant. Beyond his formal duties, Naidu managed Tata’s social media presence, which endeared him to fans across India. Naidu’s dedication and friendship with Tata became widely known after a video surfaced of the two celebrating Tata’s birthday, showcasing their genuine affection for each other.

Naidu also chronicled their friendship in his 2021 memoir, I Came Upon a Lighthouse, which offers insights into the invaluable lessons he learned from Tata and their shared love for dogs.

Originally from Pune, Naidu holds an engineering degree from Savitribai Phule Pune University. He continues to honor Tata’s legacy through initiatives like Motopaws and Goodfellows, working to make a positive impact on society, guided by the values instilled in him by his mentor.