Ratan Tata loved by every Indian sadly passed away on October 9 2024 at the age of 86. The iconic business tycoon took his last breath leaving behind a legacy that will forever be remembered. Ratan Tata was celebrated not only for transforming the Tata Group into a global powerhouse but also for winning hearts with his kindness and altruism. However did you know that this 86-year-old had a 28-year-old close friend? Yes you read that right! A man who belonged to a traditionalist generation developed a bond with a millennial. We’re talking about Shantanu Naidu the youngest general manager at Tata Trust and Ratan Tata’s trusted assistant. Who is Shantanu Naidu? Shantanu Naidu hails from Pune Maharashtra. For his higher education Naidu attended Savitribai Phule Pune University in 2014 and obtained a degree in engineering. The journey from completing his engineering degree to becoming an intern at Tata Elxsi one of Ratan Tatas companies marked the beginning of his career. After graduation he pursued an MBA from Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management where he excelled in various leadership roles. How Did Ratan Tata and Shantanu Naidu Develop Such a Close Bond? Ratan Tatas closest friend from the millennial generation was Shantanu Naidu. The 30-year-old in an interview even referred to Ratan Tata as a Millennial Dumbledore. Their bond began when Shantanu was working as a design engineer at Tata Elxsi in 2014. One day Shantanu saw a dog lying lifeless in the middle of the road which broke his heart. His love for dogs inspired him to do something for stray dogs. That’s when he came up with the idea to design a dog collar with reflectors. However raising enough funds for the project became a challenge for Shantanu. At this point Shantanus father encouraged him to write a letter to Ratan Tata. Initially hesitant Naidu finally wrote the letter and received a response two months later. Soon after Naidu along with one of his friends went to meet Ratan Tata in Mumbai. When the industrialist asked how he could help with the project the two friends resisted the urge to ask for immediate financial assistance. Nevertheless Ratan Tata later invested in Shantanu’s venture which became what Naidu calls a “Ratan Tata-backed startup.” Over time their friendship deepened and they developed a beautiful bond. From 2018 onwards Naidu served as Ratan Tata’s manager handling various responsibilities and initiatives under Tata’s guidance. Shantanu Naidu also owns a business which goes by the name Goodfellows. His business aims to provide assistant to elderly in their later years. His company reportedly has a net worth of Rs 5 crore. Shantanu Naidu Expresses Grief Over Ratan Tata’s Passing Taking to LinkedIn Naidu shared a touching picture of him and Ratan Tata and wrote “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.” Ratan Tata’s legacy will continue to inspire us all.