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Pune: Not just humans but even dogs loved Ratan Tata for his humility and compassion. And for Tata, who never married, his dogs were like family. Shantanu Naidu, who later became Tata’s assistant, also shared a love for dogs. In Pune, Naidu was upset by the number of street dogs being run over by cars. He wanted to take action. And the two decided to make reflective collars for the dogs so they could be seen from a distance. This initiative was named ‘Motopaws.’
Shantanu was seen attending the last rites ceremony of Ratan Tata. He wrote a heart-felt note to his friend, Ratan Tata, who passed away on October 9 due to age-related health issues.
How Shantanu Naidu Met Ratan Tata
Naidu’s friend suggested, “I’m sure Mr Tata would like to know about Motopaws. He loves dogs,” as Naidu recounts in his book, “I Came Upon A Lighthouse”. They found a contact at Tata’s office and sent him a letter explaining the project. Soon after, Naidu received a response from Tata’s office. The letter said: “Animal welfare is an area I am very passionate about. It would be a pleasure to meet you to discuss this. Please contact my office to arrange a suitable time for the meeting.”
When they met, Tata asked how he could support 'Motopaws.' Within a few months, the initiative became a Ratan Tata-backed start-up. Later, the venture picked up, and expanded in 11 different cities. Meanwhile, Shantanu Naidu became the youngest General Manager in Ratan Tata's office later.
"My Dog is Unwell, I Can't Leave Him"
In 2018, Ratan Tata was invited to receive a lifetime achievement award for his philanthropy from Prince Charles (now King Charles III) at Buckingham Palace. But the parent to a pets named Tango and Tito were not well.
The event, hosted by the British Asian Trust, was to honour his contributions. However, Tata cancelled his trip at the last moment because one of his two dogs was seriously ill.
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Suhel Seth, a close friend of Tata, shared the story, recalling the many missed calls he had from Tata that day. When they finally spoke, Tata said, "Tango and Tito, my dogs—one of them is terribly ill. I can’t leave him and come."
Seth tried to persuade Tata to attend the event, but he was firm in his decision to stay with his dog. When King Charles was informed of the reason for Tata's absence, he could not help but admire his commitment to his beloved pet.