Shantanu Naidu (right) with Ratan Tata.

Delhi:

Shantanu Naidu, the managing director of former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata’s office, wrote an emotional post to bid adieu to his ‘dear lighthouse’. His post came after the 86-year-old industrialist passed away on Wednesday, leaving behind a legacy of more than two decades leading a wide variety of verticals within the Tata Group.

Mr Naidu, an MBA from Cornell University and founder of the Goodfellows startup, wrote in a post on LinkedIn: “The hole this friendship has now left in me is something I will try to fill for the rest of my life. Grief is the pay the price for love.”

The 28-year-old is the fifth generation of his family to work at the Tata Group. Mr Naidu was seen riding out of Tata’s house on a Yezdi motorcycle this morning, leading the truck carrying his boss’ remains. It was the mutual love and care for dogs that had formed a bond between the duo.

Meanwhile, Mr Tata’s remains were taken to the National Center of Performing Arts in Mumbai from where they will be taken to a crematorium in Worli where he will be given a state funeral.

Born in Bombay, now Mumbai, in 1937, the Cornell University-educated Mr. Tata was known for his willingness to take risks.

He took over the family empire in 1991, riding the wave of radical free-market reforms unleashed by the Indian government that year. During his years in charge, the salt-to-steel conglomerate expanded its global footprint to include British luxury brands such as Jaguar and Land Rover.

The industrialist later devoted his time to running the group’s charity arm and funding some of India’s hottest startups.