Ratan Tata’s Assistant Shantanu Naidu Ahead Of Ambulance On Bike, Among Visitors At NCPA

Shantanu Naidu, Ratan Tata’s assistant and the youngest general manager at Tata Trust, was seen at the forefront on a bike as the industrialist’s body was taken to the NCPA for public viewing.

Tata, chairman emeritus of Tata Sons, one of India’s biggest conglomerates, died late on Wednesday night after a brief illness. He was 86.

Naidu mourned the loss of India’s renowned business tycoon by sharing a ‘goodbye’ post, saying “grief is the price to pay for love”.

In his LinkedIn post, Naidu reflected on his close friendship with the national icon.

“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,” wrote the 30-year-old, sharing alongside a throwback photo which shows the two of them together.

Naidu was also spotted among the sea of visitors who came to pay their last respects.

The Maharashtra government has declared a day of mourning in the state on Thursday to pay tributes to Ratan Tata, the Chief Minister’s Office said. A statement quoting CM Eknath Shinde said the national tricolour on government offices in Maharashtra will be flown at half-mast on Thursday as a sign of mourning. Tata’s mortal remains will be kept at the NCPA from 10 am to 3.30 pm on Thursday for people to pay their respects.

His last rites will be performed in Worli area of Mumbai later in the day.