Mumbai: Ratan Tata’s love for animals, specially dogs, was well known.
As eminent personalities from all walks of life and common people arrived at Mumbai’s National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) to pay their last respects to Tata, there was one special attendee among the sea of humans.
It was Goa, Tata’s dog.
Named Goa after being rescued by Tata in Goa a few years ago, the dog was brought to Bombay House and became an integral part of the industrialist’s life.
It was only apt that Goa was taken to NCPA, where Tata’s mortal remains were kept before the last journey began, for one last look.
Here are videos of Goa at NCPA shared on social media:
Ratan Tata’s love for dogs was legendary. His pet (Goa) meeting him for the last time 💔 #Ratan #RatanTata pic.twitter.com/paX54zihwu
— Prashant Nair (@_prashantnair) October 10, 2024
View this post on Instagram
“This dog (Goa) has been with us for the last 11 years. We brought him from Goa when we went there for a picnic. It was named Goa… Ratan Tata was very attached to the dog,” said an aide of Tata.
Tata often helped injured stray dogs and helped their rehabilitation through regular posts of adoption appeals on his Instagram account.
The way he got close with his assistant Shantanu Naidu is in itself a great story.
Naidu, also an animal lover, started a business venture aimed at putting reflective collars on street dogs to help them avoid being hit by vehicles on the road, had written to Tata seeking funding for the company.
And how did Tata respond?
Well, he offered Naidu a job as his assistant and appointed him the manager of Tata Trust.
His love for dogs was so genuine and strong that Tata even chose to skip a royal award ceremony to be with his ailing pet.
It happened in 2018, when Tata was to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Buckingham Palace in recognition of his outstanding philanthropic efforts.
He had given his consent to attend the event, but days before the ceremony, his pet dog fell severely ill. He then expressed his regret to travel to London.
A decision which prompted King Charles III to say, “That’s the man Ratan is.”