Industrialist Ratan Tata is no longer in the world, but his stories live on. One such story has been narrated by Shantanu Naidu, who is considered very close to him, how he had to spend half his salary to wear a shirt of Tata’s favorite brand. 30-year-old Naidu is counted among the people closest to Ratan Tata. He had written on the demise of the industrialist, ‘Goodbye lighthouse.’
What was the story of the shirt?
In the year 2021, Naidu had shared many stories in his memoirs including his meeting with Ratan Tata and his shirt. He had told that both of them could meet through a letter. The relationship deepened as both of them loved animals. Naidu also tells that he used to copy Tata in many matters. Actually, the story of this shirt is from the time when Naidu was preparing to go to America for studies.
He explains that he was going to study at Cornell University and before that he requested to meet Ratan Tata. The special thing is that Tata invited him for dinner. Now for this special meeting he had arrived wearing a shirt of Brooks Brothers brand. This is the same brand which is said to be Tata’s favourite.
Naidu has told that when he saw Tata wearing a shirt of Brooks Brothers, he also bought a shirt of this brand. He ‘had to spend half his last month’s salary’ for this shirt.
Met in America also
Even during Naidu’s stay in America, he used to meet Tata. When Ratan Tata learned that a nail had caused a priceless Brooks Brothers shirt to tear, he searched for a similar shirt. When there was an argument between the two as to who would pay for the shirt, Ratan Tata replied, ‘Can’t I buy a shirt for my friend?’ Naidu is also the General Manager of Tata Office.
