Supriya's Banter
I Came Upon a Lighthouse: A Short Memoir of Life with Ratan Tata
Author: Shantanu Naidu
Illustrator: Sanjana Desai
Publisher: HarperCollins India (1 February 2022); Books
Language: English
Paperback: 232 pages
What does it mean to find your lighthouse? Or live close to the legend that you revere? Do you let your eyes burn up by their brilliance, or do they glow as the shimmer of your aura rubs on you? Is the place under the candle really the darkest, or is it the warmest and the cosiest? Naidu calls Ratan Tata a lighthouse, and not without reason. He paints a warm, playful, and caring persona for Ratan Tata, his dear boss and longtime friend.
The heartwarming yet straightforward language is brimming with emotion.
The book switches between Ithaca, New York, the shared alma mater that framed the formative years of both men and Mumbai and Tata’s office. In the beginning, Naidu highlights the natural beauty of Ithaca, nestled in the Finger Lakes region—steep gorges, college-town vibrancy, and crisp upstate air. The narrative gradually slips into everyday scenes as the friendship deepens, and Naidu is employed by Mr Tata. We are offered sublime yet endearing moments in bustling labs, conference rooms, and working moments in cars and aeroplanes, as well as Covid-inspired bonds when offices shift to Tata mansion.
Naidu’s carefully chosen words create a beautiful and enchanting backdrop for the narrative, making it difficult to put the book down. Every chapter has an underlying theme, be it Naidu’s decision to return to India after earning a prestigious Ivy League degree, his willing, small lies that felt enormous in his millennial mind, his lonely days at Cornell that were later warmed by the arrival of winter (his cherished and much-loved dog). Each story reveals a distinct aspect of Ratan Tata. Be it a hard-wired businessman, an uncompromising boss, a compassionate philanthropist or a deeply caring friend. The shades of Mr Tata’s personality tint the pages in different colours and braid themselves together to tie the chapters together. He emerges not as a lofty titan but as a humble mentor who teaches by example.
Naidu excels at translating his feelings and memories onto pages, and before you know it, they seep into your heart and mind, becoming alive. As you turn the pages, you feel so much closer to Mr. Tata. The feeling that you are part of his inner circle and move into his world, where you see his face curve into a smile at ordinary, everyday moments, is very real. Gazing at Mr Tata through Naidu’s eyes, you become acquainted with a man who lived a full life, laughed often, tinted his days with old classics and never shied away from sitting through a movie, no matter how crappy it turned out to be.
Naidu calls him by many names—from a sprightly sunflower to an introvert embarrassed by grand gestures to a beacon of light, the lighthouse. Mr. Tata’s tenderness towards stray animals and children, his quiet humour, and his hands-on approach come across as remarkably human and deeply inspiring.
Naidu, a passionate engineer with big ideas and even bigger compassion, is no less appealing. He’s earnest, self-deprecating, and refreshingly real—a millennial whose humility and drive make him easy to root for.
It’s a light and breezy read. Barely over 200 pages—but packed with passion, love and companionship. It doesn’t flaunt business triumphs or heap praise. Instead, it unveils the real lessons learned in everyday gestures and small acts of care. The colourful illustrations are vibrant and cute, serving as just the right accompaniment to a lively book.
If you’re looking for a memoir that’s full of warmth, wisdom, and a gentle push toward better, this is it.
A sunny, short, heartfelt ode to unlikely friendship and lives brightened by compassion.
