Ratan Tata, the former chairman of Tata Sons, is well-known for his love of dogs. People are also aware of his philanthropy and generosity. But did you know that the Tata Group’s global headquarters in Mumbai features a dog kennel?
Among the stray dogs is Goa, a dog who spends the entire day at the office while Tata Sons’ former chairman attends meetings. But how does Goa fare with others, particularly those who are afraid of dogs?
The anecdote was published on LinkedIn by Karishma Mehta, the founder and CEO of Humans of Bombay, and this is how it goes.
The interviewer couldn’t openly tell the business mogul about her apprehensions about the dog being in the same room because she had waited years to meet Tata. When she whispered to Tata’s executive assistant, Shantanu Naidu, the 86-year-old overheard her and inquired if she was okay.
Tata grinned and turned to his dog Goa to give him some instructions after Naidu told the industrialist that Mehta was terrified of dogs.
“Goa, she’s afraid of you; please be a nice guy and sit!” Tata said to his dog before turning to Mehta and inviting her to come in and start the interview.
“I swear, Goa didn’t get close to me for the entire 30-40 minutes I was there! It had never happened before, and I was perplexed!” Mehta shared his thoughts on LinkedIn.
Tata subsequently revealed that Goa is a stray dog who chose to adopt them, and they chose him back.
Mehta went on to describe her first encounter with Tata and how he made her feel great about herself.
“I marveled how someone could make you feel so happy just by being themselves, from eagerly questioning me about Humans of Bombay with peaked curiosity to humbly requesting me to sign the copy of our book that I gave him. My hands shook somewhat since I had no idea what to write “She ended by describing her visit with Tata as a great honor.
In the last several days, Goa, the office dog at the Tata Group’s worldwide headquarters, Bombay House, has gone popular on the internet. Goa, who claims to be Ratan Tata’s favourite, is a close buddy of Ratan Tata’s and is said to attend meetings with him.
When visiting Tata’s office, Karishma Mehta, Founder and CEO of Humans of Bombay, couldn’t help but notice a dog curled up in the chair next to his. “This was the biggest quandary of my life– I’m frightened of dogs, and there sat a man who I’d been waiting years to interview,” she said on LinkedIn.
She was so afraid that she told Tata’s Executive Assistant Shantanu Naidu in hushed tones, but the 86-year-old overheard her and inquired whether she was all right.
Tata grinned and moved on to teach his office friend Goa, adding, “Goa, she’s afraid of you, please be a nice guy and sit!” after Naidu informed him of her dread of dogs.”
“I kid you not,” the interviewer continued, “Goa didn’t come anywhere near me for the entire 30-40 minutes I was there!” It had never happened before, and I was perplexed!”
Tata explained her, much to her astonishment, that Goa is a stray dog who decided to adopt them, and they in turn adopted him back. Goa currently works from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“From keenly questioning me about Humans of Bombay with perked curiosity and then humbly requesting me to sign the copy of our book that I presented him — I wondered how it was possible for someone to make you feel so good, by just being themselves,” she said of her first encounter with Tata. My hands shook somewhat since I had no idea what to write.”
My first interaction with Mr. Tata:
As I waited outside Mr. Tata’s office, I noticed a dog tucked in comfortably in the chair next to his. Now, this was the biggest quandary of my life– I’m terrified of dogs and there sat a man who I’d been waiting years to interview… next to a dog. So I whispered to Mr. Tata’s EA, Shantanu that I was terrified– I think Mr. Tata overheard us and asked me, ‘what happened, are you okay?’ Shantanu told him, ‘she’s scared of dogs!’ A little smile formed on Mr. Tata’s face as he turned to the dog in his chair and spoke to him, like he would to a human being and said, ‘Goa, she’s scared of you, please be a good boy and sit!’ He then turned to me and said, ‘Come!’
I kid you not, for the entire 30-40 minutes I was there, Goa didn’t come anywhere near me! I was baffled– it had never happened before!
Mr. Tata later said to me, ‘Goa’s a stray and decided to adopt us, so we adopted him back!’ — turns out ‘Goa’ spends all day at the office, as Mr. Tata carries on with his meetings.
Idk what I could possibly say about him that hasn’t been said before, but I’ll try. From keenly asking me about Humans of Bombay with perked interest and then humbly asking me to sign the copy of our book that I gifted him — I wondered how it was possible for someone to make you feel so good, by just being themselves. My hands shook a little as I had absolutely no idea what to write so I finally settled on a succinct, ‘Thank you for inspiring me!’ (news flash: I’m an author without words).
He even remembered an HOB story on 26/11 where a 10 year old girl was shot at CST and still hadn’t received proper remuneration — he asked for her to be connected to the Tata Trust so that they could take care of her.
it was the highest privilege to meet you Ratan sir and I’d like to thank you most for redefining what I thought was ‘alpha male’. To be alpha, is to be you, Mr. Tata — soft, kind, humble and vehement only in relentless attempts to make the world a better place.
