Ganesh Kendale
MUMBAI: In probably a first for India, industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata has made provisions in his will to ensure “unlimited” care for his German Shepherd, Tito. While leaving wealth for pets is not uncommon in the West, this is rare in India.
Ratan Tata, whose estate is estimated at over Rs 10,000 crore, also bequeathed assets to his foundation, brother Jimmy Tata, half-sisters Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy, house staff, and others.
Tito, adopted five or six years ago after the passing of Ratan Tata’s previous dog of the same name, will be cared for by his longtime cook, Rajan Shaw. The will also includes provisions for his butler, Subbiah, with whom Tata shared a three-decade relationship. Ratan Tata was known to buy designer clothes for them during his travels abroad.
His executive assistant Shantanu Naidu also figures in the will. Tata relinquished his stake in Naidu’s companionship venture, Goodfellows, and waived Naidu’s overseas education expenses.
His assets include a 2,000-square-foot beach bungalow in Alibaug, a 2-storey house on Juhu Tara Road in Mumbai, fixed deposits exceeding Rs 350 crore, and a 0.83% stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of the $165-billion Tata Group, which will be transferred to the Ratan Tata Endowment Foundation (RTEF).
