‘Goodbye, my dear lighthouse’: Shantanu Naidu, Ratan Tata’s trusted assistant, pays tribute to the icon; offers reflection on coping with loss of mentor

In a heartfelt post shared on LinkedIn, Naidu bid farewell to Tata, who passed away in Mumbai at 86 yesterday. He wrote: “The hole that this friendship has now left with me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to fill. Grief is the price to pay for love. Goodbye, my dear lighthouse.”

In moments like these, the pain feels magnified because it intertwines both professional and personal loss. The grief of losing someone who inspired and mentored you can leave you searching for ways to cope, honor their legacy, and find a way forward.

The loss of that steady influence can make individuals feel like they’ve lost their anchor (Source: Freepik)

Common emotional responses people experience when they lose a mentor

Neha Cadabam, senior psychologist at Cadabam’s Mindtalk tells indianexpress.com, “When a mentor passes away, people often experience emotions that are similar to losing a close family member. For instance, there may be a sense of disorientation, especially if the mentor was someone who provided regular guidance.”

The loss of that steady influence can make individuals feel like they’ve lost their anchor, Cadabam informs, leading to feelings of uncertainty about their professional future. Some may also feel guilt or regret about things left unsaid or unrealised. 

Additionally, individuals often feel deep gratitude during the grieving process, reflecting on the mentor’s significant impact on their lives. However, this gratitude can sometimes magnify the sense of loss, making the grief more intense.

Differentiating between professional loss and personal grief in such situations

According to Cadabam, professional loss stems from losing a guide who helped shape one’s career path. For example, you may feel unsure about future career decisions without your mentor’s insights. On the other hand, personal grief involves the emotional bond you shared with them beyond professional advice. This could manifest in missing their companionship, shared jokes, or moments of wisdom unrelated to work.

She adds, “Understanding this distinction is critical because each dimension requires different approaches to healing. For the professional loss, seeking new mentors or peers for guidance might help ease the uncertainty. For personal grief, more emotional support, whether from loved ones or counselling, may be needed to process the deeper sense of loss. Both types of grief often overlap, and it’s important to allow yourself to feel both aspects instead of dismissing one as ‘just professional’.”

Honouring the legacy of a mentor

Cadabam states, “Honouring a mentor’s legacy doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. It can be as simple as applying their advice daily or passing on what you learned to others.”

Additionally, mentoring others can be a powerful way to keep their legacy alive. By guiding someone else, you’re essentially carrying forward the lessons and values instilled in you.

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