Thinking of Winter

Everyone loves their dogs, naturally. Every dog is a good boy, naturally.

But Winter was different.

When Shantanu Naidu brought the golden retriever into his life, he skipped all the rules of puppyhood―no chewed shoes, no tantrums, no restless nights. Instead, Winter arrived as a gentleman from the start: calm, dignified, yet disarmingly affectionate.

From the snowy streets of Ithaca to the bustling chaos of Mumbai, it was often just the two of them―man and dog―navigating the world together. Along the way, Naidu found himself learning from Winter: in his generosity, his bravery, his quiet wisdom.

This is not just a book about a dog. It is a tender chronicle of companionship, resilience, and the small, surprising ways a four-legged friend can shape a life.

Shantanu Naidu’s journey has taken him from classrooms at Cornell to corporate boardrooms at Tata and into the world of social entrepreneurship to build ventures with heart. Yet the role closest to him has always been that of Winter’s father, his truest companion and teacher. The primary duties may have been wiping muddy paws, chasing down overused tennis balls and sitting together under city skylines, but they offered him unexpected lessons in silence, patience and unconditional love. Lessons he now carries with him into every role that await in the future, in the many boardrooms of life.