Generous Author-Philanthropist Donates ₹170 Crore

Rohini Nilekani, a renowned author and philanthropist, made headlines in 2023 with her generous donations amounting to ₹170 crore. Notably, she is the sole woman to secure a spot on Hurun’s prestigious Top Philanthropist List for the year. Her husband, Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys, was also featured on the list, having donated ₹189 crore. The list was topped by Shiv Nadar, the co-founder of HCL.

The Nilekanis are committed to philanthropy and have pledged to give away at least half of their wealth to charitable causes as part of the ‘Giving Pledge’ initiated by luminaries like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. In 2023, their cumulative contributions reached a remarkable ₹360 crore, demonstrating their deep dedication to making a positive impact on society.

Born in 1960, Rohini Nilekani founded the Arghyam Foundation, an organization dedicated to addressing water and sanitation issues. She also serves as the chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. Her journey began with a degree in French Literature from Elphinstone College, followed by work as a reporter for publications like the Bombay Magazine and Sunday Magazine in Bangalore. Growing up in a middle-class family, her father was an engineer, and her mother was a homemaker.

Rohini and Nandan Nilekani’s inspiring journey began in 1977, when they met at a quiz competition. They subsequently got married and co-founded Infosys in 1981, along with six other software engineers. The couple has two children, Janhavi and Nihar.

Rohini Nilekani’s philanthropic endeavors extend beyond the Arghyam Foundation. She has co-founded nonprofit educational platforms such as EkStep and Pratham Books, which focus on publishing books for children.

Rohini Nilekani emphasized the need for civil societies to be bolstered and encouraged India’s wealthy individuals to contribute more to philanthropic causes. She expressed her wish for more wealthy people in India to sign the Giving Pledge, emphasizing that it’s a public commitment to give away 50% of their wealth, which should be a reasonable goal given the substantial wealth held by the richest 2,000 individuals in India. She stressed the importance of empathy in addressing issues that may not directly affect privileged individuals, highlighting the interconnectedness of society.

Her remarkable contributions to philanthropy, alongside her husband Nandan, have earned them a well-deserved place among India’s top philanthropists, and their dedication to making a positive impact continues to inspire others to follow suit.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The NDTV News English