Introducing Rohini Nilekani: The Author-Philanthropist Who Gave ₹ 170 Crore in 2023″

Rohini Nilekani, an author and philanthropist born in 1960, has made substantial contributions to charitable causes in 2023, with a remarkable donation of ₹170 crore. Her generosity has earned her a notable place as the sole woman to secure a position in the top ten of the prestigious Hurun’s Philanthropist List for 2023. Her husband, Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of Infosys, also features on the list, ranking 8th with a generous donation of ₹189 crore. The list’s pinnacle is occupied by HCL co-founder Shiv Nadar.

Hurun India recognized the Nilekanis’ significant contributions as a testament to their profound dedication to philanthropy. The couple has demonstrated their commitment by endorsing the ‘Giving Pledge,’ a philanthropic initiative that commits at least half of their wealth to charitable endeavors. In 2023, the Nilekanis further heightened their philanthropic endeavors by contributing an additional ₹80 crore, resulting in a cumulative donation of ₹360 crore.

Rohini Nilekani, the founder of the Arghyam Foundation, focuses on addressing water and sanitation issues. She also serves as the chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. Ms. Nilekani’s journey began with a degree in French Literature from Elphinstone College, followed by a career as a reporter at the Bombay Magazine in 1980 and later for Sunday magazine in Bangalore. Her upbringing in a middle-class family, with an engineer father and a homemaker mother, instilled values that have driven her philanthropic efforts.

Rohini and Nandan Nilekani’s union commenced in 1977 when they crossed paths at a quiz competition. Their journey together led to the founding of Infosys in 1981, where they collaborated with six other software engineers. The couple, parents to two children, Janhavi and Nihar, has not only contributed to the IT sector but also co-founded nonprofit educational platforms EkStep and Pratham Books, which focus on publishing books for children.

Rohini Nilekani has been an advocate for bolstering civil societies and believes that India’s affluent individuals should play a more substantial role in this endeavor. The Nilekanis have aligned themselves with the ‘Giving Pledge,’ an initiative initiated by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to encourage wealthy individuals to allocate a significant portion of their wealth to philanthropic causes. Ms. Nilekani has expressed her desire for more wealthy Indians to embrace this pledge, emphasizing that giving away 50% of one’s wealth is a modest commitment considering the immense wealth accumulated by the country’s richest individuals.

To underscore her point, she highlighted the significance of empathy when addressing issues that may not directly affect privileged individuals. She emphasized the moral and strategic imperative of recognizing the interconnectedness of all people and their shared responsibility.

_{Repurposed article originally published in NDTV.com}