Podcast
Rohini Nilekani on why India’s wealthy need to do more to boost civil society
At a time when the government and the marketplace have assumed enormous power over our lives and choices, Rohini Nilekani argues that now is the time for civil societies to be boosted, and that India’s wealth creators need to do more about it. In this episode, she joins host Sandip Roy to discuss her latest […]
Interview
My grandson is my inspiration: Rohini Nilekani
Writer Rohini Nilekani is a doting grandma. And over the last five years, her grandson, Tanush, who has been the joy of her life has also been the inspiration for many of her books, including the latest one, The Great Rifasa (Rs 60). Released on Sunday, young readers, accompanied by their parents, seated themselves on […]
Interview
The World This Week – Children’s Magazine
Rohini Nilekani is the Founder-Chairperson of Arghyam, a foundation she set up for sustainable water and sanitation, which funds initiatives all across India. From 2004 to 2014, she was Founder-Chairperson and chief funder of Pratham Books, a non-profit children’s publisher that reached millions of children during her tenure. She has written several books for young children, published […]
Keynote
Keynote address at the Belongg Library Network Launch Event
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s Keynote Address at the Belongg Library Network Launch Event. Belongg Library’s vision for inclusion and diversity is very welcome and timely. We need to find spaces and tools for people to be able to explore beyond their narrow horizons. People must be allowed the luxury of moving […]
Interview
An Interaction with Rohini Nilekani, the author of ‘The Hungry Little Sky Monster’ by GurgaonMoms
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s conversation with GurgaonMoms about her latest book, ‘The Hungry Little Sky Monster’ and how to inspire the love of reading in children. ‘The Hungry Little Sky Monster’ was inspired by my first grandson, Tanush. Many toddlers all over the world ask their parents about the moon and […]
Interview
Author Rohini Nilekani on her new book The Hungry Little Sky Monster for Juggernaut, and the importance of reading for children
“The gift of a reading life to a child is the best gift of all.” Philanthropist and children’s author Rohini Nilekani wouldn’t have put it better while describing how important it is for every child to enjoy reading and derive both knowledge and pleasure from it. She was speaking with HerStory, in connection with the […]
Interview
Author Rohini Nilekani On How To Get Your Kids To Read More
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s appearance on NDTV, talking about how to encourage children to read and her latest book, ‘The Hungry Little Sky Monster’, published by Juggernaut Books. During this pandemic and the lockdown, parents have become increasingly worried about the amount of screen time that is good for their children. […]
Article
Gift a Reading Life to a Child this Festive Season
What is a good time to introduce a child to books? Different parents may have different answers. I found the right age to be six months. For both my children, I had cloth, plastic or board books about animals or very simple stories with repetitive words. I would show them the books, and slowly read […]
Panel
ASER 2020 Wave 1 Report Release
This is an edited version of a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Madhav Chavan and featuring Mr. Ashish Dhawan from Central Square Foundation, Rohini Nilekani from Arghyam, and Vineet Nayar from Sampark Foundation. The ASER 2020 survey is particularly important because it is not only concerned with learning outcomes, but also the process of […]
Keynote
Booked & Hooked: Bringing Stories to Every Child | Keynote Address at Neev Book Award 2020 Special
Rohini Nilekani’s Keynote Address at the Neev Book Award 2020 Special. The title of her talk is “Booked & Hooked: Bringing Stories to Every Child” Namaste and good morning, book lovers. It is truly a pleasure and an honour to be giving this keynote address at the Neev Literature Festival, and to be taking part […]
Interview
Samaaj, Sarkaar and Bazaar: The New Normal in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s conversation with ET Now, about the Coronavirus pandemic and the changes it has brought in her work and in society at large. The pandemic has brought many changes in our lives, some for better and others for worse. The negative repercussions are being felt by people of […]
Article
Lockdown: Online Classes – Let’s Plan, not Ban
In its wisdom, the state has recently banned all online teaching for classes 1-5. The state comes with honourable intentions. The arguments being made are on the grounds of equity, public health and learning. The equity argument is that online learning necessitates reliable access to digital devices, which not all children have. The health argument […]
Interview
Rohini Nilekani on Technology and Education
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s interview on the importance of digital-led education and early childhood learning, on Pratham’s 25th anniversary. Every child deserves education as a fundamental right in this country. But even today, we are not able to guarantee that right for all the children in India. The journey of bringing […]
Article
Why I Love To Read
My childhood was spent between the pages of hundreds of books. My mother had to force me away from the book I was clutching so that I could do my daily chores, such as help set the table. Thank God for all those authors and illustrators who carried me off into a world of make-believe, […]
Interview
INKtalks: Rohini Nilekani: From Starting Infosys to Saving Water
Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani talks to Lakshmi Pratury about setting up Infosys in the early 90’s, her attempt to encourage children to read more books, and her foundation, Arghyam, which works with water and sanitation issues. My marriage and my family’s journey with Infosys happened almost at the same time, and I think we were so […]
Book
Listen to My Body – Pratham Books – Children’s Books
Each of us has a wonderful body. But have you ever listened to what it tells you?. This is a Level 2 book for children who recognize familiar words and can read new words with help. View PDF
Book
Not Now, Not Now! – Pratham Books – Children’s Books
The little boy in this story wants to do something now, but all his elders say NOT NOW! Do you get angry when someone says that to you? This is a Level 1 book for children who are eager to begin reading. View PDF
Panel
#BlrLitFest 2014 | Children and Young Adult Fiction
This is an edited version of a panel discussion on children’s and young adult fiction with Rohini Nilekani, Paro Anand, Marie Munkara, and Lakshmi Devnath, at the Bangalore Literature Festival, 2014. I have always thought of myself as a writer, no matter what else I have done in my life. When my children were young, […]
Book
Too Much Noise – Pratham Books
Too Much Noise – Pratham Books – Children’s Books This is a Level 2 book for children who recognize familiar words and can read new words with help. View PDF
Keynote
Giving Away A Billion Books: Rohini Nilekani at TEDxGateway
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s talk, ‘Giving Away A Billion Books’, delivered at a TEDx Gateway event. Rohini Nilekani was the Founder-Chairperson of Pratham Books, a charitable trust which seeks to put “A book in every child’s hand.” When I was a child, I learned a skill that I believe has given […]
Interview
Rohini Nilekani pours her wealth into getting books to India’s poorest children
When she found herself suddenly wealthy, the Indian philanthropist founded Pratham Books, a nonprofit publisher that uses innovative ways to put low-cost books in the hands of millions of kids. “My mission is to put a book in every child’s hand,” says Rohini Nilekani That’s an ambitious goal anywhere, but especially in India, where there […]
Keynote
Address at 10th Anniversary of Akshara Foundation
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s speech on equitable quality education for all children, organised as a part of Akshara’s 10th Anniversary celebrations. Rohini spoke about the breadth and depth available today in the field of education, and pledged for social inclusion, for an equitable dispensation for marginalised and underprivileged children. One […]
Article
Uncommon Ground – For The Children Of India
The debate has shifted to higher studies, but we I cannot afford to take the foot off the pedal on early education. In this, the final column in this series, I turn to a core area of my work over the past decade—the education and development of young children. Some sights and sounds remain sharply […]
Article
They read better today
More than 95 per cent of 69,800 children in government schools can read better today; 45,000 children who could not read before can now read without any hitch. The 45-day accelerated reading programme, conducted jointly by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Akshara Foundation across primary classes in over 1,400 government schools in Bangalore, has done wonders […]
Book
Flying High – Pratham Books
Go along with Chandu as he dreams of flying. What do you dream of? This is a Level 2 book for children who recognize familiar words and can read new words with help. View PDF
Article
Campaign Read India: Get Them Glued To Books, Happily
ON International Literacy Day, it is time to do some stock-taking. And statistics do not console when it comes to the continuing high rate of school dropouts and the inability of even 50 percent of children going to government schools to read fluently. But the picture is not entirely bleak. In Bangalore, the Akshara Foundation […]