Keynote
Keynote by Rohini Nilekani – Hearth Summit Bangalore 2024
At the Hearth Summit Bangalore 2024, Rohini Nilekani (Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies), underscored the importance of building robust support systems for changemakers, social sector professionals & leaders committed to betterment of samaaj. She articulated the progression from empathy to action, distinguishing empathy as the understanding of others’ suffering and compassion as a vital next step […]
Keynote
Reflections by Rohini Nilekani – National Mental Health Festival
Rohini Nilekani (Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies) in her concluding address at Mannotsava: National Mental Health Festival, highlighted the critical need for public engagement platforms that make mental healthcare more accessible and engaging. She reflected on the significance of uniting doctors, academics, mental health practitioners, civil society organizations, artists, and the public – to foster collective […]
Keynote
Inaugural Address by Rohini Nilekani – Sci560 Exhibition Launch, Science Gallery Bengaluru
Rohini Nilekani (Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and Board Member, Science Gallery Bengaluru), in her inaugural address at the exhibition launch of Sci560 – an exhibition that uncovers Bengaluru’s rich scientific legacy – speaks about the city’s impressive military-industrial-academic complex. She emphasises that in order to cultivate a robust scientific temper among citizens, there is a […]
Keynote
Keynote Address – Launch of “Wealth with Purpose: A Report on Private Indian Philanthropy”
Rohini Nilekani (Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and Core Founder of AIP), in her Keynote Address at the launch event for the AIP-BCG report, “Wealth with Purpose: A Report on Private Indian Philanthropy,” emphasised the critical role that the report will play in expanding the understanding of philanthropy in India. She also spoke about the importance of […]
Article
Financial Express | The fundamentals of Giving
Op-ed co-authored by Rohini Nilekani & Vidya Shah in the Financial Express Like the market in India boomed once tight controls were lifted, NGOs and CSOs in the country can thrive, and have more sustainable impact, if donor capital is flexible and NGOs can invest in their own growth. The number of wealthy Indians has […]
Report
Report: What’s it like being a young man in urban India today?
Beneath the apparent privileges that boys enjoy, there is immense pressure to perform. The societal expectations are set for them, irrespective of economic background. Men are an equal half of the societal dynamic. For behaviour to shift, we need to acknowledge the anxieties and motivations that propel actions. This understanding is relevant not just for […]
Interview
#IIMChat with Rohini Nilekani
This is an edited version of a conversation with Rohini and Nandan Nilekani as part of the #IIMChat series hosted by IIM alumni in Singapore. The event was moderated by Sonia Gupta, Vidya Vasania, and Suresh Shankar. Like all of us in this room, while I didn’t grow up rich, I still grew up very […]
Interview
‘You have got to be optimistic in a young country,’ says Rohini Nilekani
Few people in India have confronted issues of social urgency in the many ways that Rohini Nilekani does—as a philanthropist, but equally, as a founder-member of some of India’s best-known civil society organisations, as an inveterate mediator between society, state and market, and as a writer who has thought long and hard about what happens […]
Article
The young, optimistic and idealistic will shape India at 100
It is 75 years since we raised our own flag in our own country, reclaiming it for ever more. What a time for celebration. Here we are, a young democracy, alive with the throbbing hopes of a young population, seeking to fulfil the promise of the Constitution that we gave ourselves in the new India. […]
Article
Indian philanthropists need to become bolder, lead with trust, look for new areas to fund: Rohini Nilekani
Winner of FILA 2022 Grassroots Philanthropist, Nilekani props up causes that others may find risky, and steers her philanthropy by having an ear to the ground, operating from a place of trust, and being liberal with her time for the causes and people she supports By Divya J Shekhar, Forbes India Staff It was less […]
Article
India Inc: Lending a Helping Hand
Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani, who donated Rs 47 crore of her personal wealth, feels the rich in India need to open their purses more. Noted philanthropist and chairperson of Arghyam Foundation Rohini Nilekani feels the philanthropy sector changed during the coronavirus pandemic as members of civil society donated generously. However, she is of the opinion that […]
Interview
Gandhi’s timeless inspiration to Mission Leaders” with Ramachandra Guha
This is an edited version of a conversation with Ramchandra Guha and Rohini Nilekani. They discuss how Gandhi shaped his intent and life to fulfil his various goals of individual freedom and agency, a true Swarajya, and how he achieved impact at scale. Many of the choices he grappled with are relevant to us today. […]
Interview
Philanthropy and Covid-19: Who will be India’s Rockefeller?
Although a handful of Indian billionaire families have stepped up to help mitigate the pandemic’s fallout, India is yet to inculcate a culture of philanthropy among the super-rich In 1918, an in!uenza virus emerged (probably in the US) that would spread around the world, and one of its earliest appearances in lethal form came in […]
Interview
India’s Richest are Giving Away More
The total amount of philanthropic donations made by the top 112 richest in the country, according to the recently released EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List, has increased by 175% to touch ₹12,050 crore in 2020. The list is being constantly improved and some feel it needs more computational fine-tuning. Yet, the bigger message is about […]
Panel
Rohini Nilekani’s Comments on Philanthropy: It’s Time to up the Game
Rohini Nilekani’s comments on a panel discussing Mr Azim Premji’s new commitment to philanthropy totalling $21 billion. The panel discusses whether there are lessons in compassionate capitalism here for India Inc? What is the future of philanthropy in India? What are the challenges? How can India increase the effectiveness of charity? The panel discusses what […]
Article
Address To India Climate Collaborative
Namaste everyone. I’m so happy at the opportunity to address you however briefly at the beginning of the second convening of the India Climate Collaborative. I think the time could not be more opportune especially when we are witnessing the human tragedy unfolding around us in the wake of the Kerala and Karnataka floods. But […]
Keynote
Rohini Nilekani: Digital Dependencies
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s comments on the “Digital Dependencies” panel at Digital Impact Mumbai Conference presented by the Stanford PACS on Feb 7, 2018. The panel discussion on “Digital Dependencies” was conducted by Lucy Bernholz, Director, Digital Civil Society Lab, Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society. They discussed ways that […]
Panel
We The People | Are India’s Rich Charitable Enough?
According to a report, the richest 1% Indians possess 58% of all wealth in the country. With the country’s growing income gap, the silver lining seems to be the deepening philanthropic streak in India’s ultra rich; the Nilekanis being the latest addition to the list of Indian billionaires who have pledged a portion of their […]
Article
Rohini Nilekani’s Message for GivingTuesday India
believe that events Like #GivingTuesdaylndia and Daan Utsav are ways for us to reach beyond ourselves. In a country where far too many people are still waiting to experience economic and social dignity, these are attempts at building an integrated society, a good samaaj, which is the true foundation of successful nations. I hope people […]
Interview
Rohini Nilekani on the Role of Women in Philanthropy
Rohini Nilekani on the Role of Women in Philanthropy – Dasra India. This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s talk on the Role of Women in Philanthropy at the Indian Philanthropy Forum held by Dasra. The Economic Times has reported that Indian women are the most stressed in the world. 87% of women here […]
Article
Forbes India PHILANTHROPY AWARDS 2014
THE CAUSE AND THE EFFECT: Celebrating the best of philanthropy in India. These are the winners of the Forbes India Philanthropy Awards 2014, chosen by our eminent jury comprising Narayanan Vaghul (jury chair and former chairman of ICICI Bank), MV Subbiah (former executive chairman, Murugappa Group), Jayant Sinha (currently minister of state for finance) and Rohini Nilekani (founder-chairperson, Arghyam). View PDF
Article
Celebrating the spirit of giving back
It is heartening to see the manner in which our philanthropy award winners are identifying problems and addressing them in a focussed manner. At Forbes India, chronicling the fascinating stories of entrepreneurial capitalism is an integral part of what we do. How entrepreneurs set up businesses, grow them and create wealth for shareholders has been […]
Interview
Giving Matters | Dasra Philanthropy Forum
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s conversation with Neera Nundy during the Dasra Philanthropy Forum, held at the Ford Foundation in New York. 15 years ago, when we came into some wealth, I was lucky enough to have invested in a small company which my husband had started. Over the years, it made […]
Keynote
An Approach To Integrated Water Management
By Lisa Tsering, Staff Reporter. Dec 03, 2012. BERKELEY, Calif., United States Grounded and detail-driven, water activist Rohini Nilekani is committed to helping India solve its water crisis one village at a time. Nilekani, the founder and chair of Arghyam, an NGO based in Bangalore that works to improve water and sanitation in small towns across […]
Article
Invitation – Launch of Uncommon Ground – India International Centre, New Delhi
Penguin Books India cordially invites you to the launch of Uncommon Ground – Dialogues between Business and Social leaders – by Rohini Nilekani, on Thursday 20 October 2011 at 7.00 p.m. at Seminar Halls 2 & 3, First Floor, New Extension Building, India International Centre, 10 Max Mueller Marg, New Delhi. The author will be […]
Article
Uncommon Ground – by Rohini Nilekani
The author brings together titans of industry and leaders of civil society to explore eight themes relevant to India’s development. View PDF
Article
Water Challenges Asia’s Rising Powers – Part II
By July this year, the monsoon has established itself vigorously over much of the subcontinent. The anxieties of the long, intense summer months, when nations hold their collective breath in anticipation of the cooling, life-giving rain, have receded. But the region’s1.6 billion people know that next summer, the worres will return. Water is ultimately a […]
TV Show
Uncommon Ground | Mukesh Ambani and RK Pachauri on Energy and the New Realities
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s Uncommon Ground, where she brings together titans of industry and leaders of civil society to explore eight themes that are highly relevant for our future development. In this episode, she moderates a discussion on energy with Dr. RK Pachauri, Director General of The Energy Research Institute (TERI) […]
Article
One Common Issue – Two Uncommon Minds – Uncommon Ground
Writer and philanthropist, Rohini Nilekani anchors an electrifying episode of UNCOMMON GROUND, fuelling dialogue between industrialist Anand Mahindra and social activist Medha Patkar on the land rights issue that challenges India. View PDF
Article
Femme De Force – DAUGHTER, WIFE. MOTHER – India Woman today is so much more than this.
SHE IS THE FORCE THAT’S INSPIRING THE NATION AND THE WORLD. The woman you see here is Rohini Nilekani, wife of Infosys CEO, Nandan Nilekani. But more important, she is a woman with strong beliefs about how one can “give back to the society in small measure what one receives in such abundance”. A former […]
Interview
Unveiling grandeur of Sahyadris
MAGNIFICENT”, “awe-some”, “breathtaking” are the words which come to mind if you happen to take in the vision the Malabar coast of Southern India along the Arabian Sea, wherein lies a range of mountains known as the Western Ghats or Sahyadris. One can’t but marvel at the painstaking effort of Kamal Bawa, a professor in […]
Article
The ‘Why Why Girl’ launched –
The Vice- Captain of the Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid, on Monday released the noted writer Ma- hashveta Devi’s book, “The Why Why Girl”, under the Read India Movement aimed at bringing down the number of illiterate children. The book has been brought out by Pratham, of which the Bangtilore-based Akshara Foundation is a member. […]
Article
Women In India
Women in India share many of the problems that face their counterparts in the U.S., such as sexual harassment, lower wages, political exclusion, and physical violence which, at its worst, culminates in rape and even brideburning. In addition, however, most Indian women, and in fact many women all over the Third World, carry the double […]