Panel
What lies ahead? Challenges and Opportunities for Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar
This is an edited version of a panel discussion moderated by Rohini Nilekani, hosted by ATREE Bangalore. The panellists included Veena Srinivasan, K Vijayraghavan, Sameer Shisodia and Harini Nagendra, who discussed the role of science and technology in the environmental crisis and sustainable economy in the future. We know by now that all the problems […]
Interview
Citizens need to get involved in governance: Rohini Nilekani
Rohini Nilekani, philanthropist and founder of Arghyam Foundation, believes that the state ( sarkaar), the market ( bazaar), and society ( samaaj) should strive for a balance with none of them having too much power. Her new book, Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar: A Citizen-First Approach, is a collection of essays on what citizens can do to […]
Interview
India@75 I Samaaj, Sarkar, Bazaar I Rohini Nilekani on the Citizen, State& Markets I Barkha Dutt
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s conversation with Barkha Dutt on her new book and the intersection of the markets, society, and state. I haven’t spoken a lot about the incident that I mention in the introduction of my book, which started me on my engagement with civic issues, because tragedies happen in […]
Panel
Charcha 2021 Plenary: Samaaj, Sarkaar and Bazaar for India’s Development
This is an edited version of the Charcha 2021 plenary session focusing on the role of the three pillars – government, business and civil society – in enabling India’s development. The participants discuss the major challenges faced by each sector, the key points of intersection, and how the collaboration between Samaaj, Sarkaar, and Bazaar can […]
Article
Philanthropy Should be Humble, but not Modest
Apart from building a flexible and resilient framework for the future, philanthropists, civil society and the government must work in tandem so that every rupee is absorbed on the ground We can definitely say that civil society and the philanthropy sector stepped up rapidly in the face of the pandemic, March 2020 onward. Very quickly, […]
Panel
Applying an (Eco)system Approach to Funding — Experiences from Foundations and Philanthropies
The webinar tackled the issue that traditional funding models in international development (and beyond) based on siloed interventions and a projectized logic, rigid log-frames and short-term frameworks are not a good fit to foster societal transformations required for the world to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. This is an edited version of a webinar on […]
Article
Love, not log frames
Gautam John, Director of Strategy, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, on how philanthropy needs an overhaul, from narrow illusions of control to promoting empathy and agency. We will likely remember 2020 for three things. The year the phrase ‘you are on mute’ went mainstream. The year we want to forget, and not view in hindsight. And the […]
Article
Stewards, not Bystanders: Civil Society Creates New Opportunity to Co-Design Cities
Citizens now have more opportunities to take active part in building urban resilience This year, I have been from Bengaluru to Kabini and back several times. Every time I return from the forest and the rural countryside, my eyes and senses hit refresh, and I see my home city with a new perspective. The overwhelming […]
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 […]
Panel
Closing Address | Beyond #Charcha2020: India’s Priorities
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s conversation with Ashish Dhawan and Sanjay Pugalia about the next steps for India’s resurgence from the current crisis. The session was part of #Charcha2020, which brought together 100+ hours of insights and knowledge shared across events by leading businessmen, policymakers, academicians, philanthropists, community leaders, and changemakers. [A […]
Article
The Unexplored Potential of Learning Beyond Schooling
The COVID-19 crisis should push us to re-imagine education in radical ways that we’ll be thankful for. At six, in grade 1, my daughter returned from school in a chirpy mood. “What did you study today?” I asked. She was puzzled. “I didn’t study anything,” she replied, “but I learnt a lot.” Education in the […]
Panel
IPSMF | Panel Discussion on ‘The Future of News Media & The Role Of Independent Media’
This is an edited version of the IPSMF Panel Discussion on The Future of News Media & The Role Of Independent Media on October 25, 2019, at BIC, Bengaluru, moderated by Rohini Nilekani. The panellists included Anya Schiffrin, Professor, Columbia University; Govind Ethiraj, Founder, IndiaSpend; Jagannathan R, Editorial Director, Swarajya; Seema Singh, Founding Editor, The […]
Keynote
Bangalore’s Shapeshifts: A Personal Journey
This is an edited version of a talk Rohini Nilekani gave as part of a curated series called ‘Speaking of the City,’ curated by Bangalore’s World-Famous Semi-Deluxe Writing Program at Shoonya. Rohini talks about the city’s role in her work as a philanthropist and social innovator. An Accidental Bangalorean It’s been 35 years […]
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 […]
Keynote
Impact and Failures | Opening Keynote at Impact Failure Conclave, 2018
Rohini’s opening keynote delivered at the Impact Failure Conclave 2018 This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s opening keynote delivered at the Impact Failure Conclave 2018. When we think about failure, the way it’s received by samaaj (society), bazaar (markets), and sarkaar (state) are quite different. In the social sector, we have realised how […]
Keynote
Private Resources and the Public Interest: How can Philanthropy Enhance Social Good?
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s talk on how philanthropy can enhance social good given at CSDS, New Delhi. According to Credit Suisse, India’s richest 1% own 58% of the country’s wealth. Structural inequity is historically embedded in India, but it seems to be worsening. With this in mind, what is the public […]
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 […]
Article
A Mirage or an Opportunity? 21st Century Water Governance.
If water governance does not improve in India, we seem headed straight towards disaster. Our groundwater tables are abysmally low in many parts of the country; many of our main river basins are closed. And the expressed demand for water might not even be half-met in the next decade. So the question of how to […]
Article
Water and cities: Information, innovation and implementation
We have to get smarter about our cities. Especially when it comes to the most basic of public services—water supply. Not one Indian city, including the capital, New Delhi, can claim that every resident has access to safe water from a tap in their home. View PDF
Keynote
Collaborative Giving and the Path Ahead for Indian Philanthropy
This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s opening address on Collaborative Giving and the Path Ahead for Indian Philanthropy, on Philanthropy Day at DPW, 2016. This is a really exciting point in the history of Indian philanthropy, where almost anything seems possible. It’s also a point where we need to be thinking about collaboration […]
Book
Sringeri Srinivas Learns to Laugh – Pratham Books
Sringeri Srinivas Learns to Laugh – Pratham Books. This is a Level 2 book for children who recognize familiar words and can read new words with help. View PDF
Article
Invisible water, visible crisis
By now, everyone in India understands that we have a serious water crisis. Too many of our rivers are polluted, dammed, or dying. Rainfall is becoming increasingly erratic, and expected to become more so. Our groundwater is depleting fast. Our lakes are drying up or filling with sewage, especially in urban centres. Our water and […]
Panel
Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility in South Asia and the US
This is an edited version of a panel discussion on “The Use of Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility for Social Change in South Asia and the US” with Rohini Nilekani, Geeta Pradhan, and Alnoor Ebrahim. The event was presented by The South Asia Institute at Harvard University in 2014. It was cosponsored by the Hauser […]
Keynote
The Next Big Thing – Quadrum Presents QED
This is an edited version of Rohini and Nandan Nilekani’s talk, The Next Big Thing — Quadrum Presents QED. As Nandan and I travel, we try to watch out for new trends around the world. Even now, the world is divided into countries like ours, where half the population is still in the 19th […]
Article
Looking Back | Chairperson’s Letter at Pratham Books
This letter was written for Pratham Books Annual Report 2013-2014. We had more passion than experience. We had more commitment than competence. Like most start-ups, Pratham Books began with little more than a dream. Sure, it was a grand vision. We wanted to enable ‘A Book in Every Child’s Hand’. Born out of the Pratham […]
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 […]
TV Show
Uncommon Ground | YC Deveshwar and Sunita Narain on Sustainable Development
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 business and sustainability with Yogesh Deveshwar, the chairman of ITC, and Sunita Narain, […]
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) […]
Keynote
Emerging Challenges for Civil Society in India
A keynote speech delivered at the 25th Anniversary of Rotary club in 2008 The Indian third sector – as the non-profit sector is sometimes called, is one of the largest and certainly the most diverse in the world. There are civil society organizations in virtually every area of human endeavour, including community bee-keeping! As for […]
Article
The City of Giving
Philanthropy is not just about donating money, it is about making an impact with your money, improving someone’s life, and Bangaloreans seem to understand this only too well. The Garden City aka Silicon Valley just earned itself a new sobriquet — the City of Giving. To be more precise, three of our citizens have earned […]
Interview
Family matters
Will the great Indian family become a myth or an extinct entity? The Indian family system has upheld Indian culture. But now, the value system has changed and with it the structure and nature of the family too. The book ‘The Great Indian Families: New Roles, Old responsibilities’ by Gitanjali Prasad dwells upon these emerging […]
Article
New indignation, new alignment
Sometimes, it seems as though much of the world is trying to crowd into Bangalore. Hold that thought. At almost seven million, our population in this city is already more than the population of new-age countries such as Ireland, and almost half of that of Chile.
Interview
Chaudhvin Ka Chand Over City Slum – Off to school, with Waheeda Rehman
Legendary actress joins hands with Akshara Foundation to open new world for slum children. IT was a rare day in Bangalore’s largest slum. Visiting a, school at the end of a narrow muddy lane was one of Bollywood’s most accomplished actresses of all time – Waheeda Rehman, with Rohini Nilekani. View PDF