August 23, 2022
Interview

During the pandemic, we learned how Samaaj, Sarkaar and Bazaar work together in a crisis: Rohini Nilekani

This year marks 30 years since philanthropist-author Rohini Nilekani started her journey in civic engagement. She started with Nagarik, a public charitable trust, in 1992 and is now the Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and Director of EkStep, a non-profit education platform. She is the Co-founder and Former Chairperson of Arghyam, a foundation she set […]

January 20, 2021
Article

Women in Philanthropy: A conversation with IMC Ladies Wing

A conversation between IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Rohini Nilekani on the subject of Women in philanthropy- a personal journey, a public conversation. This is an edited version of a conversation between Rohini Nilekani and Shloka Nath, hosted by the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. They discuss the role of women in […]

August 12, 2020
Panel

Grey Matters – Conversations with Women Leaders Defying Ageism in the Pandemic

This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s conversation with Arundhati Nag, Geetha Narayanan, Nirupama Menon Rao, and Rekha Menon on defying agism in the pandemic. In this session on BIC Streams: Grey Matters, these iconic Bengaluru women, now in their 60’s or more address issues of ageism, sexism, and the uncharted future. As leaders […]

May 15, 2020
Panel

The Missing Half – How to Bring Men to the Gender Conversation?

This is an edited version of a panel discussion titled ‘The Missing Half – How to Bring Men to the Gender Conversation?’ Devyani Srinivasan, an independent researcher assisting Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, participated along with Ravi Verma, Director of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) Asia; Sujata Khandekar, Executive Director of CORO India; Gary […]

April 13, 2019
Keynote

Gender Equity – Including Young Men and Boys | 12th Dr. Lalita Iyer Memorial Lecture

This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s speech, “Gender Equity – Including Young Men and Boys” at the 12th Dr. Lalita Iyer Memorial Lecture at IIM, Ahmedabad on April 13, 2019 at IIM, Ahmedabad. When Nandan and I became wealthy, the responsibility of that wealth sat heavy on our shoulders, but the duty to […]

March 2, 2019
Keynote

Masculinity and India’s Young Men | Rohini Nilekani’s Address at OTV’s Prerana 2019

This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s talk on Masculinity and India’s Young Men at OTV’s Prerana 2019. With 230 million men below the age of 18 in India, Rohini talks about how we need to start doing the work of questioning our understanding of masculinity and providing safe spaces for boys and men […]

October 7, 2018
Keynote

Gender Equity: Working with Young Men and Boys | We The Women, Bangalore

This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s conversation with Raghu Karnad at We the Women in Bangalore. She talks about why we must engage men as stakeholders and co-beneficiaries in gender equity.   Over the past 20 years of my philanthropic work, we’ve seen a fair amount of advancement with regards to women’s empowerment. […]

December 13, 2017
Article

Want Empowered Women? Start Thinking About how to Help Young Men.

We need to turn to the 200 million young men of India with as much urgency and focus as we spend on the millions of young women in the country. Every day, we hear of horrible atrocities that have taken place against girls and women in India. This is despite the fact that as a country, […]

September 15, 2015
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 […]

January 28, 2013
Interview

Jaipur Literature Festival, 2013 | A Surrogate Life

This is an edited version of a conversation at the Jaipur Literature Festival, 2013, between Kishwar Desai, Jaishree Misra, and Rohini Nilekani, as part of the Rajasthan Patrika Series.     Often, I find myself wishing that the subject of my book, “Stillborn” was not as relevant as it is today. But when we look […]

March 9, 2008
Article

Paying women their due on their day

Women’s role important, says Karnataka High Court Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph. Inaugurating Women’s Day celebrations jointly organised by Department of Women and Child Development and Karnataka Legal Services Authority, in Bangalore, Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph said women have important role in everybody’s life. Special awards for active Stree Shakti self help groups, Kitturu Chennamma awards […]

March 8, 2008
Article

Women seek more power and a quota –

When the cry for equality for women reached the peak, one man sighed wistfully and said, “Viva la the difference”(Long live the difference).It was left to one’s imagination to ponder and decide what he was referring to. The city on Saturday celebrated International Women’s Day. with a rally, a walk and several functions to honour […]

April 23, 2006
Interview

Power Women – Stand Alone – Doing it All

Urban Indian Women are making choices and making them work. ROHINI NILEKANI – 46 , S0CIAL WORKER – Stand Alone Role call: Wears many hats in the social sector. A trust fund of Rs 100 crore focuses on access to water while the Akshara Foundation works with over one lakh children under the Pratham network. […]

January 10, 1985
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 […]

January 1, 1984
Article

The Fractured Image

A few signs are showing that women are coming into their own in Indian cinema…. not very radically so, but at least differently from men. Hopefully, in a larger context, film festivals and discussions like the one presented by Vimochana, have their own role to play in fostering a climate for this social transformation. View […]