Article
IDR | The limits of AI in social change
– Gautam John, CEO, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies More actors—from grantmaking to service delivery—are exploring the use of AI. However, the excitement around scale and efficiency often overshadows a critical question: What does it mean to bring machine-generated abstraction into systems built on trust, context, and relationship? In systems of social change, we grapple with an enduring tension: connection versus abstraction. Connection […]
Article
Hindustan Times | Where the wild things are
On a private reserve, Rohini Nilekani comes safely face to face with elephants and rhinos. Can we find ways to coexist in India too, adapting to animals as they have to us? It was a bunker made of reinforced concrete and steel. It was half underground, and camouflaged with mud, leaves and grass. Just beyond […]
Keynote
Pukar’s Event | Journey of Transformation
At the PUKAR Research Fellowship graduation, Natasha Joshi, spoke about working in Samaaj and the power of collective action. She reflected on how grassroots efforts can drive meaningful social change.
Panel
Purposeful Capital for a Livable Future | AndPurpose Forum, Bengaluru
At the AndPurpose Forum held in Bengaluru in July 2025, Gautam John (CEO, RNP) spoke about how philanthropic capital and collective action can drive systemic change. The panel included Shobha Venkataraman (Partner, Elevar Equity) and A. B. Chakravarthy (Co-CEO, Upaya Social Ventures) with Kamna Hazrati (Founder, AndPurpose) as moderator. The discussion shed light on the […]
Article
Alliance Magazine | What if we funded justice differently?
Justice has often been philanthropy’s stepchild. In numerous donor forums I’ve attended, we’ve eagerly rallied around education, health, and livelihoods. However—when the conversation turns to justice, ensuring people can access their rights, challenge injustice, or navigate the legal system—the energy shifts. Justice is perceived as peripheral, abstract, or difficult to measure. Many funders treat it […]
Interview
The New Indian Express | A ‘tail’ of the wild: Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani on her debut documentary
Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani dives into the very essence of her award-winning debut documentary Nilgiris – A Shared Wilderness, which is set to release on July 18, and its alarming reminder to preserve the country’s fading biodiversity A story of passion unfolded in the verdant hills of the Nilgiris a couple of years ago. Bankrolled by […]
Article
The Indian Express | Rohini Nilekani Writes: Why Heat Action Plans must factor in access to ‘smart’ fabrics
Natural fibres have served India well – but climate extremes demand innovation in what we wear, especially for those who can’t escape the sun. The monsoon arrived early this year, bringing relief across the country. It may be hard to forget the record-high summer temperatures, though, when parts of Delhi felt like 54 degrees Celsius […]
The New Indian Express Podcast | Purpose Meets Policy
In this episode of The Expressions Podcast, host Neha speaks with Natasha Joshi, strategist at Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, on gender, education, mental health, and the future of care in a tech-driven world. Natasha reflects on building India’s first major mental health festival, the need to include boys and men in equity conversations, and caregiving as […]
Article
Hindustan Times | Rohini Nilekani writes: India’s biodiversity is a strategic advantage
Biodiversity markets are deepening, with a growing demand for high-quality carbon credits with biodiversity safeguards As India’s geopolitical future sways with the swings of the global political pendulum, it is worth reflecting on the constant in the chaos, a North Star among spinning constellations. India’s biodiversity can be that sanctuary, that bank which helps us […]
Article
AARP International | Rohini Nilekani writes: A Commentary on Aging in India
In 2025, India had the largest population of young people of any country in the world. Within a couple of decades, it will have the largest cohort of people age 60+. This will not be just a demographic transition; it will also mark a seismic cultural shift — and India will need to find ways […]
