Interview
The Philanthropist | A Joyful Responsibility: Rohini Nilekani’s Philanthropic Journey through White Spaces and Hopeful Futures
Rohini Nilekani did not arrive at her philanthropy with answers, but with questions. There is a particular kind of discipline in journalism: the discipline of not knowing. “You’re trained in the willingness to say, ‘I don’t yet understand this. Tell me more.’” As a young journalist covering crime, courts, and environmental struggles, Rohini learned to […]
Interview
TNIE | Clean Slate: Rohini Nilekani’s New Book is an Invitation to be Playful
Many adults among us were children who couldn’t wait to grow up, only to realise later that something precious was left behind along the way. That realisation often came with a question – if the early years really mattered so much, why were we in such a hurry to control them? That sense of loss, […]
Panel
WEF 26 | Business Case for Nature
Nature-based solutions have moved from aspiration to necessity as climate shocks and biodiversity loss intensify. Every $1 invested in restoring degraded land can generate an estimated $7-$30 in economic benefits, making the case for scaling natural infrastructure in land and ocean ecosystems both urgent and compelling. As economies tighten and priorities compete, what does it […]
Article
SSIR | Climate Adaptation Means Building Social Infrastructure
By Tanya Kak, Portfolio Lead – Climate & Environment Picture a mangrove at low tide, its roots holding the shoreline together, sifting silt, breaking waves, and making a home for life that most of us will never see. From a distance, it reads as one green band on the horizon; up close, it is an […]
Article
ET | Why we should disconnect from digital devices and reconnect with Mother Nature
Almost every morning, from November to February, we can expect magic to happen outside our bedroom window in Koramangala, a leafy suburb in Bengaluru. A male Asian paradise flycatcher, with twin white ribbons in his tail, alights on the lagerstroemia tree branch, chirps out its arrival, and swings into a preening routine. Occasionally diving delicately and deftly […]
Article
The Indian Express | We Need a Mental Health Movement Rooted in Community
When we help others, we help ourselves. It is a win-win described for samaaj by good science Just five minutes a day of contemplative practices to improve mindfulness, connection, insight and purpose have been scientifically proven to create positive changes in the brain’s chemistry. Compassion training has demonstrably shown reduced implicit bias towards people you […]
Article
IDR | Is Data Failing Us?
By Natasha Joshi, Chief Strategy Officer, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Last year, we at Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies interviewed 14 social sector leaders and funders to inquire what they thought were the biggest issues in society today, and what role philanthropy could play in addressing them. It was no surprise that mental health, absence of climate resilience, urban infrastructure […]
Article
Times of India | In Bengaluru, conversations on mental health find a home
Over the weekend, Bengaluru turned its spotlight on mental health as Manotsava: The Na tional Festival returned to the city for its second edition. The festival brought together over 130 speakers — including neuroscientists, therapists, artists, and educators — for talks, workshops, and discussions on various aspects of mental well-being. ‘OUR GOAL WAS TO MAKE […]
Interview
Business World | Rohini Nilekani On Mental Health, Its Role In India’s Growing Economy And The New Wealth Mindset
Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani reflects on India’s development journey, the importance of mental well-being and the role of ‘giving’ in a founder’s purpose. In a candid conversation on the sidelines of the second edition of Manotsava — National Mental Health Festival 2025, author and famed philanthropist Rohini Nilekani reflects on India’s development journey and shares why […]
Article
The EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025
Rohini Nilekani, Chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, has been recognised as the ‘most generous woman philanthropist’ in the EdelGive–Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025, with a personal contribution of ₹204 crore in FY ’25. She ranks 8th among the top 10 philanthropists in overall giving. Over the past five years, her total philanthropic contributions have reached […]