Article
Alliance Magazine | A heat justice compass for philanthropic action
By Tanya Kak (Climate & Environment Portfolio Lead, RNP) On a field visit in Pune, India, I heard one refrain repeatedly: ‘It’s hot but we’re used to it’. I had made this trip with Prayas Energy and Health Group, one of several partners we support at the Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP), and who work with street vendors, construction […]
Others
Press Release | NIMHANS, NCBS, and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies Announce the Second Edition of the National Mental Health Festival, Manotsava, in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, India, Oct 10, 2025 – Manotsava, the National Mental Health Festival, returns on 8–9 November 2025 at The Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru. Co-hosted by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNP), National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), and National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), the festival will bring together leading voices from mental health, science, […]
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 […]
