Article
The Indian Express | Rohini Nilekani writes: 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
Alliance Magazine | Beyond efficiency: Philanthropy has a Duty to Confront AI’s Vulnerabilities
By Natasha Joshi is chief strategy officer at Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. Artificial intelligence is hailed as both a catalyst for a future utopia and a harbinger of societal collapse. The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. The use case for AI in the business world is clear—optimise profits, expand the customer base, and increase […]
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 […]