Letter | Rohini & Nandan Nilekani Join The Giving Pledge

Strategic Philanthropy | Nov 18, 2017

Bhagwad Gita- “Karmanye Va dhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana, Ma karma phalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani”. This verse reminds us that we have a right to do our duty but no automatic right to the fruits from the doing. So it is the idea of action itself that should motivate us much more than the ego-driven desire for its results. It is also critical that we do not slip into inaction fearing that we may not be able to reap direct reward. It is to this ideal that we pledge.

View PDF

More like this

Strategic Philanthropy

We need to talk about failure in the social sector: NGOs must fail to succeed

A lot of ink is spilled and awards are bestowed each year celebrating the success of the social sector—and there is much to celebrate. But the truth is, if innovation is essential to the ultimate achievements of the sector, we should spend less time on success, and more time on failure. We lament the inability […]

Jan 22, 2019 | Article

Strategic Philanthropy

Asia's 2018 Heroes Of Philanthropy: Putting Wealth To A Good Cause

Nandan & Rohini Nilekani, 63, 59. Cofounder, Infosys; founder, Arghyam Pledged to donate 50% of their wealth in November 2017 under the Giving Pledge and said, “Wealth comes with huge responsibility and is best deployed for the larger public interest.” Past contributions include $5 million to the premier Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in Mumbai, […]

Nov 15, 2018 | Personality

Accountability & Transparency | Strategic Philanthropy

To fail is to have dared | IDR Failure Files

Philanthropist, author, and former journalist Rohini Nilekani speaks to India Development Review (IDR) co-founder and CEO, Smarinita Shetty, on why failure needs to be underwritten in the social sector, and how philanthropists must develop more patience and create a space that normalises failure in the context of nonprofit work. You can listen to the full […]

Oct 15, 2021 |

Civil Society | Strategic Philanthropy

Rohini Nilekani on the Secret to Successful Governance | Grand Tamasha

Rohini Nilekani is an author and philanthropist who has worked for over three decades in India’s social sectors. She is the founder of Arghyam, a foundation for sustainable water and sanitation, and she also co-founded Pratham Books, a nonprofit which aims to enable access to reading for millions of children. With her husband Nandan, she […]

Oct 5, 2022 |

Back to the top