Celebrating the spirit of giving back

The recent announcement of Susmita and Subroto Bagchi, together with Radha and N.S. Parthasarathy, donating ₹425 crore to set up a postgraduate medical school, along with a multi-speciality 800-bed hospital, at Indian Institute of Science’s (IISC’s) Bengaluru campus is terrific news. Much like the vaccine, this singular shot in the arm for Indian philanthropy will […]

Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani and wife Rohini have pledged part of their wealth to charity, joining the ‘Giving Pledge’ movement initiated by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and Melinda Gates where wealthy individuals commit part of their wealth to society. The Nilekanis have joined other Indian billionaires like Wipro Chairman Azim Premji, Biocon Chairman & Managing […]

he Companies Bill will soon become a law. My particular knowledge and concern is clearly about only one part of it, which requires that companies of a certain size and profitability contribute 2% of profits to corporate social responsibility (CSR). Many of us, including myself, have opposed this idea vociferously for multiple reasons, and this […]

Corporate givers like Rohini Nilekani make every buck count. India Inc. and its residents are waking up to the difference between charity and philanthropy. That could, as several works-in-progress demonstrate, result in some good. Thinking woman’s philanthropy: Rohini Nilekani with some of the beneficiaries of the microfinance initiative Sanghamitra, of which she is a part. […]