Rohini Nilekani

Meet India’s most generous woman.

She’s a writer, a former journalist, and the architect of a radically different kind of wealth: social capital.

In 2017, Rohini Nilekani and her husband (Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani) signed the Giving Pledge, committing half their wealth to philanthropy.

By 2024, they’d already donated ₹450+ crores, or $50M+.

But let’s rewind.

Rohini began as a reporter for Bombay Magazine and Sunday.

Then turned to fiction.

Her debut novel Stillborn (1998) was a medical thriller.

Her second book, Uncommon Ground, was based on her NDTV show, where she brought CEOs and social activists together on air.

In 2001, she founded Arghyam to tackle India’s looming water crisis.

In 2004, she co-founded Pratham Books, making millions of children’s books freely available via Creative Commons.

In 2014, she co-created EkStep, a tech platform for foundational literacy and learning.

And on top of that, she helped build Akshara Foundation (education) and ATREE (environmental research).

She supports 80+ organizations in mental health, climate, gender equity, animal welfare, and independent media.

And she does much of it anonymously.

When she gives from conscience, she stays quiet.

When she gives strategically, she speaks up, so others can follow.

In 2023, she gave ₹100 cr ($11.2M) to NIMHANS for mental health research.

In 2022, she topped the EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List of women donors.

And in 2024, she was awarded the Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice.

Even her daughter Janhavi Nilekani took the baton forward, founding the Aastrika Foundation for maternal health.

Rohini Nilekani’s goal isn’t charity. It’s agency.

And she believes Samaaj (society) must come before Sarkaar (government) and Bazaar (market).