Rohini Nilekani: A Visionary Philanthropist

Rohini Nilekani is an Indian-born journalist, author, and philanthropist. She is the Founder of the Arghyam Foundation and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. She founded several nonprofit organizations and sits on the environmental think tank ATREE board. In her career, she has worked for Bombay magazine and Sunday magazine.

Rohini grew up in a middle-class family where her mother was a housewife and her father was an engineer. She completed her degree in free literature from Elphinstone College, where she also met her better half, Nandan Nilekani, popularly known as the Adhaar man of India. Later Rohini Nilekani and Nandan Nilekani have two children, a son named Nihar Nilekani and a daughter named Janhavi Nilekani.

 

Early Life, Family Background, and Education

• Rohini grew up in a middle-class family in Mumbai her father was an engineer and her mother was a homemaker
• She attended Elphinstone College and holds a degree in French literature
• After graduating from Elphinstone College where she met Indian entrepreneur and a noted bureaucrat, Nandan Nilekani
• Rohini developed a keen interest in social issues from a young age, which later induced her to find several nonprofit organizations that fight social probes.

 

Rohini Nilekani Career

• Rohini started working as a reporter at Bombay magazine after completing her graduation and later worked at Sunday magazine in Bangalore
• In 1998, she published her first book, Stillborn with Penguin Publishing House and later wrote many children’s books for Pratham Publishers which she co-founded in 2004
• Rohini also wrote an Uncommon Ground book based on the TV program she hosted in 2008.
• In 2001 she co-founded Arghyam, a non-profit focused on water and sanitation issues in India, and has been involved in several other nonprofit organizations since 2000.
• Served on the boards of several non-profit organizations and initiatives, advocating for inclusive and sustainable development in India.

 

Books published by Rohini Nilekani

Year	Book
1998	Still Born (medical thriller novel)
2011	Uncommon Ground (non-fiction work based on the show she hosted in 2008)
2020	The hungry little sky monster
2022	Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar: A citizen-first approach

 

Beyond her work in education initiatives such as Pratham Publishers and Ekstep aimed at enhancing learning opportunities for children through technology, she actively participates in boards of several nonprofit organizations and initiatives. She has served on the boards of ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment), where she pledged 50 crore in December 2023, Sanghamithra Rural Financial Services, and the Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation.

Nandan Nilekani and Rohini Nilekani’s networth is Rs 7,700 crore and the majority of their wealth comes from Infosys shares. In August 2013, Rohini sold 5.77 lakh shares of Infosys to raise about 164 crore for philanthropic work. Here, donations are usually focused on education and environmental sustainability. She was named one of Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy by Forbes Magazine in 2010 and 2014. Rohini Nilekani’s philanthropic journey is characterized by her unwavering commitment to social justice, equity, and sustainability. She has been recognized globally for her contributions and has received numerous awards and accolades.

 

Awards and Recognition

• Forbes recognized her as Aisa’s philanthropy hero in 2010 and 2014
• Rohini received the Philanthropist of the Year 2020-21 Award from the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India
• She won the Best Grassroots Philanthropist at the Forbes India Leadership Awards in March 2022
• In October 2022, She topped the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2022(women) by donating 120 crore in the financial year 2022

Rohini Nilekani’s life and career exemplify the power of philanthropy to transform societies. Her initiatives have empowered communities, improved access to essential resources, and inspired countless individuals to contribute to the greater good. As a visionary leader and compassionate advocate, Rohini continues to be a beacon of hope and progress, lighting the way for a more just and equitable world.

 

Read more: Bridging Communities: The Journey of Girish Bharadwaj, ‘Sethu Bandhu,’ and the ‘Bridgeman of India’