The Science Of Giving
By Shivani Lath, Business Today, August 27, 2006
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.
One day in late 2005, Rohini Nilekani, signed a cheque for Rs 100 crore in favour of Arghyam Trust-the name is Sanskrit for offering and is also the name of the Nilekanis residence in Bangalore's tony Koramangala area-which she had founded in 2001. The money, which came from the sale of her shares in Infosys Technologies (founded by husband Nandan Nilekani and six others in 1981) isn't important. Nilekani's progression from student-activist to journalist-activist to a woman of independent means (and how!; at last count, her 1.67 per cent stake in Infosys was worth Rs 768 crore) willing to invest serious time and effort in understanding that philanthropy thing is. "How can individuals and companies make up for governmental failure?" asks Nilekani. "How can you take your money and direct it at the good people (and organisations doing good work)?" "How do we take our understanding of corporate management practices and accountability into the space?"
>> View Article | created on: 08/17/2006
