Interview - Rohini Nilekani

Rohini Nilekani is one of India’s ‘new philanthropists’. Wife of Infosys CEO Nandan Nilekani and owner of 1.67 per cent of the Indian outsourcing company, when she found her personal fortune soaring to about $300 million as the company stock rose, she began to look for ways to give money away. So far she has provided a total of $37 million to two foundations, Akshara Foundation and Arghyam Trust. What is innovative about the way she does things, Caroline Hartnell asked her. And what has she learned from other foundations, in America and in India? Asked whether she sees herself as a philanthrocapitalist, Nilekani feels less than happy with the label.