Meet India's most generous woman, donated Rs 1700000000 last year, not Nita Ambani or Priti Adani, she is married to...

Written By Srishty Choudhury | Updated: Jul 02, 2024, 10:25 AM IST

Rohini Nilekani, married to Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, is also a distinguished author.

When thinking about the most philanthropic women in the country, the names of chairperson of the Reliance Foundation Nita Ambani, chairperson of the Adani Foundation Priti Adani, might come to mind. However, one name stands out: Rohini Nilekani. She topped the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy Women’s List 2023 with donations totaling Rs 170 crore, up from approximately Rs 120 crore in 2022.

Rohini Nilekani, married to Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, is also a distinguished author. Originally from Mumbai, Rohini Nilekani studied French literature at Elphinstone College and began her career as a journalist.

Her marriage to Nandan Nilekani coincided with the founding of Infosys in 1981. While her husband built the tech giant, Rohini demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit and established her financial independence. Despite Infosys now having a market capitalization of Rs 619,000 crore, Rohini has carved her own path to success, evident through her net worth and philanthropic efforts.

She is involved in initiatives such as Pratham Books, a nonprofit promoting children's literature. Her influence also extends to platforms like EkStep, which seeks to improve educational opportunities, and the Arghyam Foundation, which focuses on addressing water and sanitation issues across the country.