Nandan Nilekani, wife Rohini to donate half of their wealth under ‘Giving Pledge’

Bengaluru, Nov 21: Joining the Giving Pledge, a movement initiated by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Infosys co-founder and Chairman Nandan Nilekani and his wife Rohini Nilekani have decided to pledge half of their wealth for philanthropy.

With this, the Nilekani has become the fourth Indian and second tech magnate from Bengaluru to join The Giving Pledge, the philanthropy movement started by US billionaires Bill Gates, his wife Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett in August 2010.

Nilekani family's networth is currently pegged at $1.7 billion (aprroximately Rs 11,000 crore).

Since resigning as chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India in 2014, the billionaire has been involved in various causes such as Ekstep, founded by the couple to address learning challenges in primary education.

Incidentally, all the other Indians in the list are based in Bengaluru. Earlier, Wipro Chairman Azim H Premji, Biocon Chairman and Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, and P N C Menon of Sobha Developers have pledged half of their wealth for the cause.

In a statement, the Nilekanis explained why they joined the Giving Pledge movement. They said: "We see that inequality is increasing sharply in most countries. We see the young and the restless in this interconnected globe, unsure of their future, wanting more but anticipating less. We see a growing politics of polarization, of divisions, of brinksmanship. It is as if the world holds its breath. What should we do at this time? That is a question every citizen must ask. Those of us who have wealth beyond all our wants must ask that very sharply. Wealth comes with huge responsibility and is best deployed for the larger public interest. So what must the super-wealthy do?"

"We thank Bill and Melinda for creating this unique opportunity for so many people to realise a moral aspiration inspired by the Bhagwad Gita- Karmanye Va dhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana, Ma karma phalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani," the Nilekanis added. Bill Gates welcomed Nilekanis for their pledge and said: "I'm amazed by how Nandan Nilekani has lent his entrepreneurial passion to philanthropy. I'm delighted to welcome him and his wife Rohini to the Giving Pledge."