India has given the world billionaires for years and as the heredity of family business evolves generation to generation, the monotony never ends. In India, we can find the difference in the quality of life and economic freedom between the rich and poor in the country. Luckily, there are still a few who believes ‘To serve a being, is to serve God!’
Hurun Research Institute in India Philanthropy List 2018 stated that Indian philanthropy was at ₹2310 crore in 2018 with an average donation per philanthropist being ₹61 crores.
Let us know a few Indian philanthropists in terms of the amount donated from October 1, 2017, to September 31, 2018.
1. Shiv Nadar
Amount Donated: ₹770 crore
Net worth: ₹1,480 crore
Shiv Nadar, a Padma Bhushan awardee, who co-founded HCL in 1976 to make calculators and microprocessors, which went on to become a multinational IT Company.
Nadar runs the Shiv Nadar Foundation that pursues creative philanthropy. The foundation also supports rural education and provides scholarship for underprivileged students to study abroad.
2. Mukesh Ambani
Amount Donated: ₹437 crore
Net worth: ₹4,820 crore
Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani, was born into ultra-rich Ambani family.
The richest Asian by Forbes in 2018 has invested in sectors like education, social, rural development, and healthcare through Reliance Foundation. He also donated ₹71 crore in cash and supplies for Kerala Monsoon Flood last year.
3. Ajay Piramal and family
Amount Donated: ₹200 crore
Net worth: ₹420 crore
Chairman of Piramal Enterprises, Ajay Piramal, is a conglomerate that specializes in pharma, healthcare, and financial services.
The group participates in philanthropic activities through the Piramal Foundation, initiating projects in areas of healthcare, education, livelihood creation, and youth empowerment.
4. Azim Premji and family
Amount Donated: ₹113 crore
Net worth: ₹480 crore
Chairman of IT company Wipro, Azim Premji, was listed among the 100 most influential people for two years by TIME magazine.
In 2013, he signed The Giving Pledge to donate at least half of his wealth. He has donated $21 billion to Azim Premji Foundation, an education-focused non-profit he founded in 2001.
5. Adi Godrej and family
Amount Donated: ₹96 crore
Net worth: ₹260 crore
Chairman of Godrej Group and Indian School of Business, Adi Godrej, supports the activities of World Wildlife Fund in India.
25 percent of the shares of the group is dedicated to its non-profit such as Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, the Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, and the Godrej Memorial Trust.
6. Gautam Adani
Amount Donated: ₹76 crore
Net worth: ₹1,040 crore
Chairman of Adani Group, Gautam Adani, handles various businesses in areas of energy, agriculture, defense, and aerospace.
The president of the Adani Foundation has established the Adani Vidya Mandir, a school for underprivileged children in Ahmedabad and other states and supports 300 government schools, education over 100,000 children.
7. Yusuf Ali MA
Amount Donated: ₹70 crore
Net worth: ₹370 crore
UAE gold resident cardholder and Managing Director and Chairman of Lulu Group International, Yusuff Ali, owns over 170 hypermarkets and shopping malls and employs the most number of Indians abroad.
The Padma Shree awardee generously contributed during natural disasters such as the Gujarat earthquake in 2001, Jammu and Kashmir floods in 2014, and others. The group also works with global philanthropic organization Dubai Cares and has adopted schools in Gaza and Nepal.
8. Savji Dholakia
Amount Donated: ₹40 crore
Net worth: ₹380 crore
Savji Dholakia is the founder and Chairman of diamond manufacturing and exporting company Hari Krishna Exports.
The Dholakia Foundation has organized many events to promote sustainable living and in December last year organized the Samhu Lagna ‘mass marriage’ for around 78 couples.
