Rohini Nilekani

Rohini Nilekani is an Indian author, philanthropist, and social entrepreneur, born in 1960 in Mumbai. She holds a degree in French literature from Elphinstone College and began her career as a journalist before turning to writing and social activism The New Yorker+15+15Goodreads+15. Her upbringing in a middle-class family instilled a deep sense of social responsibility, which later fueled her transition into strategic philanthropy and civic engagement Indian people times.

As an author, Nilekani has published a wide range of works, from her debut medical thriller Stillborn (1998), to the nonfiction dialogue series Uncommon Ground (2011), and most recently Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar: A citizen‑first approach (2022), which offers a rooted vision of governance, society, and civic participation Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies+5+5Goodreads+5. She has also authored numerous children’s books in Indian languages through the nonprofit publisher Pratham Books, emphasizing her commitment to literacy and learning .

Rohini Nilekani’s quotes reflect her commitment to citizen agency, equity, and sustainable development:

“As citizens, we have to co-create good governance, we cannot outsource it and hope to be passively happy consumers. … good governance must be earned.” Readimo+9+9BrainyQuote+9
“In the ideal world, philanthropy should be redundant or at least it should be at the edges, as innovation or risk capital. But it's far from an ideal world…” +3BrainyQuote+3BrainyQuote+3
“Even empowered women face violence. This is because empowerment of women alone is not enough. For change to occur, the ecosystem of power around women must be different.” Goodreads

These reflections highlight Nilekani’s belief that meaningful social change requires active citizenship, systemic innovation, and a moral vision that goes beyond individual empowerment.