India stands at the cusp of an extraordinary wealth transition. A record number of Indians now rank among the world’s wealthiest, and family offices are mushrooming to manage this prosperity. Yet while wealth creation has accelerated, wealth deployment through philanthropy has not kept pace.

Rashmi Bansal’s Live to Give chronicles the journeys of 16 philanthropists— technology entrepreneurs, financiers, industrialists, and professionals—who are reshaping India’s giving landscape. Their stories reveal not only how they give, but also why, offering lessons for today’s wealth creators.

Start Early, Not “Someday”

For too long, philanthropy has been deferred until retirement. These stories overturn that mindset. Ankit Nagori, who founded Simply Sport Foundation in his 30s, is emphatic: “Most people think, I will do it later. But it’s never too early… Had I started later in life I would have had more money, but more money doesn’t equate to more impact.”

Ajit Isaac advises: “Start before you hit the age of 50… use every liquidity event to give away a little bit.” S.D. Shibulal, co-founder of Infosys, echoes: “Start early and start small. That allows you to experiment and come to conclusions.”

The lesson for business leaders: just as compounding creates extraordinary wealth, the compounding of philanthropic effort creates extraordinary impact. Starting early enables learning and course correction — not a compressed burst of late-life giving.

Passion Must Meet Strategy

Philanthropy begins with the heart, but it endures with the head. Sanjiv Kumar, committed to his native Siwan district in Bihar, founded Parivartan for rural upliftment. His first step—a baseline survey —ensured interventions were grounded in data, not just goodwill.

In Telangana, Swathi Kantamani reshaped her family’s foundation: “I felt I had the privilege of resources, and I wanted to use them where the need was greatest — among the poorest of the poor.” Passion led her into tough geographies; strategy built the operational muscle to sustain.

For entrepreneurs accustomed to scaling businesses, the message is familiar: identify your edge, use evidence, build excellence, then scale.

Build Institutions, Not Just Interventions

Projects touch lives; institutions transform systems. Through the Wadhwani Initiative for Sustainable Healthcare (WISH), Sunil Wadhwani leverages technology and government partnerships to strengthen primary healthcare, now reaching over 30 million people. “It’s a journey,” he says, “I know the team will keep it going.”

In Odisha, Susmita and Subroto Bagchi embraced a similar mindset. “My task was making people believe in themselves, to go beyond their self-perception,” Subroto reflects. Their giving has supported schools, hospitals, and skills ecosystems that create durable social capital. Institutions, not one-off donations, are what move the needle on India’s most complex challenges.

Give with Trust and Humility

Control drives success in business; trust drives success in philanthropy. The Bagchis warn: “Don’t start doing a business case analysis and long-term planning, human misery does not wait. Find someone capable of making an impact and give them a free hand.”

Sunil Wadhwani captures this balance: “Technology must improve the lives of the poorest… and to make that happen, we work with those closest to the ground.” His approach blends innovation with humility, recognising that systemic change requires governments, NGOs, and communities working together.

In business, investors back founders; in philanthropy, donors must back changemakers. Outsized returns—social returns—come not from control but from trust.

Philanthropy is Joyful, Not Transactional

Perhaps the most counterintuitive lesson is that philanthropy is not sacrifice. It is enrichment. Faizal Kottikolon puts it simply: “Philanthropy is the most fulfilling thing a person can ever experience. Giving is more satisfying than taking… it brings balance in life.”

For Sanjiv Saraf, giving meant following his passion for Urdu to establish Rekhta—today the world’s largest online archive of Urdu literature. Guided by his inner voice, he recalls: “You have worked enough for money, it’s time to feed the soul.”

For many, philanthropy has become the true dividend of their entrepreneurial journey — the part that delivers the deepest joy.

Also Read: How Digital Transformation Is Redefining Global Banking

A Call to Action for India’s Wealth Creators

The message of Live to Give is simple but urgent. There is no single “right” way to give. Some embrace Prana (hands-on engagement), others Gyaan (strategic problem-solving), still others Daan (trust-based funding of changemakers). All paths matter.

But there is one unifying imperative: start now. As Pramod Bhasin reminds us: “Give most of your money away. Your lifestyle isn’t about to change. So don’t give money in the bank greater value than it deserves.”

India’s wealth creators stand at a historic moment. With unprecedented prosperity comes unprecedented responsibility—and opportunity. Strategic philanthropy is not only about alleviating need; it is about building the very institutions that will shape India’s future.

In the end, philanthropy is not about what we give up. It is about what we gain: purpose, legacy, and the chance to leave behind a better country than the one we inherited.

Author Bio:

Amitabh is an XLRI alumnus with over 33 years of corporate experience as a versatile and seasoned business leader across sectors and service areas. He has been actively involved in enabling initiatives and networks like SVP. He is building and shaping AIP into a leading platform for strategic personal philanthropy in India by creating a clear strategy, nurturing the team, and developing a network of philanthropists and experts to help them achieve their goals.

Radhika is a chartered accountant and lawyer with over twenty years of consulting experience in M&A tax and regulatory affairs. She has been with AIP since its inception, incorporating her skills and experience into AIP’s mission. As a Founding Team Member of AIP, Radhika is at the forefront of fostering purposeful engagements with UHNIs and their families in the North and East of Inda to grow and nurture the AIP peer network of philanthropist in the two regions.