The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma
Ep 317: Rohini Nilekani Pays It Forward
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Individuals need to prioritize society over personal interests for empathetic governance models.
- Community-driven initiatives promote sustainable solutions through collective action and innovation.
- Citizens play a pivotal role in holding the state accountable for their collective interests.
- Balancing individual rights against group rights is vital to maintain societal order amidst political challenges.
- Philanthropy requires risk-taking, patient capital, and innovative partnerships to drive impactful change.
Deep dives
Navigating Personal Ethics and Responsibility in Modern Times
In modern times, individuals are faced with the question of personal ethics and responsibility, particularly concerning wealth and influence. With markets and technology enabling individuals to make a significant impact, the responsibility to help others at scale comes into question. Each wealthy individual has to decide their responsibility towards others, with considerations on how to use their wealth effectively.
Influence of Childhood Experiences on Personal Values
Growing up in Mumbai in the 60s and 70s, the speaker reflects on a childhood filled with love, friendship, and simplicity. Contrasts between wealth and poverty within the family background influence the speaker's values, instilling a sense of empathy and the importance of simple living. Childhood stories and familial values shape the speaker's understanding of wealth and social responsibility.
Journey Towards Asserting Individual Identity and Philanthropy
The speaker's journey towards asserting her individual identity, apart from societal roles, reflects a feminist lens embraced in her teenage years. Engaging with various feminist authors and political events like the emergency, the speaker navigates political framing, gender rights, and justice. Transitioning into wealth later in life, the speaker's approach to philanthropy stems from her individual identity and values, influenced by familial experiences and a commitment to social change.
Inspirational journey of self-discovery through Gandhi's philosophies
Gandhi's principles of self-improvement through selfless action sparked a reflection on the importance of means over ends leading to a deep exploration of individual and societal responsibilities. Emphasizing from citizen to state to market, the focus on prioritizing society first, promotes a balanced power dynamic and empathetic governance models in a volatile political landscape. Voluntary action, as inspired by Gandhi, dilutes coercive state controls fostering a harmonious coexistence.
The transformative power of voluntary collective action within communities
The transformative potential of voluntary collective action within communities is evident through instances like water harvesting initiatives in Gujarat and Bihar, illustrating the impact of grassroots mobilization. Varied responses in different regions highlight the intertwined factors of local circumstances, intrinsic leadership propulsions, and historical contextual triggers contributing to divergent community engagements.
Championing self-efficacy and collective problem-solving within communities
Encouraging communities to embrace self-efficacy propels a shift from reliance on the state to proactive problem-solving initiatives. The potency of individual commitment to societal betterment fosters a culture of innovation, talent mobilization, and constructive collective action, steering communities towards sustainable solutions and harmonious coexistence.
Importance of Citizens' Active Engagement in State Affairs
Citizens' responsibility towards ensuring accountability in state governance is highlighted. It's emphasized that citizen involvement is crucial to drive and maintain the state's accountability towards their larger interests. The evolving nature of the state and the power dynamics underscore the necessity for continuous citizen vigilance to prevent the state and markets from becoming disproportionately powerful.
Challenges and Trade-offs Between Individual Rights and Group Rights
The podcast delves into the ongoing conflict between individual rights and group rights, advocating for the prioritization of individual rights over group rights to avoid negative consequences. The discussion includes the impact of tribalism and identity politics on society, emphasizing the dangers of favoring group rights excessively. The narrative reflects on the complexities of balancing individual freedoms and societal order amidst growing challenges in modern politics.
Challenges and Evolution in the Social Sector
Entering the social sector requires a particular mindset, distinct from the corporate world's quick wins and visible success goals. Many are driven to seek meaning over monetary wealth, transitioning to social endeavors for greater fulfillment. Challenges such as enabling good governance through civic engagement are crucial to drive societal progress and empower citizens. The social sector demands a shift towards patient capital, innovative partnerships, and scalable solutions driven by societal needs.
Philanthropic Capital and Building a Resilient Samaj
Navigating the world of philanthropy underscores the importance of taking risks and fostering patient capital to drive impactful change. Embracing a forward-looking approach accentuated by trust, humility, and innovation is essential for philanthropists. Promoting access, participation, and inclusivity in societal endeavors can reshape communities and amplify impact across diverse sectors, fostering a more robust and resilient social fabric.
Samaaj came before Sarkaar and Bazaar. We are more than subjects of the state and consumers of the market. Rohini Nilekani joins Amit Varma in episode 317 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss her life and her learnings, why citizens need to embrace their agency -- and why those with wealth have a special responsibility. (FOR FULL LINKED SHOW NOTES, GO TO SEENUNSEEN.IN.) Also check out 1. Rohini Nilekani on Amazon, Wikipedia and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. 2. Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar : A citizen-first approach -- Rohini Nilekani. 3. Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies. 4. Arghyam, EkStep and Pratham Books. 5. The Annual Status of Education (ASER) Report, 2022. 6. Enid Blyton, Just William, Winnie the Pooh, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys on Amazon. 7. A Terrible Beauty -- Peter Watson. 8. Iris Murdoch and VS Ramachandran on Amazon. 9. The Tell-Train Brain -- VS Ramachandran. 10. The Long Road From Neeyat to Neeti -- Episode 313 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Pranay Kotasthane and Raghu S Jaitley). 11. Sansar Se Bhage Phirte Ho — Song from Chitralekha with lyrics by Sahir Ludhianvi. 12. Profit = Philanthropy — Amit Varma. 13. Arshia Sattar and the Complex Search for Dharma -- Episode 315 of The Seen and the Unseen. 14. Germaine Greer, Nancy Friday and Betty Friedan on Amazon. 15. The Life and Times of Urvashi Butalia — Episode 287 of The Seen and the Unseen. 16. Select episodes on The Seen and the Unseen that touched on feminism & gender with Paromita Vohra, Kavita Krishnan, Mrinal Pande, Kavitha Rao, Namita Bhandare, Shrayana Bhattacharya, Mukulika Banerjee, Manjima Bhattacharjya, Nilanjana Roy, Urvashi Butalia, Mahima Vashisht, Alice Evans, Ashwini Deshpande, Natasha Badhwar, Shanta Gokhale and Arshia Sattar. 17. The Loneliness of the Indian Man — Episode 303 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Nikhil Taneja). 18. The Will to Change — Bell Hooks. 19. The Jackson Katz quote on passive sentence constructions. 20. The Life and Times of Vir Sanghvi — Episode 236 of The Seen and the Unseen. 21. Imposter Syndrome. 22. Gerald Durrell, The Jungle Book and Black Beauty on Amazon. 23. Indian Institute for Human Settlements. 24. Episodes of The Seen and the Unseen with Mohit Satyanand: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 25. The Chauri Chaura Incident. 26. Episodes of The Seen and the Unseen on Covid-19: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. 27. Every Act of Government Is an Act of Violence — Amit Varma. 28. The Third Pillar — Raghuram Rajan. 29. Participatory Democracy — Episode 160 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ashwin Mahesh). 30. Cities and Citizens — Episode 198 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ashwin Mahesh). 31. Helping Others in the Fog of Pandemic — Episode 226 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ashwin Mahesh). 32. Lewis Mumford on Amazon, Wikipedia and Britannica. 33. Abby Philips Fights for Science and Medicine — Episode 310 of The Seen and the Unseen. 34. The Median Voter Theorem. 35. Mohammad Zubair’s Twitter thread on the Dharam Sansad. 36. Lessons from an Ankhon Dekhi Prime Minister — Amit Varma's column on the importance of reading. 37. Janaagraha. 38. Emergent Ventures. 39. Giving Billions Fast, MacKenzie Scott Upends Philanthropy -- Nicholas Kulish. 40. The/Nudge Institute, Give India, Dasra and Bridgespan India. 41. Lewis Hyde on Amazon. 42. The Brass Notebook: A Memoir - Devaki Jain. 43. Breaking Through: A Memoir -- Isher Judge Ahluwalia. 44. My Life in Full -- Indra Nooyi. 45. A Full Life -- Sabira Merchant. 46. Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past and Savarkar: A Contested Legacy -- Vikram Sampath. 47. Ramachandra Guha on Amazon. Check out Amit’s online course, The Art of Clear Writing. And subscribe to The India Uncut Newsletter. It’s free! Episode art: ‘Nurture’ by Simahina.
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