Indians feature on Time 100 Philanthropy List:HCL Tech’s Shiv Nadar Torrent Group’s Mehta brothers are among the honorees

Time Magazine has released the Time 100 Philanthropy List for 2026. According to this, philanthropists are no longer limited to traditional social service, but are transforming society and systems with their immense wealth. This includes Indians and people of Indian origin. The Mehta brothers are protecting lakes and nature along with health services, while Nadar is educating needy children and sending them as far as America. Indian-origin Rajiv Shah has pledged to provide pure food to children, while Deepak Bhargava is strengthening the path to fundamental rights. Shiv Nadar – Selecting and educating children of farmers and laborers for free The 80-year-old founder of HCL Technologies’ vision is based on ‘creative philanthropy’, where transparency is paramount. Nader, who considers education the key to transformation, selects talented children of poor farmers and laborers from rural areas of UP through ‘Vidyagyan’ boarding schools and educates them free of cost. This year, two children were sent to America. He has been the country’s ‘top donor’ 4 times in the last 5 years. In 2025 alone, he donated ₹2,660 crore. He has donated ₹14,000 crores to universities, museums, and hospitals so far. Sudhir-Samir Mehta – Have conducted health checkups of nearly two lakh children The Mehta brothers, owners of the ‘Torrent Group’ with an empire worth ₹1.17 lakh crore, took a grand pledge in 2024 to donate ₹5,000 crore on the birth centenary of their father Uttambhai Natthulal Mehta. As part of this campaign, a 30,000 square feet neuro-rehabilitation center has been started in Ahmedabad. Their ‘UNM Foundation’ has conducted health examinations of nearly two lakh children in 10 years and freed 70 thousand children from malnutrition. They have also opened a hospital for children. Rajiv Shah – Leading Mission to Connect 300 Million Africans to Electricity Rajiv J. Shah is an American leader of Indian origin who has been the President of the ₹5.5 lakh crore Rockefeller Foundation since 2017. He opened a school kitchen in Kenya in collaboration with YouTuber Mr. Beast. The target is 1 lakh meal plates. The Foundation has launched Mission 300, which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030 and provide nutritious and pure food for children with a fund of 8 thousand crores. Shah, who was the head of USAID in the Barack Obama administration, says, ‘Every life is precious.’ Deepak Bhargava – Engaged in Strengthening Democracy Through Philanthropy Worldwide Long-time activist. Took charge of ‘Freedom Together Foundation’ in 2024. Bhargava, of Indian origin, believes that in this era of threats looming over fundamental rights and democracy, the method of philanthropy should also be extraordinary. Usually trusts donate only 5% of their assets, but Bhargava increased it to 10%. In 2025, the organization gave ₹3,300 crore, of which 70% was invested in strengthening democracy. Along with the MacArthur Foundation, they are advocating for ‘freedom of philanthropy’ worldwide.