Nandan Nilekani, wife Rohini donate 50 per cent of their wealth

Wealth comes with huge responsibility and is best deployed for the larger public interest said Infosys cofounder Nandan Nilekani quoting a line from the Giving Pledge letter which had announced that he and his wife the author and philanthropist Rohini would be donating 50 per cent of their wealth under the movement initiated by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and wife MelindaBill Gates with Rohini and Nandan NilekaniGiven that the couples wealth is estimated to be to around 17 billion the news had attracted widespread notice and commendation from across IndiaThe Nilekanis are not the only Indians who have been so visionary and altruistic Other Indian billionaires Wipro Chairman Azim Premji and Biocon Chairman Kiran Mazumdar Shaw sociologists might want to study what the connection between Bangalore and altruism is have also pledged half their wealthYou have done not only your country proud but also our generation we had texted the Nilekanis yesterday when we commended them on their sterling decision Having known both individuals for almost four decades we had attended their wedding a simple affair at the Dadar Catering college in the mideighties we have known how deeply committed they are to the causes of justice equality and the greater goodWe thank Bill and Melinda for creating this unique opportunity for so many people to realize a moral aspiration inspired by the Bhagwad Gita said Nilekani about the pledgeThe mulgi in MumbaiI am indeed here exulted the vivacious Nikki Bedi the erstwhile Mumbaikar who now lives in London and works as a highflying presenter at BBCs World Service Landed this afternoon and am here for my Arts Hour On Tour Mumbai radio show which travels to a new city each monthNikki Bedi with Hugh Grant and a friendTomorrow we record at the Royal Opera House and are talking about the rise of indie movies with social messages said the scion of an old and venerable Mumbai clan who was once married to actor Kabir Bedi they had met when she played Desdemona to his Othello in an Alyque Padamsee directed productionBhumi Pednekar and Anupama Chopra will be on stage with me amongst other acts she added As for her returning to Mumbai albeit briefly Bedis joy is palpable from her posting pictures of buildings on Marine Drive to using Mumbais distinct patios She shows every sign of being a born again Mumbai chi mulgi You are so welcome to come should you wish to Aao nah she ends withIts raining chefsAs is known Chef Massimo Buttura will be in town for a day this week news we broke on these pages over a month ago But hes not the only worldrenowned gastronomical maestro currently dazzling IndiaChef Alain Passard and chef Manjit Gill at JaipurAnother threestar Michelin rated chef Alain Passard a French culinary legend was in Jaipur for a private event over the weekend Passard famously turned vegetarian and is an avid promoter of vegetarianism he had taken red meat off his menu almost a decade ago a move that had caused considerable stirring of the gastronomical potThis week he was spotted deep in conversation with the corporate chef of the ITC Hotel group Manjit Gill credited for popularising the tandoori style of preparation of meats Wonder if they had any beef over that oneHostess with the mostestGraceful society hostess and woman of substance Prerna Malhotra opened the doors to her wellappointed duplex in a SoBo highrise for a sitdown champagne and sushi Sunday brunch for a select group of friends The afternoon featured a visiting Japanese chef from a luxury resort in the Maldives who had been prepping for the meal in her kitchen from earlier that morningChef Nikki Prerna Malhotra Roohi Jaikishan Ashiesh Shah Kanika KapoorGuests included celebrity architect Ashiesh Shah singer Kanika Kapoor fashionista Roohi with husband businessman Chetan Jaikishan and fashion designer Nimish Shah The menu included a selection of the chefs signature sushi and sashimi specialties which we are told included the rare blue fin tuna the fattiest also most expensive variant of tuna available in Japan which had been flown in for the occasionOther dishes included prawn and vegetable tempura glazed salmon followed by a green tea and tempura ice cream The talk ranged from Bollywood music to modern day moralities to travel and of course food And with Malhotras stunning table decor and playlist of deep house tunes from her iPad we are told the occasion made for a long leisurely and sparkling afternoonAn Iffy situationWith the film industry seething and hurt over the Padmavati issue and the governments shocking absence of affording it the support it requires at this crucial juncture the promoters of IFFI 2017 must have been alarmed that it would be a no show of key stars or even a total boycott given how strong feelings are running at the momentMuzaffar Ali Sridevi Shah Rukh Khan Goa CMacircu00c2u0080u00c2u0088Manohar Parrikar Smriti Irani Shahid Kapoor ARacircu00c2u0080u00c2u0088Rahman at the IFFI launchNo sir Industry badshah Shah Rukh Khan addressed the foreign delegates in his official speech saying Films are about loving about an idea transformed into reality by hundreds of people working togetherHe was not the only star to put aside his hesitations and endorse the IampBs initiative Shahid Kapur had graced the occasion I think today weve reached a point where there is lot more gravitas to the cinema that we make Kapur had said which might or might not have been an allusion to the Padmavati controversyWhich brings us to this point given that relations betwixt Bollywood and the GOI are at their lowest the fact that a festival whose unfortunate acronym spells iffy could actually get off the ground is a miracle in itselfDharavi rocks and howThe band has just returned from the UK where it attended a workshop with the Roundhouse Foundation and performed last week with none other than world music star Angelique Kidjo says an exuberant Suneeta Rao about Dharavi Rocks the brainchild of human rights and labour laws advocate Vinod Shetty launched in 2008Suneeta RaoThe project gets talented underprivileged children musically activated They use recycled material like plastic barrels cans coffee shakers etc turning them into percussion instruments to create a powerful orchestra The kids write their own material and rap in Tamil Hindi Marathi Malayalam and English and are especially fond of dancing and beat boxing she saysRao who spoke about her association with the band at a recent TEDX Delhi Salon has performed with DR on several occasions including the World Environment Day and the Earth Day concerts Vinod has also started a music curriculum in a Dharavi school where he is imparting musical knowledge to around 3000 kids in a fun and accessible way she says