The title of the world’s most generous individual goes to an Indian who outshines renowned figures like Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, Azim Premji, and Shiv Nadar. According to the EdelGive Foundation and Hurun Report 2021, the founder of Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, has been recognized as the most charitable person of the past century, having donated a staggering Rs 829,734 crore.
This surpasses contributions from other global philanthropists, including Bill Gates, who secured the second position.
Jamsetji Tata directed a significant portion of his philanthropy towards the fields of education and healthcare, initiating his charitable endeavors as early as 1892. Although he passed away in 1904, his legacy lives on through Ratan Tata, the Chairman Emeritus of Tata Group, who continues to oversee the philanthropic activities of the conglomerate.
Rupert Hoogewerf, Chairman and Chief Researcher of Hurun Report, noted that many philanthropists, including the likes of the Ford Foundation, originated from the second generation rather than the first. This observation highlights the enduring impact of familial commitment to charitable causes.
Among the Top 50 global philanthropists, only one other Indian made the list: Azim Premji, the founder of Wipro, who generously donated USD 22 billion. Born into a Zoroastrian Parsi family in Gujarat, Jamsetji Tata defied financial challenges and family traditions by venturing into business.
His marriage to Hirabao Daboo resulted in two sons, Dorabji Tata, and Ratanji Tata, the latter of whom now steers the philanthropic course of the Tata Group.