Nandan Nilekani and SD Shibulal's philanthropic journey, small-budget cinema's fight for survival, sacred architecture from around the world are some of the stories that piqued the interest of our readers this week
1) Ambitious goal
“It’s a strange bid given the situation SpiceJet is in,” said Alok Anand, chairman & CEO of Bengaluru-based Acumen Aviation, an aircraft asset management and leasing company, when he was asked about SpiceJet announcing its interest in purchasing now-defunct Go First. Go First, the Mumbai-headquartered low-cost airline owned by the Wadia Family, went belly up last April. SpiceJet is also selling close to that boat—dealing with unpaid dues and court dates, calming the concerns over Boeing Max aircrafts in its fleet, and losing market share. The announcement sent the aviation world into a frenzy, and SpiceJet's stock has soared by over 18 percent since. Has SpiceJet bit more than it can chew? Let's take a look at the overview.
2) Paying it forward
When, in 2017, Rohini and Nandan Nilekani signed The Giving Pledge—started in 2010 by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and his then-wife Melinda French Gates—they quoted the famous verse 47 of chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita: Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana (You have the right to work, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your labour). The effect of their core philosophy shines in their philanthropy. They are giving to causes that can be game-changers for India, but there is no certainty of success. Nandan Nilekani says that he is chasing an idea that he has evangelised for a long time—impact at scale. How is it working out so far? Here's an overview.