Kumari Shibulal was born into a farming family at a small village called Ramamangalam in Kerala’s Ernakulam district. But that did not stop her from pursuing her dreams. Kumari was not happy with just climbing the success ladder, she also extended her hand to others who were struggling to get going.
"You don't have to be rich to be involved in philanthropic activities. Supporting a friend or helping an elderly man cross the road can be done by anyone and everyone,” remarks Kumari, who is transforming the lives of several people through her organisation Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives.
At a very young age, Kumar realised that education was the key to success. Kumari, who became the first graduate from her village, is helping several children to pursue their education goals.
After she married Infosys co-founder and former CEO S D Shibulal, Kumari shifted to Mumbai and later to America. The couple returned to India in 1997 and got involved in several social initiatives. They started the Sarojini Damodaran Foundation in 1999 and Adwaith Foundation in 2004.
Through their initiatives such as Vidyadham, Vidyrakshak, Ankur and Adwaith, the couple strived to achieve their goal of imparting education to others.
Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives also co-ordinates their activities with the Synergos Global Philanthropists Circle started by American philanthropist Peggy Dulany.
Both these organisations had jointly brought out a report 'How India Gives' that documents the philanthropic activities in the country.
In the World Giving Index 2019, India was at the 82nd position among 128 countries.
"Despite being a culture that encourages charity, India secured such a low as bulk of the charity works in are unorganised and informal," Kumari pointed out.
The Shibulal Family Philanthropic Initiatives is sponsoring the higher education of children from poor background. “Only through education can we transform this land to a better place for the future generation,” Kumari asserted.