
CSR @78: FUELING INDIA’S JOURNEY TO VIKSIT BHARAT
Birth of a Vision: Philanthropy in Independent India In 1947, when India emerged from colonial rule, the idea of corporate social responsibility was deeply rooted in cultural values, yet unstructured. Mahatma Gandhi’s “trusteeship” model planted the moral seed of businesses serving society. Industrial houses like Tata, Birla, and Bajaj embraced philanthropy—building schools, hospitals, and nurturing art and culture—not as compliance, but conscience. This era was characterized by ad-hoc giving, personal philanthropy, and institution-building by visionaries who believed that profit must be paired with purpose. The lack of formal policy did not deter these pioneers; rather, their social investments became foundations for future government collaborations. The Developmental Push: From Generosity to Strategy India’s planned economy in the 1950s–1970s saw business involvement








