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India has been a major recipient of international aid since its independence on account of its developmental gaps and wide income disparity; yet it also ranks among the top four nations in the world in terms of the number of billionaires. How and what do these fabulously wealthy Indians contribute to the development of their own society? What is the nature of Indian philanthropy? Has the phenomenal wealth creation in recent decades seen an increase in altruistic spending in social development, and what role does the Indian state play in promoting or restraining the act of giving?

Making an important distinction between charity and philanthropy, Giving with a Thousand Hands argues that while charity is alive and well in India, the country is short on philanthropy defined as altruistic giving on a large enough scale to bring about transformative social change. The author in this book offers a vision for the future of Indian philanthropy, maintaining that it has a vital role to play in the country and needs to be encouraged through various measures.