Indian-origin power couple Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi made global headlines by joining the The Giving Pledge, a philanthropic movement founded by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett. As the initiative marked its 15th anniversary, this month, Desai and Sethi were named among 11 new signatories including eight couples and three individuals who have committed to donating the majority of their wealth to charitable causes. With over 250 members from 30 countries, The Giving Pledge now counts Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, Wipro’s Azim Premji, and most recently, Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi among its most inspiring Indian-origin philanthropists.
This milestone is a natural extension of Desai and Sethi’s decades-long journey that fuses entrepreneurial grit with an enduring spirit of service.
A partnership forged in code
Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi’s story began in the early 1980s, in a basement in Troy, Michigan, with just $2,000 in seed money and a powerful belief in the potential of technology. Desai, born in Kenya and raised in India, held an electrical engineering degree from IIT Bombay and a Master’s from the University of Michigan. Sethi, originally from India as well, had earned her Master’s in computer science and an MBA.
Together, they co-founded Syntel Inc. in 1980, initially offering software development and staffing services. Their venture mirrored the wave of offshoring that would revolutionize global IT services. What set them apart, however, was their emphasis on building long-term client relationships and a strong internal culture. These values laid the foundation for Syntel’s success.
Over the next three decades, they turned Syntel into a billion-dollar enterprise with over 20,000 employees globally. In 2018, the company was acquired by Atos for $3.4 billion.
Quiet philanthropy with big commitments
Long before the Giving Pledge, Desai and Sethi were already active philanthropists. They have supported numerous causes through their Desai Sethi Family Foundation, particularly in the fields of education, health, and sustainable development.
Their gifts have been transformative: the couple endowed the Desai Sethi Urology Institute at the University of Miami and supported student scholarships and research initiatives across U.S. and Indian institutions. Their giving has consistently reflected a belief in creating capacity by empowering people and institutions to achieve long-term self-sufficiency rather than simply providing aid.
By joining the Giving Pledge, Desai and Sethi have not only amplified their commitment but also offered a powerful signal to the Indian diaspora about the role of giving back in shaping a better world
The Giving Pledge
In their Giving Pledge letter, the couple emphasized the values of humility, responsibility, and gratitude. “We have been blessed with the opportunity to create, to learn, and to give,” they wrote, echoing the philosophy that has underpinned their lives both in business and beyond.
As the global philanthropic movement continues to evolve, Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi are yet another stirring example of how entrepreneurship and empathy can go hand in hand, transforming not just markets, but also millions of lives.
