Outlook Business December 2023

Changemaker might be a cliched word in a world that is ruled by social media, where influencers are made and unmade every day. In this haze of stories, reels and posts, we sometimes forget to pause and look around to spot those people who work tirelessly to bring perceptible social change. This change might not be epoch-shifting, but in the deeply troubled world that we live in, positive deviations from contemporary practices should be celebrated. So, we continue with the Outlook Business tradition of the annual listing of changemakers. In this edition, we celebrate 23 changemakers of 2023. While defining change, we paid careful attention to highlighting people and entities whose actions play out in overcoming institutional limitations. Some have created records that are nothing short of historic, while the…

VIRAT KOHLI I love watching a good cricket match, but I am not a die-hard fan. I do not care much about numbers and milestones. I have my favourites in world cricket, but I never worshipped any of them. There are a few cricketers I will admire forever, and Virat is certainly a part of this list. I do not like the idea of comparing cricketers to one another. To me, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are legends by their own rights. The other day, I saw a reel on Instagram from a party hosted by Mukesh Ambani in 2012 to celebrate Sachin Tendulkar hitting his 100th century in international cricket. Actor Salman Khan asks Tendulkar if his record will ever be broken and goes on to say,…

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown …” But not for India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra. Even as he wore the crown of Olympic glory, he knew many before him had walked this path but seldom had individual feat at the Games made way for greater glory. In fact, for most Indian athletes, an Olympic success has been the end of an ascent. Chopra's first challenge, since his Tokyo triumph, was the Paavo Nurmi Games in 2022 where he was making his return to competitive action. He set a new personal best and national record of 89.30 m, which also earned him the second place in the tournament. Keeping up the momentum, Chopra once again broke his record with a 89.94 metre throw and secured the second place at…

The image of a lanky young boy with vibhuti (sacred ash) on his forehead and an intent look in the eyes, focusing on his next move over a board of black and white squares, has become representative of India's bright prospects in the world of chess. Chennai-based Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has achieved a lot at the international level, breaking several records year after year. Now his eyes are trained on the biggest victory of all: the world chess championship. A win at the FIDE Candidates Tournament in April next year will take the 18-year-old grandmaster closer to his dream—he will get to challenge current world champion Ding Liren. Praggnanandhaa's journey in the world of chess commenced more than 14 years ago, when he picked up the pieces under the guidance of…

OUTLOOK BUSINESS INITIATIVE In the dynamic pharmaceutical landscape, Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited (“Akums”) aims to be a beacon of excellence, setting standards for quality and innovation. Akums’ journey is a witness to its dedication to quality and innovation. This journey not only reflects the company's resolute commitment to producing high-quality pharmaceuticals but also its relentless drive to innovate and adapt to the ever-changing demands of the industry. The vision and expertise propels the company to new heights, ensuring that Akums becomes a trailblazer in pharmaceuticals, delivering cutting-edge solutions and pioneering advancements that benefit global healthcare. As we delve deeper into Akums’ story, we uncover a legacy built on unwavering dedication to quality, innovation, and a bright future led by leaders. Akums’ Commitment to Quality: Rooted in a commitment to…

NANDAN NILEKANI On a sweltering July day, 21-year-old Shishir Pandey, a computer science and engineering student, jostled for space at the IIT, Bombay, campus to catch a glimpse of one of the institute's famous alumni, Nandan Nilekani, at its 65th anniversary celebrations. The excitement around Nilekani's visit was more apparent because just a month earlier, the Infosys co-founder had announced his decision to donate Rs 315 crore to the institute to mark his 50-year association with it—Nilekani is from the 1973 batch of the institute. Considering his previous grants of Rs 85 crore, his is amongst the most charitable donations to the institution as an alumnus. The EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023, released on November 2, 2023, features Nilekani, the co-founder and chairman of Infosys Limited and founding chairman…