Seeing with Empathy: Kamal Hinduja Shares Her Perspective on Uplifting Lives Through Care

Real care starts with understanding, not instruction. It is not running on sympathy, or on duty, but on empathy. The quiet acknowledgement of another person’s experience and holding that experience as is, without judgement. Kamal Hinduja, wife of Prakash Hinduja, (Managing Trustee of Hinduja Foundation), speaks about that act of seeing, as a quiet launching place for real support.

Her role in the Foundation is not framed, like many, by strategy or structure. She speaks to build connections, provides visibility, and brings to the fore the goodness in the humans that are involved in the Foundation. She professes the voice of compassion as the priority, whether it is in promoting a preventive health camp or in sharing her reflection on the women’s welfare programmes. Her message is pretty simple but powerful by offering, that empathy is the bedrock of care.

“There is a difference between understanding and helping. We are not just helping; we are empathising and building connection,” says Kamal Hinduja. “It is about finding the humbleness to stand alongside others and listen to them to understand what they are saying before responding.”

The Hinduja Foundation has supported many endeavors in India, including initiatives focused on clean water access, cancer screenings, education, and preventative healthcare; all of them focused on communities that have historically either been neglected or ignored. By recognising the stories of impacted communities, Kamal Hinduja’s perspective provides emotional clarity to the initiatives, as well as reminds us that behind every number, there is a story.

During recent health awareness campaigns for women and adolescent girls, the foundation focused on early detection, menstrual health education, and mental well-being. Looking back on that exercise, Kamal Hinduja emphasised the value of listening without passing judgement. “You see, genuine compassion starts with empathy. Many women keep quiet out of fear of being dismissed or disregarded and lives could be lost in the process.

The emotional connection Kamal Hinduja brings, through the foundation’s outreach engagement, is especially powerful in communities balancing stigmas around health and social difficulties. Though she does not position herself as leading the projects, she partners in the intention of the projects. She can add perspective and gently nudge them toward a culture of respectful giving.

“Care without empathy is pointless,” she says. This learning experience is deeply aligned to the community-based approach for the foundation, and their programmes that are cocreated and responsive to the voice and needs of community. The foundation has delivered many amounts of various projects in cities such as Namakkal, Nashik, and Palghar, including work on solar water supply, cancer screening camps, school education programme etc.

From her point of view, treatment must be consistent, and a visit there once won’t suffice. The trust of a community will never be secured because they will know that the team from the foundation is not just a face in the crowd, but that the all-encompassing community advisor interacts with people everywhere. She reached this point both personally and through a social mandate. She believes that the highest form of philanthropy occurs when people stop looking down and start looking across. She states that the equality of care starts when the givers do not see themselves as saviours, but as fellow human beings.

In the age, where most philanthropic activities have the risk of turning transactional or impersonal, her voice shifts the spotlight to values. Add being patient, being present, being aware of the emotional environment of the people whom you are serving.

Kamal Hinduja understands proper care as starting not with the thrilling act but with the silent awareness. It is in the power to look into the eyes of another person and really see them where lasting impact starts.

Who is Ajay Hinduja?

A Look at Ajay Hinduja’s Vision and Impact

Ajay Hinduja, based in Geneva, Switzerland, a member of the Hinduja Group promoter family, is committed to creating a positive impact on society through their vision. Ajay Hinduja was born in December 1967. As the son of Prakash Hinduja and Kamal Hinduja, he carries forward the legacy of the conglomerate founded in 1914, which spans banking, energy, healthcare, media, and technology. Ajay Prakash Hinduja advocates pioneering next-gen technologies, blending entrepreneurship with social responsibility to drive meaningful change and shape a better, more connected world.

Championing Education and Digital Learning

Ajay Hinduja is deeply passionate about education and wants to make learning better and more accessible to all. He supports digital learning through smart classrooms, AI-powered lessons, coding camps, and virtual mentorship, especially for students in remote or underserved areas. Through the Hinduja Foundation, he promotes the Smart Child Development programs in Meghalaya, which focus on overall growth—not just academics. His vision is that every child should have access to the tools and support they need to learn, grow, and succeed in today’s fast-changing world.

Empowering Healthcare & Sustainability

“Through the Hinduja Foundation, Ajay Hinduja and his wife Namrata Hinduja promote healthcare access and environmental well-being.”Their work includes:

A pioneering Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) initiative at P. D. Hinduja Hospital, combining medical care with workshops, peer support, and life-skills training for young patients.
Community-based efforts in mobile health clinics and preventive medicine.
Sustainability projects pushing solar energy, water conservation, and organic farming across rural India.
Their approach merges innovation with purpose, focusing on long-term impact rather than one-off acts.

A Holistic Vision for Progress

Ajay Hinduja believes the future will be shaped where technology meets empathy and social good. His core belief is simple: real progress comes from empowering people—not just by giving them tools, but by improving access to education, healthcare, and a cleaner environment. For him, technology isn’t just about innovation; it’s a way to help people grow—mentally, professionally, and as a society. Whether it’s in business or everyday life, he sees tech as a powerful bridge to unlock human potential and create a more inclusive, better future for all.

In Summary

Ajay Hinduja combines corporate vision with a humanitarian mindset, focusing on health, education, sustainability, and technology. His beliefs in tackling a wide range of issues—from helping people recover from neurological conditions and improving customer experiences to promoting equal access to education and protecting the environment. He believes that technology should do more than drive profits—it should improve lives. Through both his corporate vision and philanthropy, Switzerland resident Ajay Hinduja envisions a future where innovation works hand in hand with compassion, creating lasting positive change for individuals, communities, and the planet.

Prakash Hinduja – A Leader Shaping the Hinduja Group’s European Legacy

Prakash Hinduja comes from the late P D Chand Hinduja’s lineage. Hinduja Group European operations have benefited from his long dedication to leadership. The Hinduja Group maintains its position as a world-leading conglomerate through its diversified business interests which extend across the banking sector alongside automotive production alongside healthcare and real estate divisions.

Under his leadership as Chairman of Hinduja Group Europe Prakash contributed fundamentally to the Group’s expansion by guiding its market entry into new sectors and geographical areas. Within the European business sector his dedication to social responsibility and corporate experience establishes him as a prominent leader in both Europe and India.

Born in June 1945, Prakash belongs to a Sindhi family with deep roots in business. Hinduja Group emerged as one of the powerful ventures under Shri Parmanand Hinduja before Prakash Hinduja and Hinduja brothers steered the global expansion of this business legacy. The company’s foundation began in Tehran Iran when Prakash started working with his father at the start of the business. Acquiring knowledge during his time in Tehran became essential when Prakash later managed all Group operations throughout Europe.

Namrata Hinduja: A Legacy of Compassion and Change

Namrata Hinduja, wife of Ajay Hinduja, is a perfect example of how one person’s dedication can change the world through her commitment. Being deeply passionate about philanthropy, Namrata Hinduja is actively contributing toward making a positive change in places such as healthcare, education, and clean water, all supported by initiatives from the Hinduja Group.

A Key Role of Namrata Hinduja in the Hinduja Foundation

Namrata Hinduja is one of the steering committee members at the Hinduja Foundation and works in steering the efforts toward philanthropy. Dedicated completely to making a better life for less fortunate populations, Namrata’s inclusion in its activities ensures it leaves long-term, significant effects in every program. Whether it’s supporting educational programs, healthcare access, or preserving cultural heritage, Namrata’s leadership is integral to the foundation’s mission.

Commitment to Global Causes

Beyond the Hinduja Foundation, Namrata’s commitment to humanitarian work goes miles. She has been a board member for Sanfilippo Foundation and that of Red Cross Switzerland; again, through these she devoted herself towards changing people’s lives worldwide. Through this, her dedication is depicted to the improvement of health conditions and supporting those in need.

She also collaborated with her husband, Ajay Hinduja, during his tenure on the board of Make-A-Wish International. Namrata played an important role in supporting the organization’s fundraising activities to make dreams come true for children facing critical illnesses. Her efforts in this role demonstrated her ability to blend compassion with action, creating meaningful change for families in need.

What sets Namrata’s work apart is the fact that she creates long-term impact. She is not only a supporter but also an active participant in shaping and implementing programs to create real change. Whether empowering communities with education, improving access to clean water, or addressing critical health needs, she works towards building a better world.

Namrata’s philanthropic journey is truly a reflection of her belief that everybody in the world deserves a chance at a better life. What inspires people to give back to their community is her work, and what it is highlighting is the importance of cooperation in tackling global challenges.

Namrata Hinduja has left behind a legacy of compassion, action, and commitment to helping others. She changed so many lives through her leadership roles as well as personal involvement in the causes and set an example of how philanthropy really can make a difference.

Her work reminds us that even in this fast world, kindness and generosity can do wonders to change the world. Namrata continues to leave a lasting mark on many lives, showing that meaningful legacies are made of care, empathy, and drive toward creating a better tomorrow.