I am 71 years old. My life was a journey that began in weakness but blossomed into strength. I was born sickly; asthma and eczema kept me in bed for months while other children were at school or playing outdoors. I lost my father at ten. My father had donated every piece of our family land to poor landless farmers as part of a movement in India that encouraged landowners to share their land with the landless.”
With these simple and heartfelt words RI District 3192 DGE Ravishankar Dakoju grabbed the attention and captivated the hearts of the delegates at the recent International Assembly in Orlando. But it hardly prepared them for the spectacular announcement that this unassuming Rotarian, known for his spontaneity and unconventional acts, accompanied by his wife Paola, was about to make. Without any hesitation and discomfort, he traced his life’s journey. And that story was a typical, textbook rags-to-riches story.
But what was far from textbook or typical was the magnanimity the couple displayed — Dakoju announced that he and his wife had decided to donate about 85 per cent of their wealth — around $50–60 million — ₹450–550 crore — to The Rotary Foundation. He made this staggering pledge saying: “Years ago, Paola and I shared a dream — that one day, when we have enough to live with dignity, we would return 85 per cent of our wealth back to society. My friends, that day has arrived… and Paola and I are ready to walk that talk.”
I was not the smartest, most educated or most connected. Whatever I’ve achieved so far came from the kindness of people, grace of life, and opportunities Rotary gives.
— DGE Ravishankar Dakoju
While this announcement got a standing ovation, what really made the couple the toast of the Assembly hall, if not the whole event, was the brutal honesty and humility with which Dakoju told his life’s story. He related the sudden death of his father at only 53, leaving behind “seven children, four dogs, and only ₹100 in the bank.” His two brothers had to discontinue their education and take up small jobs. His mother, “less educated and unprepared for the shock, raised us with great difficulty, helped only by the government’s pension, free-schooling, my brothers’ meagre salaries and her extraordinary courage.”
Without any qualms Dakoju related how this tragedy quickly transformed him into a vagabond…. “I drifted… became the leader of a street gang. My friends were jailed, murdered, or lost to alcohol. I sold black market movie tickets; and shoplifted to feed my gang members and failed my school exams three times.”
With neighbours ensuring their children kept away from this youngster, he developed an inferiority complex. But then something extraordinary happened. The local community “punished me, only with love. Hungry, I would go to their homes, and not once did those mothers and sisters turn me away. Their kindness became my lifeline.”
By sheer “luck and grace,” he got a decent education — a degree and a diploma in marketing. For his first job, for which he commuted taking three different buses, he got a salary of just $2 a month. But suddenly his life changed when he met B S N Hari, who went on to become “more than a family member.” Together they built a thriving real estate business — Hara Housing.
A moment that stood out was Ravishankar being the toast of the Assembly. He was received as a global figure whose actions have redefined the scale of personal commitment to Rotary.
— PRIP K R Ravindran
He then “married my college sweetheart, Paola Rodrigues, whose faith and warmth sobered my life. I was a Hindu; she was a Christian. We became parents to two wonderful girls, Ektaa (unity) and Samta (equality).” He tried a brief stint at politics, failing miserably!
One day, his friend Ramesh Chari, invited him to Rotary. “I took to Rotary like a duck to water, loved the service projects; especially those related to the environment and basic education. I admired the selflessness of my fellow Rotarians, always remembering my father, who gave away everything he owned without worrying about himself.”
Gradually his business thrived and just before the Covid pandemic Paola and he decided to donate about $15 million to TRF, the decision being driven by their belief that “anything beyond our basic needs wasn’t ours to keep. For us, giving was not a luxury; it was a duty.”
The decision was announced when their good friend Suresh Hari became the DG in 2018.
But the coming days unfolded their own mystery; “the more we gave, the more life returned. From that point, miracles began to unfold.”
What they had thought of as sacrifice “turned into unexpected abundance. Opportunities increased. Trust grew stronger. Goodwill enveloped us.” Their two daughters were happily married; his once fragile health improved enough to withstand 16–17-hour work days. “Most importantly, Paola survived cancer! Our company, Hara, which had grown by 20–30 per cent for decades, showed exponential growth.”
New opportunities opened up, all turning into success. A startup called Fish Mongers, which supported and protected marginalised farmers from falling into debt traps, and founded by a group of youngsters, where he is an angel investor and mentor, registered a six-fold increase in just three years.
Another investment he made in a school and corporate transport business, along with RI director K P Nagesh to support their common friend, Neil Joseph, also a Rotarian, grew fourfold in three years. A real estate company started with another Rotarian friend, Ritesh, grew 10 times in four years. He is now investing in social enterprises related to senior citizens’ living, urban waste management and eco-restoration.
To get a sense of how Dakoju’s address, delivered without any fuss or fanfare, with his wife Paola standing quietly by his side, was received by the audience, here is an excerpt from what past RI President K R Ravindran posted in a group of senior Rotary leaders. “A moment that stood out unmistakably was Ravishankar being, quite simply, the toast of the Assembly. He was received not merely as a speaker but as a global figure whose actions have redefined the scale of personal commitment to Rotary. His decision to donate 85 per cent of his personal wealth — $50–60 million (about ₹500 crore) — to TRF is unprecedented. To the best of my knowledge, this makes him the single largest individual donor in the Foundation’s history.”
But more of the accolades later. Dakoju continued in his typical, matter-of-fact style. “None of my success came from being extraordinary. I was not the smartest, not the most educated, and certainly not the most connected. Whatever I have achieved so far came from the kindness of people, the grace of life, and the opportunities Rotary brought into my world.”
Taking the pledge, he said, at the present exchange rate “that pledge may be valued between $50–60 million,” and added, after a pause: “We do this not because we are wealthy, but because we know we have enough to fulfil our needs. The father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi, had reminded us: ‘The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not everyone’s greed.’ Paola and I believe this deeply. What we keep may serve only our family, nothing beyond that! What we give TRF will serve the entire humanity.”
In conclusion, Dakoju added that Rotary had given him new life, purpose, friendships, meaning and a global family. And life had taught him this beautiful truth: ‘When you give more than you think you can, life returns to you more than you can ever imagine.’
On Dakoju and Paola’s stunning gift to TRF, RI President Francesco Arrezzo posted on Facebook, “This remarkable commitment reflects their deep belief in Rotary’s mission and in the power of people coming together to Unite for Good. Their generosity will strengthen our global efforts and expand what Rotary can achieve in communities around the world. I am deeply inspired by Ravishankar’s leadership and the shared values he and Paola embody!”
PRIP Ravindran added that the standing ovation Dakoju received, “during and long after his address, was not only for his heart-moving eloquence. It was also for his courage, conviction and generosity that very few human beings are capable of. To witness such a moment was a privilege for all of us present. We must also acknowledge his partner, Paola. A gift of this magnitude is never the act of one person alone; it requires a partner of uncommon strength, wisdom and selflessness. What touched everyone most was the humility with which this remarkable couple carried themselves thereafter.”
Pictures by Monika Lozinska, RI