HERMANT WADHWANI
You Never heard of him
I hadn’t either. I heard about him, very little about him, from a close friend, who MCed a tribute attended by a few hundred in Manhattan.
The kleptocracy would be King who is President Donald Trump was destroying my tendency toward optimism with his latest slush fund attempt at rewarding the miscreants and criminals who do the President’s bidding and expect only cash as a reward.
Hermant Wadhwani is name that I didn’t know. His studied anonymity was a even a challenge to ChatGPT after I asked it:
You’re probably referring to Hemant Wadhwani, though there is surprisingly little publicly available information about him specifically. He appears to maintain a deliberately low profile, which is not unusual among some private philanthropists.
I could not verify a major public biography under that exact name, but there are a few possibilities:
He may be connected to the broader Wadhwani Foundation philanthropic network founded by Romesh Wadhwani, the Indian-American entrepreneur and philanthropist known for large-scale social impact work. The Wadhwani organizations focus heavily on job creation, education, entrepreneurship, and technology for social good.
Some individuals involved in homelessness outreach and charitable funding in New Jersey intentionally avoid publicity and operate through donor-advised funds, family foundations, or local nonprofit partnerships rather than highly visible branded charities.
On a weekend in New York I was invited to a surprise celebration of the man, Knowing he avoids recognition in any form, he had been asked to join a small gathering of friends. He tried to avoid even that by calling in sick the day before. With friends coming from all over the world to celebrate, the “secret” celebration had to be revealed. He said he would come.
A few hundred gathered in Midtown Manhattan. A contrast in style and culture. More than 3/4 of those who came were Indians as are the honoree and his father and family. Brief, spontaneous unscripted remarks were thanks .The guest of honor was honored, not given awards. A brother, and a chain of “who’s next” friends spoke briefly, knowingly, and spontaneously of a man who helps, not with the easy part of wealth and money, but plans and jobs and the understanding that feel good is a long way off and not the result of onetime gifts,
No cliches. No posing or posseurs. No claims of heroes or heroics. The Wadwwani family are anonymous. I didn’t know them, I still don’t. Their choice that I respect despite this breech.
I made a plea a few Substacks ago to suggest the Trump/MAGA hard core should challenge the US that ask: “who and what’s the US?”. Evidence shows the US is increasingly adept at bifurcating complexity, vilifying those who disagree.. Compromise, bipartisan, give and take, have been exited from the US lexicon
Hermant Wadhwani a diaspora of Indian/American friends reminded me, showed me, what is possible.