200 girls this year. 400 next year. 800 the year after.

For Naman Manmohan Agarwal, philanthropy is not a side activity. He calls it his purpose.

Many business owners promise to give once they are rich enough. Naman decided long ago that the day never comes on its own, so he started with what he had. Today, through the Man-mohana Charitable Trust for Underprivileged Girls and Children, he supports the education and welfare of 200 girls.

Doubling, every year

His target is simple to say and hard to keep: double the number of girls supported every year. Two hundred this year, four hundred next year, eight hundred the year after. He chose doubling over bigger, rounder numbers because he wanted a promise he could actually keep, year after year, and that each girl could count on.

About 125 animals

His care does not stop with people. Naman also looks after about 125 animals, a commitment he treats with the same seriousness as any business target.

A simple life, a large pledge

He lives modestly and intends to keep it that way. He has pledged to give the larger part of his wealth to charity, inspired by Ratan Tata, the man he regards as his role model. In his view, real wealth is not what a person keeps. It is what a person makes possible for others.

"My business gives me a living. These girls give me a reason."

Read about his journey in business, or his own reflections at namanmanmohanagrawal.com.