Donates 6.39 crore on 58th birthday; total charity now exceeds his lifetime income
Renowned humorist, author, and philanthropist Padma Shri Jagdish Trivedi has crossed a remarkable milestone — donating 19.23 crore to charity. On his 58th birthday, celebrated on Sunday, Trivedi contributed 6.39 crore from his income this year, as revealed in his annual publication Social Audit of Social Service.
The book, inaugurated at the hospital in Surendranagar where Trivedi was born, provides a detailed account of his income and donations down to the last rupee. In 2017, on his 50th birthday, Trivedi had pledged to donate his entire income to social causes, committing at least 11 crore — a goal he has now far exceeded.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier praised Trivedi’s philanthropic work during his Mann Ki Baat radio programme, lauding his transparency and dedication.
Born to a teacher couple in the small village of Gujarvati in Surendranagar, Trivedi rose from humble beginnings to become one of Gujarat’s most celebrated humorists. Holding three PhDs and the author of 82 books, he has performed in India and abroad, with over 1,000 shows in the US alone. His essays are also featured in school textbooks in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
According to his latest audit, over 80% of his income comes from performances in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Dubai. All his earnings go towards education and healthcare initiatives, including the construction of more than 25 schools, libraries, and health centres.
Remarkably, Trivedi’s total donations (19.23 crore) now exceed his total lifetime income (19.08 crore). Despite his success, he continues to live modestly in his hometown of Surendranagar.
Over his illustrious career, Trivedi has received numerous honours, including the Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Rashtriya Gaurav Puraskar, and the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad’s Jyotindra Dave Paritoshak, among others.