In the glittering ballrooms of charitable galas, under chandeliers that gleam brighter than the initiatives being honoured, walk some of the most prominent figures in business today. They are champions of corporate social responsibility, or CSR, wearing purpose as proudly as a lapel pin. Their causes are important. Their language is compelling. And yet, sometimes, the picture feels just a little too perfectly lit.CSR, as a mandate and movement, was a landmark moment. It created a structural pathway for companies to give back to the society they operate in. Many took to it with genuine intent—building schools, empowering artisans, restoring watersheds, and enabling rural health programmes. The results are visible in corners of the country that don’t make the front page.
.png)
