Revathi Kamath doesn’t fit the usual mould of an environmental crusader — and that’s exactly what makes her stand out. A passionate veena player and a nature lover at heart, Kamath brings a beautiful blend of creativity and care to everything she does. She’s not just the mother of Zerodha co-founders Nithin and Nikhil Kamath — but she also carved a niche for herself as a changemaker and artiste.
Recently, at the Sinhasi Social Impact Initiative seminar on Wetlands Preservation, Revati Kamath delivered a heartfelt speech about the urgent need to revive India’s vanishing green spaces. She stressed that while policies matter, it’s public participation that truly makes a difference in society. “Our wetlands are vanishing, and people barely notice. It’s time we all got involved,” she said, urging more people to take initiatives to save our environment.
Revathi Kamath with her sons and Zerodha founders Nikhil and Nithin Kamath
Kamath also credited her sons’, Nithin Kamath and Nikhil Kamath’s, generosity to the values she instilled in them early on — kindness, responsibility, and giving back. “They’ve always had giving hearts… I raised them to believe that making a difference matters more than making a profit,” she said. She further shared how her son, Nithin Kamath, often encourages her to lead her charitable efforts with her own resources, while her second son, Nikhil Kamath, supports her quietly by transferring funds to her, without asking anything in return.
Revathi Kamath is also an entrepreneur, and she funds her green projects through her business earnings. “I’m not chasing profits. Half of what I make goes into environmental work,” she said proudly. For the unversed, Revathi Kamath started her flower business with just INR 500, which grew into Calyx, an event company serving top clients.
Despite the challenges she faces in her philanthropic works, Revathi Kamath finds strength in her music. She is also a proficient veena player, and it is her way to recharge — a moment of prayer and reflection.
Her grace, grit, and green thinking show that Revathi Kamath is an inspiration to many.
