Building an Inclusive India: V R Ferose’s Journey of Purpose and Philanthropy
“I find service as the only way to overcome suffering,” V R Ferose shared, reflecting on the impact philanthropy has had on his life. Paradoxically, he admitted that he sometimes feels more of a taker than a giver. “The more you serve, the more you’re able to deal with your own suffering,” he explained, suggesting that his journey in philanthropy provided him not only with a purpose but also with a sense of healing. This belief, rooted in personal experience, is the backbone of his mission to build an inclusive India.
Over a distinguished 25-year career at SAP, Ferose has earned numerous accolades and held pivotal roles—becoming SAP Labs India’s youngest Managing Director at just 33. Now based in Silicon Valley, he heads the SAP Academy for Engineering, where his influence spans global initiatives, including reshaping SAP’s Globalization Services Unit. It was his experience as a father to a son diagnosed with autism that shaped his approach to life and giving.
Inspired by both his family values and his journey as a parent, Ferose founded the India Inclusion Foundation (IIF) in 2016, a volunteer-driven nonprofit in Bengaluru. With a vision of building an India where no one is left behind, IIF works to foster inclusivity and bring disability into mainstream discourse, creating a society that recognizes and celebrates diversity.
Ferose recalled a defining moment when he first spoke publicly about his son’s condition—a decision many warned could be “career-limiting.” As the leader of a multinational, he faced resistance: “Almost everybody said, ‘Ferose, why do you want to share this so publicly?’” Yet, for him, this transparency was essential. “Once I share it, it gives others permission to do the same and not to hide behind it.” This decision reflected his resolve to challenge stigma and build a culture of openness around disability.
The Roots of Generosity
Reflecting on the experiences that shaped his philanthropy, Ferose remarked, “I don’t think there’s one inflection point. Your life experiences make you who you are.”
Raised in a middle-class household in India, Ferose grew up watching his parents embody generosity and humility. His father, who rose from modest beginnings in the Indian Railways to its highest honors (recipient of Railway Board Award), believed in giving back even with limited means. Ferose recalled overhearing his parents discuss how to support their house help's daughter’s wedding, despite their own financial constraints. “Looking back now, I realize how profound that moment was,” he reflected. These early lessons in selflessness became central to Ferose’s worldview, shaping his belief that true giving is not about abundance but intent.
Another defining moment came with the birth of his son, who was later diagnosed with autism. “To learn that your child will face lifelong challenges and that you cannot shield them can be devastating,” he admitted. Yet, this realization gave him a profound sense of purpose. “While people often spend time finding their life purpose, it felt as if the purpose had found me.”
V.R. Ferose shares the stage with a young leader, championing disability inclusion
“To make India inclusive, we need a holistic approach. Inclusion isn’t achievable in silos—we need the support of philanthropy, the scale of government, the professionalism of corporates, and the compassion of NGOs.”
V.R. Ferose with 'The Invisible Majority', a book he co-authored with C.K. Meena to amplify disability narratives in India
Building a Culture of Disability Inclusion
Recognizing the complexity and urgency of disability inclusion in India, IIF addresses what Ferose called a “societal blind spot”. Disability, often referred to as the “invisible minority,” is shaped by stigma, systemic barriers, and limited representation. Despite being the world’s largest minority group, people with disabilities (PWDs) frequently remain at the margins of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. IIF seeks to shift this narrative by fostering societal change through awareness, collaboration, and innovation.
Its work is structured around three pillars: Celebrate, Connect, and Catalyze, each targeting critical aspects of inclusion.
Celebrate: Changing Perceptions Through Visibility
This pillar emphasizes celebrating disability for its resilience and diversity rather than viewing it through a lens of pity. Flagship initiatives like the India Inclusion Summit (IIS) and the Inclusive Walkathon amplify stories of courage and innovation, creating a platform for voices from corporates, NGOs, policymakers, and individuals.
Launched in 2012, IIS has grown into a movement, with over 10,000 attendees and a digital reach of 20 million. Its tagline, “Everyone is good at something,” reflects its mission to challenge stereotypes and celebrate unique strengths. “Disability is too often hidden behind closed doors. We wanted to bring it into the open,” Ferose explained.
Ashwin Karthik, India’s first quadriplegic engineering graduate, embodies the power of representation. Encouraged by Ferose, his participation in IIS in 2014 marked a turning point in his journey. “IIS is more than a platform—it’s a celebration of every individual’s potential, whether they are on the disability spectrum or not. Speaking at IIS gave me the confidence to embrace public speaking, despite challenges with my speech. It helped me build the self-assurance to confidently speak on many other platforms afterward,” Ashwin shared. Now a member of the IIF Board of Trustees, Ashwin continues to inspire others and advocate for disability inclusion.
Connect: Building Alliances for Collective Impact
This pillar emphasizes the importance of collaboration, recognizing that disability inclusion requires collective effort. “The work we do needs many hands and open minds,” Ferose shared, highlighting the need for cross-sector partnerships.
Moving away from traditional fund-raising events, The Friend Raising Dinner (FRD) exemplifies the ethos of connecting advocates, leaders, and changemakers. At FRD, participants exchange ideas, pool resources, and forge alliances to address shared challenges.
“Friend-Raising Dinner is a meaningful evening where new friendships are formed in the disability space, uniting inspiring leaders and individuals who have triumphed over adversity, all in preparation for a transformative summit on inclusion,” said Pavithra Y Sundareshan, Managing Trustee of IIF.
Catalyze: Empowering Changemakers and Sparking Innovation
IIF acts as a force multiplier, empowering changemakers and fostering innovation to drive inclusion. Central to this effort is its “copyleft” philosophy, ensuring all resources and content are freely accessible.
A flagship initiative under this pillar is The Inclusion Fellowship (TIF), launched in 2016. Designed to support social entrepreneurs tackling disability challenges, TIF provides mentorship and resources to help scale their projects and turn vision into reality. “Innovation is critical to addressing deep-rooted challenges in disability inclusion. We need to empower those who are willing to experiment and lead,” Ferose noted.
Complementing this are initiatives like Art for Inclusion (AFI), Everyone Is Good at Something (EGS) and Let’s Include. AFI highlights the artistic talents of individuals with disabilities, using creativity to foster empathy and reshape perceptions. EGS is a photo campaign that shares weekly stories of people with disabilities (primarily from rural India). The campaign led by photographer Vicky Roy has already covered 200 stories from all the 28 states, 8 Union Territories and 21 disabilities in the last four years. Let’s Include in partnership with Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF) showcases short films around disability with the purpose of starting dialogues around topics often seen as taboo.
Celebrating champions of inclusion at the India Inclusion Summit 2023
Vision for the Future
When discussing his aspirations for the disability movement, Ferose emphasized the deeper challenge of achieving full inclusivity. “Ask four people to define disability, and I guarantee all of them will have a different understanding,” he remarked, underlining the need to bridge gaps in knowledge and perception as the foundation for a truly inclusive society. To address this, his ambitious vision, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, is to ensure that 1.4 billion Indians are well-informed about disability. “Our goal is straightforward,” he explained. “We want every person to know the definition of disability, be aware of the 21 recognized disabilities under Indian law, and understand the rights people with disabilities are entitled to.” Ferose likened this awareness to literacy, envisioning it as a fundamental measure of societal progress. “If 1.4 billion people can grasp these basics, it would mark a significant step forward,” he asserted.Looking ahead to 2047—a century after India’s independence—Ferose envisions an India where inclusion is deeply embedded in the fabric of society. “By 2047, we envision an India where inclusion touches every aspect of life,” he shared. This vision imagines PWDs seamlessly integrated into education, employment, and public spaces, creating a society that celebrates diversity rather than merely accommodating it.
Reflecting on the relationship between giving, pain, and purpose, Ferose shared a compelling message for emerging philanthropists: “Give as you go. Don’t wait to accumulate and for the perfect moment. Giving grows as you get into it.” On whether suffering is necessary to find purpose, he added: “Not necessarily. You can also find your purpose by learning through someone else’s pain and internalizing it.”
For Ferose, the journey toward inclusion is about more than systemic change—it is about fostering empathy and shared humanity. His vision challenges each of us to act, ensuring a future where no one is left behind.
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