Childhood
Nandan M. Nilekani was born in Bangalore, Karnataka on June 2, 1955 as the younger son of Durga and Mohan Rao Nilekani. Both Nandan and his brother, Vijay, who is elder to Nandan by 8 years, spent their early childhood here. Their father worked as a manager in the Minerva Mills, and despite having made a career in the private sector, was someone who subscribed to the Fabian Socialist viewpoint , an ideology that also influenced Nandan during his early years.
Their mother, Durga Nilekani, was pretty much the anchor for the family – both kids remember her as a ‘quiet, liberal woman who brought stability to the family, and a surprisingly modernistic viewpoint.’ Durga, now 83, lives with Nandan’s family in Bangalore, while Vijay lives in Washington D.C., where he works in the Nuclear Energy Institute.