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At the DoGood Summit and Awards 2025, Shri K.J. Alphons—former Union Minister and a distinguished bureaucrat—delivered a stirring keynote that challenged India Inc. to step beyond performative CSR and embrace compassion as the foundation of business conduct. Known for his fearless bureaucratic reforms and tenure as Union Minister of State for Culture, Tourism, and Electronics & IT, Alphons brought his signature candour to a gathering of changemakers, brands, and social sector leaders.
Speaking passionately, Alphons declared, “We have lost the real meaning of compassion.” He urged brands and business leaders to not merely fund projects but to actively internalise the values of inclusion, care, and humanity in their everyday operations.
Recounting India's civilizational ethos rooted in collective upliftment, Alphons called for a shift from charity to justice. “Don’t do good because you’re rich or famous. Do it because it’s your responsibility,” he said, critiquing the performative aspects of some CSR efforts. He emphasised that corporate responsibility should stem from a deeper sense of moral obligation rather than the optics of brand-building.
Drawing from personal anecdotes—including his time in the Indian Administrative Service and his work on health and education reforms in Kerala—Alphons illustrated how policies backed by sincerity can radically transform lives. “When I was in Kottayam, we made it the first district in India to become fully literate—not because we had funds, but because we had willpower,” he said.
At a time when brand purpose and social consciousness dominate marketing conversations, Alphons’ words served as a timely reminder that real impact goes beyond campaigns and metrics. He called on leaders to “stand up for what is right” and to be bold enough to serve the most marginalised communities, not for recognition, but for the right reasons.
The DoGood Summit, which convenes voices from across the social impact, corporate, and development sectors, provided a fitting platform for Alphons’ urgent message. His keynote, imbued with both conviction and critique, was widely appreciated by an audience hungry for authenticity and leadership with heart.
As businesses increasingly intertwine with societal challenges, Alphons’ appeal to redefine compassion as action—not just sentiment—marks a powerful moment in India’s evolving dialogue on doing good.
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