Mangaluru’s Shabana Faizal among India’s Top 10 Women Philanthropists on EdelGive Hurun List
Mangaluru: Shabana Faizal, originally from Mangaluru, has been recognised among India’s top philanthropists, securing a place as the youngest woman in the top 10 of the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025. At 53, she has donated Rs 40 crore through the Faizal & Shabana Foundation, earning a spot among the country’s most impactful changemakers.
Her inclusion places her alongside prominent women philanthropists such as Rohini Nilekani, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, and Bina Shah, underscoring her growing influence in India’s social development landscape.
Born and raised in Mangaluru, Shabana is the only daughter of Late B. Ahmed Haji Mohiudeen, a respected businessman and socio-religious leader who founded the BA Group of Businesses in Thumbay, near Mangaluru. She completed her degree in psychology from St. Agnes College and later pursued a diploma in fashion design and merchandising from the National Institute of Fashion Design, Dubai.
Her early professional journey began in industries traditionally dominated by men, including work in steel mills and data entry, experiences that shaped her adaptability and resilience.
According to the Meitra Hospital website, where Shabana serves as a Director, her entrepreneurial career took off in 1995 when she began retailing specialty and luxury products. She later joined her husband, Faizal E. Kottikollon, in managing Emirates Techno Casting (ETC), a major engineering and manufacturing enterprise in the UAE. In her role, she managed human resources and administrative operations, contributing significantly to the company’s success.
Today, she is the Vice Chairperson of KEF Holdings, a Singapore-based family enterprise with investments across sectors like infrastructure, education, agriculture, metals, and finance. The group is known for leveraging off-site construction technologies and sustainability-driven innovations that have made a global impact.
In 2007, Shabana and her husband co-founded the Faizal & Shabana Foundation with the motto “Giving to Create Impact.” The foundation focuses on education, youth development, healthcare, community outreach, regenerative development, humanitarian aid, and the arts, aiming to create sustainable social change through long-term initiatives.
Shabana and her husband Faizal E. Kottikollon
Her philanthropic work reflects a deep commitment to giving back to society, an extension of the values she imbibed from her upbringing in Mangaluru.
The EdelGive Foundation, in collaboration with the Hurun Research Institute, released the 12th edition of the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List this year. The report highlights India’s most generous individuals and families, noting that 191 philanthropists together contributed Rs 10,380 crore over the past three years — an 85% rise in donations compared to earlier years.
Education continues to receive the highest support, with Rs 4,166 crore donated by 107 contributors. The list also revealed that the top 25 philanthropists donated Rs 50,000 crore in just five years, averaging Rs 46 crore per day. Mumbai accounted for the largest share of donations at 28%, followed by New Delhi and Bengaluru.
A mother of four— Sophiya, Sarah, Zacharia, and Czarina — Shabana continues to balance family life with business leadership and social service. Her journey from a small-town upbringing to global entrepreneurship and impactful philanthropy showcases how determination, empathy, and a sense of purpose can redefine success.
Shabana Faizal’s recognition on the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025 stands as a proud moment for Mangaluru and Karnataka, celebrating a woman whose vision continues to inspire both corporate and social transformation.
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Four more arrested in brigadier assault case in Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): Four more accused have been arrested in connection with the alleged assault on an Army brigadier, his son and threatening his wife in southwest Delhi's Vasant Enclave area, police said on Friday.
The accused have been identified as Surjit Singh (36), Sunil Sharma (53) and Ashish (32), all from Mehram Nagar in Delhi, and Satender (35) of Bhiwani in Haryana, police said.
According to police, Surjit Singh was known to the main accused Satender, a director of an aviation company. All of them were sitting together in Mehram Nagar when Satender called them regarding a quarrel in Vasant Enclave.
"Following the call, all four left for the spot in Surjit's white Hyundai Aura. After reaching there, they got involved in the altercation and assault before returning to their respective homes," a senior police officer said.
After learning about the registration of the case, the accused fled and went into hiding, he said.
"Teams were constituted to trace them and all four absconding accused were arrested," he said.
The Hyundai Aura used in the incident has also been recovered, police said.
Further investigation into the case is underway. The role of each accused is being examined, they said.
According to the investigators, the incident took place on the night of April 11, when the brigadier and his son objected to the two men allegedly consuming alcohol inside a car parked outside their residence. Soon, others reached the spot and allegedly assaulted the officer and his son, besides abusing and threatening his wife.
