Let Them Eat Philanthropy: Piramal’s Divine Economic Paradox
Let Them Eat Philanthropy: Piramal’s Divine Economic Paradox Published on 18th July, 2025 (GMT 15:50 hrs) Abstract This paper offers a critical, self-reflective interrogation of the intertwined narratives of corporate philanthropy, regressive taxation, and public disenfranchisement in contemporary India, with a particular focus on the Piramal Group. Juxtaposing India’s rising indirect tax burdens on the middle class with corporate tax minimization strategies, the essay exposes the paradox of ‘development’ that privatizes profit while socializing environmental and health costs. Using a blend of sarcasm, literary parody, and empirical data—ranging from GST fluctuations to the crumbling public healthcare system—it deconstructs how ‘philanthropic’ giants like Ajay Piramal reap tax benefits, wield influence through electoral funding, and contribute minimally to actual public welfare, while projecting moral superiority through CSR and token charity. The work situates this critique...