A young foundation, deliberately so.
Cognitud Foundation is a newly established Indian non-profit. We work alongside children, women and communities through education, empowerment and patient, on-the-ground partnership.
Who we are
Cognitud Foundation was set up by Shantanu Bhowmick and Nilanjana Som Bhowmick in 2024 with a simple intent — to put time, attention and resources where they go furthest: into the futures of children and women in our country.
We are a young organisation. We don't claim to have solved anything. What we have is a clear sense of where we want to begin, the willingness to do it carefully, and the discipline to measure what we do honestly.
Our work
We focus on three areas, in close partnership with the communities we serve:
- Child Empowerment — Nutrition, safety, learning support and life skills for children in low-income communities.
- Women's Empowerment — Skilling, financial literacy and leadership programmes for women who are the backbones of their families.
- Education — Foundational learning, scholarships, teacher support and community libraries.
How we operate
We do not run our own schools. We work alongside existing government and community-led schools, partner organisations and local educators. Our approach is to bring the methods, materials and mentorship that turn a classroom from a holding pen into a workshop.
Every rupee of philanthropic capital is treated with the same discipline, the same diligence, and the same expectation of compounded return as an early-stage equity cheque would be.
Our founders
Shantanu Bhowmick
Shantanu is one of the two founders of Cognitud Foundation. He oversees partnerships, governance and the foundation's operations on the ground.
Nilanjana Som Bhowmick
Nilanjana is one of the two founders of Cognitud Foundation. She leads programme design, community engagement and the foundation's voice.
Registration & compliance
- Registered as a Section 8 Company under the Companies Act, 2013.
- 80G eligibility — donations are tax-deductible in India (registration in process).
- Audited independently from inception; financial statements published annually.
- Registered office: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Questions, partnerships or visit requests: founders@cognitud.org