The Malkani family made a fortune building one of the country’s first online travel agencies.

Now, as India’s wealth continues to expand, the Malkanis join a growing number of successful Indian entrepreneurs blazing another trail: charitable giving.

“We’ve been so blessed in our lives to benefit. We wanted to give back,” said Anjal Malkani, whose husband helped her family start the business.

The philanthropic mood extends to some of India’s biggest corporations, many of them IT companies at the forefront of India’s boom.

India has a long tradition of giving, and all major religions here – Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism – see charity as a cornerstone of a noble, happy life. Wealthy families have long built wells and schools in their native villages, and even the poorest Indians leave a rupee coin at a temple or mosque.

But organized, large-scale giving by wealthy Indians and corporations has only recently become common as India’s economy soars ahead.

“Old money really looked at alleviating poverty and community development – largely at factory sites – by providing services and facilities to their workers,” said Priya Viswanath, a philanthropy expert. “New money giving is really about empowerment.”

(READ the story at Washington Post)

After 347 days, 27,000 miles, 16 countries, 14 punctures, and 4000 hours of sunshine-generated power, Gwyn Roberts arrived at his destination last month, completing his “Overland in the Sun” London to Cape Town adventure.

He completed the first 24,000 miles (to Mozambique) with three friends in a 21-year-old Landcruiser converted by Gwyn to use solar electricity.

The trip raised money and awareness for SolarAid, a British charity that fights global poverty by bringing clean, renewable power to poor rural areas of Africa, installing solar additions to schools and clinics.

Since his departure, October 11 2009, thousands of fans across the world followed the journey on his website, Facebook, Twitter, watching it unfold and experiencing the unparalleled friendship, generosity and hospitality of the African people Gwyn met.

Not only was the Landcruiser transport and home for the Englishman, it was also a photovoltaic solar power station. More than simply powering the car, it charged laptops, mobile phones, lights and cameras. It even boiled water.

The solar electricity ran the car’s cooling fan, power steering, stereo and lights normally powered by the engine’s drive belts. Consequently, fuel consumption was improved by nearly two miles per gallon, saving over 560 litres of diesel fuel, offsetting the precise amount of carbon emissions for his return flight from Johannesburg to London.

Roberts points to several tough spots on the trip: Being self-sufficient for six days while travelling through the harsh conditions of Kenya and Ethiopia and having to visit an eastern Sudan police station three times in one day.

But, mostly, the sun certainly shone brightly over Gwyn in Africa.

“It has been a great opportunity to show people across the continent how SolarAid can help to empower Africans living in poverty through solar energy additions.”

To learn more about the trip and donate, visit his campaign.

A snorkeler has been hailed a hero after he pulled on the tail of a great white shark while it was attacking a young woman who was leading a swim-with-the-dolphins tour.

As the shark bit down on her, a man in her tour group grabbed hold of the tail of the shark, which then made it let go.

Rescuers said he had undoubtedly saved Elyse Frankcom, 19, from fatal injuries.

(READ more from Australia in News.com)