Inner-Happiness
Born in 1946 into the family that built the Modi Group and the town of Modinagar, Satish Modi trained as an engineer before devoting his life to enterprise, philanthropy and the arts.
As a global entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the author of In Love with Death, his life’s mission bridges industry with a profound quest for inner happiness.
By inspiring people to embrace life with goodness, love, and compassion, his vision unites us in building a more peaceful and harmonious world.
Founder, Inner Happiness Foundation · Chairman of the Advisory Board, Inner Happiness Foundation Europe · Chairman, Modi Global Enterprises · President, Dayawati Modi Foundation and Gujar Mal Modi Science Foundation · Co-founder, International Institute of Fine Arts
Satish Modi’s guiding philosophy is rooted in the belief that acknowledging the finitude of life is the ultimate catalyst for goodness. In his acclaimed book, In Love with Death, he explores how keeping the reality of death in mind – not with fear, but with awareness – helps us value life more deeply and live with profound gratitude.
He observes that real happiness is not found in wealth alone, as greed, ego, and the illusion of power often become barriers to genuine contentment. This awareness motivates individuals to elevate themselves above worldly illusions and fulfill their responsibilities to the most vulnerable, acting as the spiritual foundation for his “Together for Change” vision.
“Recognise the value and importance of being prepared: by living a life of good deeds, by fulfilling our responsibilities, by elevating ourselves above the web of worldly illusions, by moving towards a higher plane. Such a person is ready to face death without any fear. Here is a person ready to embrace the opportunity to enter a new world in happiness and peace. Here is a person totally in love with death.”
Based on the messages of his book, Satish Modi co-created the Inner Happiness Foundation to bring joy to people around the globe and to encourage universal love, peace and harmony. The Foundation is active in India and Japan. In Rome, the Community of Sant’Egidio joined him in founding Inner Happiness Foundation Europe, where he chairs the Advisory Board.
In the United States, the Foundation partners with the East-West Philanthropy Forum in Honolulu.
Its message is simple: true health is emotional and spiritual as well as physical, and inner happiness is the foundation of a peaceful society.
In 2000 Satish and his wife Abha founded the International Institute of Fine Arts (IIFA) in Modinagar, near Delhi. It offers degrees in Fashion Design, Textile Design, Applied Art and Painting, with financial support for talented students from underprivileged families.
Many underprivileged yet talented students receive financial support, enabling them to develop their skills and grow into confident, self-reliant individuals.
Every year, artists from the Royal Drawing School in London, founded by King Charles III, live and teach on campus for three to four months, joined by faculty from the University of the Arts London. The result is a true exchange of cultures and artistic practices.
As Chairman of Modi Group, Satish Modi has spent decades bringing new age business and technology to India, always with an eye toward societal progress.
Beyond traditional industry, he is deeply committed to human-centric and ethical progress.
With the Galien Foundation he brought the Prix Galien Awards, widely regarded as the Nobel Prize of the life sciences, to India, giving Indian researchers a global stage.
In 2026, at the inaugural Modi Prix Galien India Forum in New Delhi, he signed the Rome Call for AI Ethics, reinforcing the need for transparent artificial intelligence that acts for the common good.
Signing the Rome Call for AI Ethics, New Delhi, 2026.
Satish Modi’s eye remains firmly on the future. In Modinagar, the town his parents built, he is creating a “Dream City” where modern infrastructure goes hand in hand with art and culture. At its heart will be a world-class retirement home, developed with Living Solutions UK and The King’s Foundation, offering dignified living for the elderly.
His recent ventures share the same spirit of innovation. In 2023 he launched the Modi India Fund in London and Modi Tiles, and with Vertical Future he is developing Modi Fresh, bringing hydroponically grown vegetables to India.
In 2024 he signed an agreement with the Galien Foundation and Cube Labs to advance medical research in the country.
“Science may heal the body, but wisdom and compassion nourish the human spirit.”
Satish Modi’s philanthropy focuses on giving people the tools to build their own future.
Through his foundation’s Right to Education programme, 4,000 underprivileged children in India receive free or subsidised schooling, while A Stitch in Time has helped thousands of women earn a living with dignity.
The same commitment lives on in the Dayawati Modi Award for Art, Culture and Education, instituted in 1994 in memory of his mother, a dedicated educationist and social worker. Over the years it has honoured figures such as Mother Teresa, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Goldie Hawn.
