First look: Azim Premji at a temple in Toronto

Wipro chairman Azim Premji has pledged $2-billion to support rural schools in India.

He was in Toronto last week when during an interview with the Globe and Mail, he said, 'he plans to transfer $1.95-billion worth of shares to a trust that will fund social initiatives, particularly elementary education in rural India.'

He spends 10 per cent of his time on the foundation, and he expects that will grow to a quarter of his time in the next few years.

The report in the Canadian daily is titled 'The bare-bones billionaire … (whose) dinning tastes are simple and he gives much of his wealth to charity.'

Much of Premji's efforts are reportedly focused on girls -- keeping them in school, giving them a basic education, ensuring teachers show up for work, empowering female leaders at the village levels. This he assures will result in 'better health outcomes and smaller families'.

Premji believes there's 'no better way (to build the Indian society and the Indian nation) than to upgrade the quality of young people in school, particularly those which are run by the state government in the villages.'

Wipro has offices in Canada and its founder was there for a few days to expand its operations, employ several hundred people and double its revenue.

"It (Canada) is a reasonably large market, (and) we have underinvested in it … (and) so we are taking it seriously now," said Premji.

Azim Premji is seen performing the rituals with the help of priests at the Swaminarayan Temple in Toronto.