On July 11, NSE Indices launched Nifty500 Ahimsa Index. Less than a month earlier, on June 17, BSE had rolled out Saatvik 100 Index. But the concept of ethical investing has been around for a long time. Venus Jewel chairman-co-founder Sevantilal Shah, my guru on the markets, would mildly chide me when I broached the subject of buying into East India Hotels: 'Aapra thi noh layvaai.' (We're not supposed to buy.) The reason: the company served liquor and non-vegetarian cuisine.
Muslim investors would not invest in ITC, however strong the recommendation. Bohra investors would screen out all companies that borrowed and paid out interest. Whenever the subject of aquaculture investing came up, my previous employer would say, 'Beeju kai?' (Anything else?)
