Brigette59K at 14:55, 6 May 2026

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{{short description|IT wing deputy secretary for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2021}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Divya-Sathyaraj.jpg
| caption = Offical portrait
| birth_name = Divya Sathyaraj
| birth_date =
| birth_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]
| education = [[Master of Philosophy]]
| spouse =
| alma_mater = [[University of Madras]]
| occupation = [[Politician]] [[Nutritionist]]
| website =
| party = [[File:Flag DMK.svg|20px]] [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]]
| office = Deputy Secretary of IT wing for [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam|DMK]]
| term_start = 17 February 2025
| 1blankname = [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu|Chief Minister]]
| 1namedata = [[M. K. Stalin]]
}}

'''Divya Sathyaraj''' is an [[Politician|Indian politician]] serving as the IT wing deputy secretary for the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] party since 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/actor-sathyarajs-daughter-divya-appointed-dmks-it-wing-deputy-secretary-823208#google_vignette|title=Actor Sathyaraj’s daughter Divya appointed DMK’s IT wing deputy secretary|date=17 February 2025 |website=www.dtnext.in|access-date=20 April 2026}}</ref>

She is the daughter of actor [[Sathyaraj]] and the sister of [[Sibi Sathyaraj]]. Divya is the [[goodwill ambassador]] of [[Akshaya Patra Foundation|The Akshaya Patra Foundation]] (TAPF), an [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]] implementing the [[Government of India]]’s [[Midday Meal Scheme]] for school children. She has also started a movement in 2020, ''Mahilmadhi Iyakkam'', an initiative to provide healthy and nutritious meals to the [[Malnutrition|malnourished]] and [[Social privilege|under-privileged]] communities. In 2025, Divya joined the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]].

== Personal life ==

Divya is the daughter of actor [[Sathyaraj]] and Maheshwari. Divya's brother is the actor [[Sibi Sathyaraj|Sibi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 July 2013 |title=நடிகர் சத்யராஜ் திருமணம் நடந்தது |trans-title=Actor Sathyaraj was married |url=http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/07/23231851/actor-sathyaraj-marriage-cinem.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728051216/http://cinema.maalaimalar.com/2013/07/23231851/actor-sathyaraj-marriage-cinem.html |archive-date=28 July 2013 |access-date=26 February 2021 |website=[[Maalai Malar]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cine Biography: Sathyaraj (Part-2) |url=http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinebio/16-08-00/sathya2.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001202125400/http://www.dinakaran.com/cinema/english/cinebio/16-08-00/sathya2.htm |archive-date=2 December 2000 |access-date=26 February 2021 |website=[[Dinakaran]]}}</ref> Unlike her father and her brother, Divya abstained from acting, instead pursuing a career in nutrition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 February 2018 |title=Divya Sathyaraj: Not interested in acting in films |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/not-interested-in-acting-in-films-divya-sathyaraj/articleshow/62883465.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310092215/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/not-interested-in-acting-in-films-divya-sathyaraj/articleshow/62883465.cms |archive-date=10 March 2021 |access-date=26 February 2021 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> Originally a vegetarian, she became a [[Veganism|vegan]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mathew |first=Thushara Ann |date=14 February 2018 |title=Being vegan has given me a burst of energy: Divya Sathyaraj |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/food/2018/feb/14/being-vegan-has-given-me-a-burst-of-energy-divya-sathyaraj-1773414.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123656/https://www.newindianexpress.com/lifestyle/food/2018/feb/14/being-vegan-has-given-me-a-burst-of-energy-divya-sathyaraj-1773414.html |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref>
== Career ==
Divya graduated with a [[Master of Philosophy]] in Nutrition from the [[University of Madras]].<ref name="suman" /> She conducts [[Academic conference|workshops]] on health-related issues, [[child labour]] and [[Self-defense#Women's self-defense|self-defence for women]], and [[Mental health counselor|counseling]] sessions for [[Sri Lankans in India#Sri Lankan refugees|Sri Lankan refugees]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rangarajan |first=Malathi |date=5 September 2013 |title=The healthy plate |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/fitness/the-healthy-plate/article5096572.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123650/https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/fitness/the-healthy-plate/article5096572.ece |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> She had written a letter to the [[Prime Minister of India]], [[Narendra Modi]], pointing out the malpractices and negligence in medical field and questioning the [[National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate)|NEET]] exams.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thirumurthy |first=Priyanka |date=17 July 2017 |title=Foreign drug marketers out to cheat Indian customers? Sathyaraj's daughter Divya writes to PM |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/foreign-drug-marketers-out-cheat-indian-customers-sathyaraj-s-daughter-divya-writes-pm-65307 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123738/https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/foreign-drug-marketers-out-cheat-indian-customers-sathyaraj-s-daughter-divya-writes-pm-65307 |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[The News Minute]]}}</ref><ref name="neet" /> She is the goodwill ambassador of [[Akshaya Patra Foundation]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 April 2018 |title=The Akshaya Patra Foundation Appoints Nutritionist Ms. Divya Sathyaraj as its Goodwill Ambassador |url=https://www.pr.com/press-release/749985 |access-date=9 December 2020 |website=PR.com}}</ref> the world's largest midday meal programme.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Srividya |first=R. K. |date=5 June 2018 |title=No diet can equate with healthy eating: Chennai based nutritionist Divya Sathyaraj |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/jun/05/no-diet-can-equate-with-healthy-eating-chennai-based-nutritionist-divya-sathyaraj-1823693.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123657/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2018/jun/05/no-diet-can-equate-with-healthy-eating-chennai-based-nutritionist-divya-sathyaraj-1823693.html |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anand |first=Apoorva |date=17 July 2018 |title=IISc Bangalore alumnus-run Akshaya Patra is the world's largest mid-day meal provider, feeds 1.7 million children across India |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/iisc-bangalore-alumnus-world-s-largest-mid-day-meal-provider-1287987-2018-07-17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123735/https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/featurephilia/story/iisc-bangalore-alumnus-world-s-largest-mid-day-meal-provider-1287987-2018-07-17 |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[India Today]]}}</ref> She has also partnered with [[World Vision India]], where she has assumed responsibility for four young girls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Subramanian |first=Anupama |date=24 August 2019 |title=Divya Sathyaraj bats for basic rights of children |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/240819/divya-sathyaraj-bats-for-basic-rights-of-children.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123733/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/240819/divya-sathyaraj-bats-for-basic-rights-of-children.html |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |website=[[Deccan Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref name="suman" />

Divya started a movement in 2020, ''Mahilmadhi Iyakkam''. About the movement she says, "The purpose of the movement is to identify areas in the city where access to nutritious food and awareness about its benefits are lacking. Once the areas are identified and the community members are assessed, those in the neighbourhood who are in need, will be provided hygienic and healthy food, free of cost, based on the deficiencies."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balasubramanian |first=Roshne |date=6 August 2020 |title=A diet for the deprived |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/aug/06/a-diet-for-the-deprived-2179577.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123657/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2020/aug/06/a-diet-for-the-deprived-2179577.html |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=8 December 2020 |website=[[The New Indian Express]]}}</ref> In 2019, Divya announced she would get into [[Politics of India|politics]] in 2021.<ref name="neet" /><ref name="toi" />

== Awards ==
In 2019, Divya received the Women Achiever Award for excellence in community service from Raindrops, a youth-based social organisation spreading social awareness through media and entertainment.<ref name="suman" /><ref name="toi" /> In 2020, she was awarded an [[honorary degree|honorary doctorate]] by the [http://tamiluniversityusa.org/ International Tamil University, USA], in recognition for her contributions in the field of Nutritional therapy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 June 2020 |title=Divya Sathyaraj to start a political movement? |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/divya-sathyaraj-to-start-a-political-movement.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123650/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/divya-sathyaraj-to-start-a-political-movement.html |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref>

==Political career==
Divya joined the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) on 19 January 2025 in the presence of [[Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu]], [[M. K. Stalin]], at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam in [[Chennai]].<ref name="Actor Sathyaraj's daughter Divya joins DMK">{{cite news |title=Actor Sathyaraj's daughter Divya joins DMK |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/actor-sathyarajs-daughter-divya-joins-dmk/article69116561.ece |access-date=22 January 2025 |publisher=The Hindu |date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122075235/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/actor-sathyarajs-daughter-divya-joins-dmk/article69116561.ece |archive-date=22 January 2025 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

== References ==
<references>

<ref name="suman">{{Cite web |date=5 March 2020 |title=Dr. Divya Sathyaraj |url=http://sumanclinic.com/team/dr-divya-sathyaraj/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123724/http://sumanclinic.com/team/dr-divya-sathyaraj/ |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |website=sumanclinic.com}}</ref>
<ref name="neet">{{Cite web |date=25 October 2020 |title=Sathyaraj's daughter divya's press note on her political journey |url=https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/sathyarajs-daughter-divyas-press-note-on-her-political-journey.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123658/https://www.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies-cinema-news-16/sathyarajs-daughter-divyas-press-note-on-her-political-journey.html |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |website=Behindwoods}}</ref>
<ref name="toi">{{Cite web |date=26 June 2019 |title=I will get into politic, soon: Divya |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/i-will-get-into-politic-soon-divya/articleshow/69942816.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217123703/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/i-will-get-into-politic-soon-divya/articleshow/69942816.cms |archive-date=17 December 2020 |access-date=9 December 2020 |website=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

</references>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sathyaraj, Divya}}
[[Category:Indian nutritionists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Women from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam politicians]]
[[Category:Indian Tamil politicians]]

Divya Sathyaraj - Revision history

Brigette59K at 14:55, 6 May 2026