Subhamaykarjee at 06:00, 8 December 2025

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{{Short description|Indian writer, teacher, and editor}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Geeta Dharmarajan
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1948|09|19}}
| birth_place = [[Chennai]], Tamil Nadu, India
| height =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| yearsactive =
| birth_name = Geeta Krishnaswamy
| othername = K. Geeta
| website = www.katha.org
| awards = [[Padma Shri]]: 2012<br />
Millinnium Alliance Innovator. Instituted by USAID, Government of India and FICCI, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/us-and-india-announce-innovation-science-and-technology-awards|title=U.S. and India Announce Innovation, Science, and Technology Awards|work=[[USAID]]|access-date=15 August 2015|archive-date=1 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501150643/http://www.usaid.gov/news-information/press-releases/us-and-india-announce-innovation-science-and-technology-awards|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Stockholm Challenge:<ref>[http://www.stockholmchallenge.org/project/data/kathas-it Stockholm Challenge Stockholm Challenge] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303173227/http://www.stockholmchallenge.org/project/data/kathas-it |date=3 March 2014 }}</ref> 2001
}}

'''Geeta Dharmarajan''' (born 19 September 1948) is a writer, editor, educator and the executive director of Katha, a [[nonprofit organisation]] that she founded in 1988. Her work focuses on education, especially of children from poor families.

Katha<ref>{{cite web|title=Katha, Official website|url=http://www.katha.org|publisher=Katha|access-date=29 January 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sharma|first=Aditya|title=A Katha of success|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/01/04/stories/2007010401080700.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105130229/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/01/04/stories/2007010401080700.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2012|access-date=29 January 2014|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=4 January 2007}}</ref> is a registered [[Non-profit organizations|non-profit]] and [[Non-governmental organizations|non-governmental organisation]] based in [[Delhi]] in 1989. Katha works in teacher training, children's education and literature. Katha works in underprivileged areas across India. A teaching/learning tool that she devised, "story pedagogy", has been in use in Katha's learning centres since 2001.

Dharmarajan's professional editorial experience that began with ''Target'', a children's magazine, and continued with ''The Pennsylvania Gazette'', the award-winning alumni magazine of the [[University of Pennsylvania]]. Geeta's published works include more than 30 [[children's books]] and over 450 individual pieces in magazines and newspapers in India and abroad. The Government of India awarded her the civilian honour of [[Padma Shri]] in 2012.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Personal life==

Geeta Dharmarajan was born in [[Chennai]] in the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]] in 1948. She was introduced early to the diversity of India through the work of her father, N. Krishnaswamy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ciosa.org.in/news/dr-ks-sanjivi-awards-2011-presented-0|title=Dr KS Sanjivi Awards 2011 Presented|work=ciosa.org.in|access-date=15 August 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923203630/http://www.ciosa.org.in/news/dr-ks-sanjivi-awards-2011-presented-0|url-status=dead}}</ref> a doctor and allergist. Her mother was Kalyani Krishnaswamy,<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWrG5RhaYYA|title=11 VIRUTAM composition of Smt. Kalyani Krishnaswamy|date=19 March 2012|work=YouTube|access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref> a poet and composer of classical Carnatic padams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radioweb.in/content/naad-anunaad|title=Naad Anunaad - RadioWeb Carnatic|work=radioweb.in|access-date=15 August 2015|archive-date=4 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204190707/http://radioweb.in/content/naad-anunaad|url-status=dead}}</ref> She started learning classical [[Bharata Natyam|Bharatanatyam]] and [[Carnatic music]] when she was seven years old. She was educated in Holy Angels' High School where she represented the school in dance and netball. She was elected Head Girl of the school and led the south Indian contingent to the Bharat Girl Guides Jamboree in her final year. She graduated from Stella Maris College in English Literature, standing fourth.{{cn|date=July 2025}}

== Katha Books ==
Geeta is the editor in chief of Katha's list which includes the Katha Prize Stories.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kathaprizestories.blogspot.in/|title=Katha Prize Stories|author=Katha|work=kathaprizestories.blogspot.in|access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref> She has edited stories from more than 300 of India's best literary talents, writing in 21 Indian languages. Katha Books are a showcase of contemporary Indian fiction for adults and children.<ref name="katha1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.katha.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Katha-childrens-books-catalogue-1-feb-2013.pdf |title=Katha Books For Children |access-date=20 April 2014 |archive-date=20 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120134845/http://www.katha.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Katha-childrens-books-catalogue-1-feb-2013.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Katha introduced an array of writings from India's many oral and written traditions to children, ages 0 – 17. Classy productions, child friendly layouts and illustrations go in tandem with excellent writing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Geeta%20Dharmarajan|title=Amazon.com: Geeta Dharmarajan: Books|work=amazon.com|access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="katha1" /> Her major activities include the institution of the Katha Awards for Literary Excellence,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/your-week/story/20010101-publishing-legend-katha-celebrates-its-10th-year-776090-2000-12-31 |access-date=20 April 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419122323/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/publishing-legend-katha-celebrates-its-10th-year/1/233517.html |archive-date=19 April 2014 |title=Publishing legend Katha celebrates its 10th year : YOUR WEEK - India Today |date=January 2001 }}</ref> and curating the Katha Festivals and utsavs that bring literature to the public. These create meeting places for writers, translators, scholars, critics, storytellers and contemporary artists and community activists.<ref>{{cite news|last=Barooah Pisharoty|first=Sangeeta|title=A Beautiful Story|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/society/beautiful-story/article5124256.ece|access-date=29 January 2014|newspaper=The Hindu|date=13 September 2013}}</ref> Geeta led the writers workshop initiative for the central Board of Secondary Education,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbseacademic.in/web_material/Circulars/2013/45_katha.pdf |access-date=20 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210192608/http://www.cbseacademic.in/web_material/Circulars/2013/45_katha.pdf |archive-date=10 December 2013 }}</ref> with partnerships established in 500 schools in India <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/education/school/budding-writers/article5060794.ece|title=Budding writers|author=Hansika Chopra|work=The Hindu|date=26 August 2013 |access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref>

== Katha Schools ==
The Katha Lab School started in 1990 with five children.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voice.unimelb.edu.au/volume-8/number-12/teaching-asian-century|title=Teaching in the Asian century|work=unimelb.edu.au|access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref> Today it is a centre of creativity for the slum cluster it is situated in, producing professionals every year who become entrepreneurs who support their families, or go on to higher studies. More than 80% of Katha's children go to college. It was recently visited by The [[Prince of Wales]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130526202104/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/newdelhi/South-civic-body-to-boost-reading-habit-among-students/Article1-1060193.aspx British Asian Trust President, HRH The Prince of Wales, visits ...]
</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/nation-world/prince-charles-camilla-parker-during-nine-day-visit-to-india/prince-charles-at-the-katha-lab-school-in-new-delhi/slideshow/25595547.cms|title=Prince Charles at the Katha Lab school in New Delhi - Prince Charles & Camilla Parker during nine-day visit to India - The Economic Times|work=The Economic Times|access-date=15 August 2015}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist|2}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dharmarajan, Geeta}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Indian women editors]]
[[Category:Indian editors]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Chennai]]
[[Category:1948 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]
[[Category:Businesswomen from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Indian women philanthropists]]
[[Category:Indian philanthropists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:Women writers from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Writers from Chennai]]
[[Category:Educators from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Women educators from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women educators]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature and education]]

Geeta Dharmarajan - Revision history

Subhamaykarjee at 06:00, 8 December 2025