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| Office | Deputy Secretary of IT wing for DMK
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|---|---|
| Term start | 17 February 2025
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| Born | Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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| Political party |  Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
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| Alma mater | University of Madras |
| Occupation | Politician Nutritionist
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Divya Sathyaraj is an Indian politician serving as the IT wing deputy secretary for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party since 2025.[1]
She is the daughter of actor Sathyaraj and the sister of Sibi Sathyaraj. Divya is the goodwill ambassador of The Akshaya Patra Foundation (TAPF), an 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 malnourished and 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.[2][3] Unlike her father and her brother, Divya abstained from acting, instead pursuing a career in nutrition.[4] Originally a vegetarian, she became a vegan in 2016.[5]
Career
Divya graduated with a Master of Philosophy in Nutrition from the University of Madras.[6] She conducts workshops on health-related issues, child labour and self-defence for women, and counseling sessions for Sri Lankan refugees.[7] 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 NEET exams.[8][9] She is the goodwill ambassador of Akshaya Patra Foundation,[10] the world's largest midday meal programme.[11][12] She has also partnered with World Vision India, where she has assumed responsibility for four young girls.[13][6]
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."[14] In 2019, Divya announced she would get into politics in 2021.[9][15]
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.[6][15] In 2020, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the International Tamil University, USA, in recognition for her contributions in the field of Nutritional therapy.[16]
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.[17]
References
- ↑ Actor Sathyaraj’s daughter Divya appointed DMK’s IT wing deputy secretary. www.dtnext.in(17 February 2025). Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ நடிகர் சத்யராஜ் திருமணம் நடந்தது. Maalai Malar(23 July 2013). Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ↑ Cine Biography: Sathyaraj (Part-2). Dinakaran. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ↑ Divya Sathyaraj: Not interested in acting in films. The Times of India(13 February 2018). Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ↑ Being vegan has given me a burst of energy: Divya Sathyaraj, Mathew, Thushara Ann. The New Indian Express(14 February 2018). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Dr. Divya Sathyaraj. sumanclinic.com(5 March 2020). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ↑ The healthy plate, Rangarajan, Malathi. The Hindu(5 September 2013). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ↑ Foreign drug marketers out to cheat Indian customers? Sathyaraj's daughter Divya writes to PM, Thirumurthy, Priyanka. The News Minute(17 July 2017). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sathyaraj's daughter divya's press note on her political journey. Behindwoods(25 October 2020). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ↑ The Akshaya Patra Foundation Appoints Nutritionist Ms. Divya Sathyaraj as its Goodwill Ambassador. PR.com(8 April 2018). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ↑ No diet can equate with healthy eating: Chennai based nutritionist Divya Sathyaraj, Srividya, R. K.. The New Indian Express(5 June 2018). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ↑ IISc Bangalore alumnus-run Akshaya Patra is the world's largest mid-day meal provider, feeds 1.7 million children across India, Anand, Apoorva. India Today(17 July 2018). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ↑ Divya Sathyaraj bats for basic rights of children, Subramanian, Anupama. Deccan Chronicle(24 August 2019). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ↑ A diet for the deprived, Balasubramanian, Roshne. The New Indian Express(6 August 2020). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 I will get into politic, soon: Divya. The Times of India(26 June 2019). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ↑ Divya Sathyaraj to start a political movement?. Behindwoods(20 June 2020). Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ↑ Actor Sathyaraj's daughter Divya joins DMK(19 January 2025). Retrieved 22 January 2025.