Katha NGO

Katha is a Delhi-based Indian nonprofit and nongovernmental organization founded in 1988 by Geeta Dharmarajan. Its work combines grassroots community development with education, child welfare, women's livelihood support, and literary publishing. The organization describes its approach as seeking “profit for all”: rather than treating social development, cultural identity, and economic opportunity as separate concerns, it uses them together in efforts aimed at social justice and reducing poverty in urban India. Education is a central part of Katha's community work. The organization has established approximately 96 schools in Delhi, including programs serving children in urban slum communities. The reference material reports that more than 7,000 underprivileged children have gained access to education through these schools and related initiatives. Katha also uses storytelling and reading as tools for identity formation, encouraging children to engage with stories rooted in Indian cultures and traditions. In this model, literature is not only a classroom resource but also a way of strengthening children's confidence, cultural connection, and sense of belonging. Katha's publishing arm, commonly known as Katha Books, developed from this educational and cultural mission. Since 1989, it has worked in the translation of Indian literature, with a particular emphasis on children's books. Its publications include stories based on Indian folklore and mythology, as well as translations from 21 regional Indian languages into English and Hindi. Through the Katha Prize Stories series and other publishing activity, Katha helped bring translated Indian writing more visibly into the Indian publishing conversation. The publishing program therefore functions both as a literary enterprise and as an extension of the organization's belief that children should encounter the cultural and linguistic diversity of India. In 2001, Katha established KITES, or the Katha Information Technology and E-commerce School, in Govindpuri, New Delhi. Created through a joint initiative with British Telecom, the non-conventional school provided information-technology and communication skills to children from some of the poorest local communities. The reference material associates the program with approximately 3,000 children. KITES broadened Katha's educational approach beyond literacy and storytelling by adding digital and communications capabilities intended to improve children's future opportunities. Katha also operates income-generation programs for women through community centers. These programs have included training in cooking, baking, tailoring, and teaching. In March 2009, the organization presented Dilli ki Shaan, or Pride of Delhi, awards to 15 women community leaders. The event highlighted Katha's focus on recognizing women as community actors and leaders, not merely as beneficiaries of social programs. Katha's activities therefore span nonprofit development work and mission-driven publishing. Its distinctive position lies in connecting practical interventions—schools, skills training, and livelihood programs—with stories, translation, and cultural representation. Publicly available reference material identifies the organization as based in Delhi and active across these areas, but does not provide a complete current account of its leadership, finances, geographic reach beyond India, or present program scale.

Katha was founded in Delhi in 1988 by Geeta Dharmarajan as a nonprofit organization concerned with community development, education, and social justice. From the beginning, its work connected direct engagement with disadvantaged communities to the use of stories and literature. The organization sought to address poverty in urban India while also helping children and families develop the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to participate more fully in society. Education became one of Katha's principal operating areas. The organization established a network of schools and education initiatives in Delhi, many serving children living in urban slums. Reference material describes approximately 96 schools and reports that more than 7,000 underprivileged children gained access to education through Katha's work. Katha's educational philosophy gives storytelling a prominent role. It argues that stories from India can help children build a strong sense of cultural rootedness and identity, making literature part of a broader process of personal and social development. This educational focus led naturally to Katha's publishing activities. Katha Books began working in Indian literary translation in 1989. The publishing program concentrated particularly on children's literature, including adaptations and retellings of Indian folklore and mythology. Katha translated stories from 21 regional Indian languages into English and Hindi. Its publishing work helped make regional writing more accessible to wider Indian audiences and contributed to placing translation more prominently on the Indian publishing agenda. The Katha Prize Stories series became an important expression of this effort and linked the organization's cultural work to the discovery and circulation of Indian writing. Katha expanded its skills and technology work in 2001 with the creation of KITES, the Katha Information Technology and E-commerce School, in Govindpuri, New Delhi. The school was established through a joint initiative with British Telecom and was designed as a non-conventional educational institution. It provided information-technology and communication skills to children from poor communities; reference material associates the initiative with approximately 3,000 children. KITES represented an expansion of Katha's educational model from basic access and literacy into capabilities relevant to a changing, technology-oriented economy. Alongside children's education and publishing, Katha developed programs intended to increase women's economic opportunities. At community centers, women received training in areas including cooking, baking, tailoring, and teaching. These activities complemented Katha's education programs by addressing household and community livelihoods. They also supported the organization's wider emphasis on enabling people from marginalized communities to become active participants in local development. In March 2009, Katha organized the Dilli ki Shaan, or Pride of Delhi, awards and honored 15 women community leaders. The event gave public recognition to women whose work contributed to their communities and reflected Katha's interest in leadership development and social visibility. Katha's history is consequently defined by the integration of nonprofit service delivery and publishing. Its schools and community programs address educational and economic disadvantage, while Katha Books uses literature, translation, and culturally grounded storytelling to support learning and identity. The available references establish the organization's founding, major program areas, school network, publishing history, and KITES initiative, but do not establish a complete current chronology, current executive roster, funding profile, or detailed account of activities after the cited period.

• 2009

  Dilli ki Shaan awards recognize women leaders

  [1]Katha (NGO)en.wikipedia.org

  Katha presents Pride of Delhi awards to 15 women community leaders as part of its work supporting women's leadership and community participation.

• 2001

  KITES is established in Govindpuri

  [1]Katha (NGO)en.wikipedia.org

  Katha establishes the Katha Information Technology and E-commerce School in partnership with British Telecom to provide information-technology and communication skills to children from poor communities.

• 1989

  Katha begins literary translation and publishing work

  [1]Katha (NGO)en.wikipedia.org

  Katha's publishing division, Katha Books, begins translating Indian literature, including children's stories, into English and Hindi from regional Indian languages.

• 1988

  Katha is founded

  [1]Katha (NGO)en.wikipedia.org

  Geeta Dharmarajan establishes Katha in Delhi as a nonprofit organization working in community development, education, child welfare, and literature.

A mission-driven Indian nonprofit and publisher that links education, child welfare, urban community development, women's livelihoods, and culturally rooted literature. Katha positions storytelling and translation as instruments of learning, identity formation, and social inclusion.

• Publishing division · 1989

  Katha Books

  Katha's publishing division produces children's literature and translated Indian writing. Its catalogue includes stories drawn from Indian folklore and mythology, along with translations from 21 regional Indian languages into English and Hindi. The division extends Katha's educational mission by making culturally diverse stories available to young readers and wider audiences.

• Translation and literary series

  Katha Prize Stories

  The Katha Prize Stories series is a publishing initiative associated with Katha's effort to promote translated Indian literature. By presenting writing from different Indian linguistic traditions to readers in English and Hindi, the series helped make literary translation a more visible part of Indian publishing.

• Information-technology and communications education · 2001

  KITES

  KITES, short for Katha Information Technology and E-commerce School, is a non-conventional school in Govindpuri, New Delhi. Established with British Telecom, it provides information-technology and communication skills to children from economically disadvantaged communities.

• Community education

  Katha community schools

  Katha has established a network of schools and education programs in Delhi, including initiatives serving children in urban slum communities. These programs combine access to education with storytelling and culturally rooted learning.

• 2009Dilli ki Shaan Awards

  Delhi, India

  Katha organized the Dilli ki Shaan, or Pride of Delhi, awards to recognize 15 women community leaders and draw attention to women's contributions in disadvantaged communities.

  Outcome. The awards publicly recognized 15 women leaders. No further outcome metrics are provided in the reference material.

  Source

• 2001

  Expand education into information technology and communicationsStrategy

  Background

  Katha sought to provide children from poor communities with capabilities extending beyond conventional schooling and literacy.

  Action taken

  It created KITES in Govindpuri, New Delhi, through a joint initiative with British Telecom.

  Aftermath

  The school provided information-technology and communication skills and was associated with approximately 3,000 children in the reference material.

  Source

1. 1Katha (NGO)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Katha: official websitekatha.org