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Katha (NGO)

Overview

Katha is a non-profit organisation based in New Delhi, India, that works at the intersection of literature, education and community development. Founded in 1988, it is best known for two interlinked streams of activity: publishing Indian literature in translation, and running schools and learning programmes for children from low-income communities. The organisation operates under the conviction that storytelling and reading can be used as tools for social change, particularly in narrowing the gap between literacy and meaningful learning.

Key facts

Name Katha
Type Non-governmental organisation; registered non-profit
Founded 1988
Founder Geeta Dharmarajan
Headquarters New Delhi, India
Fields Education, publishing, literary translation, community development
Notable programmes Katha Lab School; Katha Books; Katha Utsav

Background

Katha was set up by writer and editor Geeta Dharmarajan in New Delhi as a small initiative aimed at fostering Indian-language storytelling and reading. The name "Katha" is the Sanskrit-origin word for "story", which reflects the organisation's central premise that narratives in regional languages are an underused resource in formal education. From its early years, Katha sought to combine cultural work with grassroots intervention, particularly in the resettlement colony of Govindpuri in South Delhi, where it began running classes for children who were either out of school or struggling within the school system.

Activities

Education

Katha's education work centres on the Katha Lab School and associated learning centres in Delhi, which serve children from urban poor and migrant families. The pedagogy emphasises story-based learning, reading aloud, language development across Hindi and English, and locally rooted curricula. Over time, the model has been extended through teacher-training initiatives and partnerships with government schools in several Indian states.

Publishing and translation

Through its publishing arm, Katha Books, the organisation has produced anthologies and standalone works that translate short fiction and children's literature from Indian languages into English and between Indian languages. The Katha Prize Stories series, in particular, brought together translated short fiction from regional literatures and helped introduce a wider readership to writers working outside English. Katha has also published bilingual picture books designed for early readers.

Outreach programmes

Katha runs reading and storytelling campaigns in schools and communities, including Katha Utsav, a programme that brings together students, educators and writers around themes of literature and citizenship. The organisation has also worked on initiatives addressing girls' education, livelihoods training for young adults from its school network, and community health awareness within its operating areas.

Significance

Katha is regarded as one of the early Indian organisations to systematically link literary translation with primary education, treating both as parts of a single literacy ecosystem. Its publishing list has played a role in mainstreaming translation from Indian languages within English-language publishing in India, while its school-based work has contributed to discussions on alternative pedagogy, bridge education and the use of mother-tongue instruction in early years. The founder, Geeta Dharmarajan, has been recognised for this body of work, including with the Padma Shri awarded by the Government of India.

References