Katha is a “profit-for-all” social organization. Katha means story in many Indian languages.

Started in 1988, Katha was formally registered as a non-partisan, non-political charitable organization in 1989, serendipitously on September 8, World Literacy Day. Katha works through well‑defined programmes in the areas of literacy, children's and women's education and empowerment, as also in language, literature, culture and translation. Katha people strive to make a positive impact on the many poverties that stymie India — from the injustice and economic poverty many experience, to the poverty of affluence and monolinguality of some.

The problems we address revolve around three main issues: i.  Access to quality lifelong learning for first generation learners from economically poor families; ii.  Urban poverty and lack of economic power; iii.  Gender, cultural and social stereotypes iv. Loss of linguistic diversity and cross-cultural connections within the country

Katha’s main educational strategy has been using story tactics to encourage children, especially girls,  to come voluntarily into the learning process and foster in themselves sustainable learning skills. Katha’s pedagogy has encouraged teachers to bring story into their classrooms, from pre-primary to higher secondary, thus retaining students in the learning process. Our teachers, themselves from non-literate families, have learnt the joy of teaching through teacher training that uses Story pedagogy.^R 

Our grassroots activities work in language, culture and translation strive for culturelinking the amazingly pluralistic country through various strategies. Our major colloquia and utsavs  have catalyzed mass collaborations amongst colleges and the writing/reading community across India since 1991. Our civil society activities include reading and storytelling workshops for government schools, and for families and communities at large.

And our award-winning books for children benchmark the extended application of our philosophy. We presently work with over 7000 children living basically in under-served urban communities; in education that fosters economic resurgence and community revitalization. In the next four years, are poised to take the joy of reading to 2.4 million children across 3000 schools in Delhi. 

One of India’s top publishers, Katha’s books culturelinks India in non-divisive ways through story and literary translation, awards and quality publications for adults and children.

With several international recognitions to its credit, including the NASDAQ STOCK MARKET EDUCATION AWARD in 2002, and the “Indian Booker” in 2006, Katha is known for its endeavour to spread the joys of reading, knowing, and living amongst adults and children, the experienced reader and the neoliterate.