The Selection Committee of the Tagore Smriti Puraskar has selected Geeta Ramanujam of Bengaluru, Karnataka, eminent storyteller, educator, and founder of Kathalaya – The House of Stories, as the fifth recipient of the Tagore Smriti Puraskar 2026.
Instituted in 2022 by Bookerman, an independent media and cultural initiative, the Tagore Smriti Puraskar honours living individuals whose work has made enduring contributions to culture, literature, education, and humanism, reflecting the timeless ideals of Rabindranath Tagore.
Geeta Ramanujam has devoted more than four decades to reviving storytelling as a powerful medium of education, cultural preservation, creativity, and value-based learning. Through Kathalaya – The House of Stories, she has trained teachers, storytellers, librarians, parents, and educators, demonstrating that storytelling is not merely an art form but a timeless educational tradition that nurtures imagination, empathy, communication, and cultural continuity.
Announcing the decision, the Selection Committee stated: ” Geeta Ramanujam has transformed storytelling into a living educational movement that connects India’s rich cultural heritage with the aspirations of future generations. Her work beautifully reflects Rabindranath Tagore’s vision of education rooted in creativity, culture, and humanity.”
Previous recipients of the award are Shoukath (Kerala), Prahlad Singh Tipaniya (Madhya Pradesh), Kurinchi Velan (Tamil Nadu), and Gurumurthy Kasinathan (Karnataka).
The Tagore Smriti Puraskar 2026 comprises a cash award of ₹10,001, a specially designed sculpture created by noted filmmaker Sudhi Anna, and an Official Citation.
The award will be presented at a ceremony to be held in Bengaluru, Karnataka, in September 2026.
