Draft:Satish Jha

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Satish Jha
Born1957 (age 67–68)
Madhubani, Bihar, India
NationalityIndia
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur, journalist, social technologist
OrganizationsTarahaat.com, DESI Power, Digital Partners India, e-Healthcare Foundation
Known forCo-founding Jansatta; Editor of Dinaman; Work with OLPC India

Satish Jha is an Indian social Entrepreneur, former journalist, and advocate for education reform and technology-driven social impact. He is known for his contributions to Hindi journalism, social enterprise, and digital inclusion initiatives in India, particularly through the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) India Foundation and the Ashraya Foundation. [1][2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

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Satish Jha was born in India and developed an early interest in social issues, working with activist Jaya Prakash Narayan during his teenage years.[6]

He earned an MA in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi and an MBA from EDHEC Business School (formerly Institute Theseus) [7] in France in 1990.[8]

Jha further pursued executive education in international development at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University) as a Hubert Humphrey Fellow, governance of science and technology at Harvard Kennedy School, political economy at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, and US foreign policy at the University of Maryland.[9][2]

Journalism Career

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In 1983, Jha co-founded Jansatta, a national Hindi daily newspaper under The Indian Express Group, which achieved a circulation of 100,000 within six months by prioritizing accessible, conversational Hindi journalism. [2]

He later served as Editor-in-Chief of Dinaman, a prominent Hindi weekly published by The Times of India Group, becoming one of India’s youngest national editors at the time. [10]

Jha also co-founded the PUCL Bulletin, India’s first civil rights journal, with Arun Jaitley, contributing to the early human rights movement in India.[11]

Corporate and Technology Career

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In the 1990s, Jha transitioned to the corporate sector, serving as Head of Global Information Systems for the Vitamins Division of Hoffmann-La Roche in Basel, Switzerland. [2]

He founded James Martin Consulting (India) in 1993, now part of Genpact, and chaired Meta Group India from 1995 to 1999, advising on IT strategy.[2]

Jha co-founded Jiva Internet Solutions and Eliyon Technologies, early ventures in India’s internet and data analytics sectors. [12][13]

Social Entrepreneurship

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Digital Inclusion and Rural Development

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In 1999, Jha co-founded Tarahaat.com with Ashok Khosla under Development Alternatives to bring ICT solutions to rural India.[2]

In 2001, he established Digital Partners India, an NGO fostering technology-driven social enterprises like Drishtee and SKS Microfinance, supporting over 20 ventures in rural development.[2]

Jha also co-founded DESI Power, which deployed hybrid renewable energy systems across 100 villages, and chaired the e-Healthcare Foundation, developing low-cost EMR/ERP platforms for hospitals.[2]

Social enterprise and digital development

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From mid-1990s, Jha focused on social impact, co-founding Tarahaat.com with Ashok Khosla under Development Alternatives to deliver ICT solutions to rural communities.[1] In 2001, he established Digital Partners India, an NGO that supported technology-driven social enterprises such as Drishtee and SKS Microfinance, nurturing over 20 ventures for rural development.[14] Jha also co-founded DESI Power, which deployed hybrid renewable energy systems across more than 100 villages, and the e-Healthcare Foundation, providing low-cost electronic medical record (EMR) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms to hospitals, targeting annual per-desktop costs below US$100.[1]He created first WIFI city in the world (Pune, India).[15]

Jha's initiative titled "How COW Empowers Villagers", highlighted his efforts to promote rural empowerment through digital access and community participation. The project, known as COW (Community Owned Wireless), aimed to provide affordable internet connectivity and digital tools to villagers, enabling them to access information, education, and local governance services.[16]

One Laptop per Child (OLPC) India Foundation

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As Chairman of the OLPC India Foundation, Jha collaborated with Nicholas Negroponte to introduce the XO laptop, promoting screen-based learning in government schools.[17] [18]

The initiative began with a pilot in Khairat village near Navi Mumbai in 2008 and expanded to states including Kerala, Manipur, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, with orders for thousands of laptops to enhance education for underserved children. [19]

Jha’s vision equated laptop deployment to the scale of mobile phone adoption in India, advocating for technology as a tool for educational equity.[20]

[18][21] [22] [1][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][25][31]

Ashraya Foundation and Education Advocacy

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In recent years, Jha founded the Ashraya Foundation, focusing on digital transformation in K–12 education through Edufront Technologies, investing ₹75,000 per child to align learning with global standards. [32]

He has been a vocal critic of India’s education system, noting in a 2025 interview that only 1–2% of Indians receive quality education enabling upward mobility, contrasting India’s per capita income with that of China and South Korea. [33]

Advisory roles and global forums

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Jha served as Special Advisor to the Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence in ICTs and Co-Chair of the World IT Forum (WITFOR), contributing to global discussions on ICT for development.[2]

Investment and Mentorship

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Jha has mentored and invested in over 40 startups in education, healthcare, renewable energy, rural livelihoods, and financial inclusion. [1]

He chairs Simplified Nutrition Online and is a Principal at Ashcroft Sullivan Jha, co-founded with former US Attorney General John Ashcroft, and serves as Chief Advisor to the Boston Center for Excellence in Healthcare. [1]

His mentorship focuses on governance, strategy, and scaling for early-stage ventures. [1] [4]

[34][35][36] [37]

Recognition and Public Engagement

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Jha was a Special Advisor to the Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence in ICTs and Co-Chair of the World IT Forum (WITFOR), shaping global ICT-for-development policies. [2]

In 2012, he was nominated for the Socially Responsible Organization of the Year award for his work with OLPC. [8]

In 2022, he was a keynote speaker at the Maharashtra CSR Summit, discussing sustainable development and education. [38]

Jha received the Indo-American Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award in New York (2022) for contributions to journalism, technology, and social entrepreneurship[7], notably through Ashraya Foundation[39] and Edufront Technologies[40], advancing STEM, AI, and robotics education, including a nationwide certification initiative launched in Jaipur.[41]

Education advocacy

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Jha has been a vocal advocate for foundational education reform in India. In a 2025 New India Abroad interview, he highlighted India's educational lag compared to countries like China and South Korea, noting that only 1–2% of Indians receive quality education enabling upward mobility.[42]

Selected Roles and Affiliations

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  • Jansatta (Indian Express Group) – Co-founder
  • Dinaman (The Times of India Group) – Editor-in-Chief
  • PUCL Bulletin – Co-founder
  • Hoffmann-La Roche – Head, Global Information Systems (Vitamins Division)
  • James Martin Consulting (India) – Founder
  • Meta Group India – Chair (1995–1999)
  • Tarahaat.com – Co-founder
  • Digital Partners India – Founder and Chair
  • DESI Power – Co-founder
  • e-Healthcare Foundation – Chair
  • OLPC India Foundation – Chairman
  • Ashraya Foundation – Founder and Chairman
  • Simplified Nutrition Online / Ashcroft Sullivan Jha – Investor and Principal
  • Kofi Annan Centre for ICT – Special Advisor
  • World IT Forum (WITFOR) – Co-Chair

Personal Life

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Jha’s decision to study in the United States was influenced by his wife, who encouraged him to gain first-hand experience of American culture after a conversation with journalist Bharat Karnad in 1983. [43]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Women Economic Forum (WEF)". Women Economic Forum. September 13, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "In Conversation With Satish Jha". Lokvani.
  3. ^ "Satish Jha". Fair Observer. 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Satish Jha". Fair Observer. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  5. ^ "Ashraya - home". aashraya.org. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  6. ^ "Satish Jha". World Economic Forum India. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  7. ^ a b "EDHEC Alumni". EDHEC Alumni. 6 January 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Nominee for the Socially Responsible Organization of the Year: OLPC with Satish Jha (MBA 1990)". EDHEC Alumni. 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  9. ^ Anil Saigal (2007-06-26). "In Conversation With Satish Jha". Lokvani. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  10. ^ "As bad as it could get Satish Jha on Indias education crisis". www.newindiaabroad.com. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  11. ^ "Women Economic Forum (WEF)". Women Economic Forum. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  12. ^ admin (2024-07-31). "Satish Jha". The JHA Capital. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  13. ^ "Witfor - Economic Opp. Satish JHA, USA". www.witfor.org. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  14. ^ TEDx Talks (2013-03-26). Transforming Learning: Satish Jha at TEDxIIMShillong. Retrieved 2025-10-01 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ "First wi-fi city in the world?". The Times of India. 2004-03-04. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  16. ^ "How COW empowers villagers". The Times of India. 2002-09-28. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  17. ^ "OLPC India - OLPC". wiki.laptop.org. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  18. ^ a b Sathe, Gopal (2012-08-31). "'India can afford OLPC today'". mint. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  19. ^ "OLPC India Foundation with Satish JHA (MBA 1990) | EDHEC Alumni - la communauté de tous les diplômés de l'EDHEC". EDHEC Alumni. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  20. ^ "OLPC India Foundation with Satish JHA (MBA 1990) | EDHEC Alumni - la communauté de tous les diplômés de l'EDHEC". EDHEC Alumni. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  21. ^ "Indian boost for One Laptop Per Child project". ISSN 0261-3077.
  22. ^ "Laptop largesse - BusinessToday". Business Today. 2008-11-27. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  23. ^ "OLPC head slams "Aakash dream" in a no holds barred interview". Firstpost.
  24. ^ Sathe, Gopal (2012-08-31). "Satish Jha | Aakash and the Raspberry Pi are missing the point". mint. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  25. ^ a b Julka, Harsimran (2010-09-10). "Govt to rent out computers in rural areas at Rs 15 a day". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  26. ^ "$10 laptop flops, India orders 250,000 OLPC laptops". Rediff. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  27. ^ Charman-Anderson, Suw. "Aakash vs OLPC: How fair is Jha's anti-tablet grouse?". www.firstpost.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-02. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  28. ^ "Where is India's $35 tablet, Mr Sibal?". The Times of India. 2011-07-21. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  29. ^ "Now, ADAG enters One Laptop per Child program". The Economic Times. 2008-08-04. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  30. ^ "Anil may join 'One Laptop Per Child' project". The Times of India. 2008-07-28. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  31. ^ Service, Express News (2012-10-04). "Laptops made at MIT in city to enable digital learning". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2025-10-08.
  32. ^ "Satish Jha to be a special guest and speaker at Maharashtra CSR Summit in Mumbai - India CSR". 2022-07-15. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  33. ^ "As bad as it could get Satish Jha on Indias education crisis". www.newindiaabroad.com. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  34. ^ "Home". The JHA Capital. Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  35. ^ "the company check".
  36. ^ "Emotion Mining Company Announces Satish Jha as CEO; and Next Round of Funding". PR Newswire (Press release).
  37. ^ "Digital Partners forms fund for social IT projects". The Times of India. 2001-08-06. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  38. ^ "Satish Jha to be a special guest and speaker at Maharashtra CSR Summit in Mumbai - India CSR". indiacsr.in. Archived from the original on 2025-05-18. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  39. ^ "Drivining Novation".
  40. ^ "Edufront – Empower Everyone At Your School". www.edufront.co.in. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
  41. ^ "Ashraya chairman Satish Jha honored by Indo-American Art's Council, New York". India CSR. November 15, 2022.
  42. ^ MIT EmTech - Fireside Chat with Satish Jha. 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2025-10-01 – via YouTube.
  43. ^ "In Conversation With Satish Jha". Lokvani. Retrieved 2025-10-22.


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