Success Story | Du Student Story | Geeta Gopinath Husband | Geeta Gopinath Ki Kahani: India’s daughter reached IMF after reading Du, husband was UPSC Topper, left IAS job

Gita Gopinath Profile: Where was Geeta Gopinath born?

Geeta Gopinath was born on 8 December 1971 in a middle class family in Kolkata. His parents are from TV Gopinath and VC Vijayalakshmi from Kerala. However, Geeta is now American citizen. He is married to Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal, who is the Executive Director of the Potary Action Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Geeta completed her schooling in Mysore and then earned a BA degree in 1992 from Lady Shri Ram College for Women of Delhi University. After graduation, he first thought of doing an MBA but later changed the plan and enrolled in Delhi School of Economics from where he took a master’s degree in Economics. He met Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal. He was a classmate in Delhi School of Economics. Later both of them got married. In 1996, she went to Washington University in Seattle for a five -year PhD program. His professor praised his talent and recommended him to Harvard and Princeton. Geeta’s professor said in her praise at that time that she is her most promising student in the last 20 years. Geeta completed his PhD from Princeton University in 2001.

Gita Gopinath Career: Career Started with Assistant Professor

Geeta Gopinath started his career in 2001 as an assistant professor at the booth school of business of the famous University of Chicago, USA. He worked here for 9 years. She then moved to Harvard University in 2010 where she was made a tenure professor. In Harvard, she played the role of Professor of International Studies and Economics.

Geeta started work in 2019 as Chief Economist in IMF. She also came into the limelight at that time because she was the first female chief economist of IMF. In 2022, he was made the first Deputy Managing Director of IMF. During this, he gave a new direction to global economic policies. Especially at the time of Covid-19 epidemic, his ‘Pondemic Plan’ was in the discussion worldwide because it set the goals of vaccination at low cost. IMF chief Christalina Georgree said in her praise that Geeta is not only a great leader, but she is always ahead for the progress and good of her staff.

Gita Gopinath Husband: Whom did Gopinath marry?

Geeta Gopinath later married her batchmate Iqbal Singh Dhaliwal. Dhaliwal was born in 1972 in Bengaluru, her father was in the Border Security Force and her mother used to run a school. Ikbal was studied. He was a student. After this, he did his BA in Economics from Delhi University, after which he took an MA degree from Delhi School of Economics. After this Iqbal did his MPA in International Development from Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Apart from this, Iqbal also worked as a teacher in Sant Memorial Public School Gurugram from May 1994 to July 1996 in Gurugram.

In June 1994, Iqbal took the Civil Services Examination of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and in his first attempt, he secured 229th rank. He was selected for the Indian Civil Accounts Services. He later took the UPSC CSE exam again in 1996 and became the IAS of Tamil Nadu cadre by securing the number 1 rank. The director also honored him with the gold medal while training in Lbsnaa. However, he left the job after 5 years of job and was shifted to America.

Return again in Harvard

After doing amazing for seven years in the IMF, Geeta decided to return to her old roots, that is, she will start working as Professor of Economics at Harvard University from 1 September 2025. Even before this, she was working as a professor in Harvard from 2005 to 2022. Before the Harvard, she worked as an assistant professor in the Booth School of Business of Chicago University from 2001 to 2005. To reach the top post of IMF and now the story of becoming a professor in Harvard is an example for those youth who dream of doing some life. Whether you are from any other corner of the world, tells the story of Gita that if you are determined, then nothing is impossible.