Shukhalata Rao

{{Short description|Indian social worker, artist and children's book author}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}

{{Use Indian English|date=October 2018}}

{{one source|date=October 2007}}

{{Infobox person

| image = Sukhalata Rao, Indian social worker, artist and children's book author.png

| name = Sukhalata Rao

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1886|10|23|df=y}}

| birth_place = Calcutta, Bengal, British India (present-day Kolkata, West Bengal, India)

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1969|07|09|1886|10|23|df=y}}

| death_place = Cuttack, Odisha, India

| nationality = Indian

| education = Bethune College
Visva-Bharati University

| occupation = Writer, illustrator

| notable_works = Behula, Nije Pora

| movement = Bengal School of Art

| father = Upendra Kishore Ray

| relatives = {{ubl|Sukumar Ray (brother)|Satyajit Ray (nephew)}}

| awards = Kaiser-e-Hind in 1956 for her book Nije Pora

}}

Shukhalata Rao (1886–1969) was an Indian social worker, artist and children's book author. Born in Calcutta in the Bengal province of British India, she was the daughter of Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, and sister of Sukumar Ray. She studied in Bethune College, and obtained a bachelor's degree.

She married Dr. Jayanta Rao from Cuttack. After moving to Cuttack, Shukhalata founded the Shishu-o-Matri Mangal Kendro ('Centre for the Welfare of Children and Mothers'). She also established the Orissa Nari Seva Sangha.{{cite book |last=Sarker |first=Sushanta |year=2012 |chapter=Rao, Shukhalata |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Rao,_Shukhalata |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=Asiatic Society of Bangladesh}}

Shukhalata was the editor of Alok, a newspaper. Her writings include children's stories, and fairy tales.