chitra was born in 1958, in sindri, india. she earned bachelor's degree in english literature at lady shri ram college, delhi, post-graduate diploma in journalism at indian institute of mass communication and masters in journalism at stanford university. she is married to dr. giancarlo duella, a mathematician and lives in geneva, switzerland. the couple has a daughter nitya duella and son nikhil duella. chitra is listed in the who's who of south asian women.