Anjhula Bais (Hindi: अंजुला बैस,) is an Indian-American international psychologist,[1] trauma specialist, human rights activist and an international model .[2][3][4][5] She was the youngest chair of Amnesty International Malaysia, then became elected as director for Amnesty International at their global assembly in 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the first for Malaysia.[6] She is now the Chair of the International Board of Amnesty International worldwide, the first psychologist, the first Indian and first person from Malaysia to do so.[7]

Anjhula Mya Singh Bais
Bais in 2018
Born
United States
Alma materUniversity College London, London
Occupations
  • International Psychologist
  • Trauma Specialist
  • Strategist
  • Human Rights Activist
  • Writer
  • Model
Years active1999-present
PartnerSatish Selvanathan (m.2010)

In 2019, Bais was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. In 2020, she was the recipient of the American Psychological Association Citizen Psychologist Citation.[8]

Early life and education

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Early life

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Bais was born in the US and spent her early childhood in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. While she was still a young girl, her family moved to the US and they lived in both Chicago, Illinois and Lincoln, Nebraska. Bais is the daughter of Thakur Dr. Birendra Bikram Singh Bais, an agriculture scientist, and Thakurani Asha Singh Bais Kumari. She has two older siblings, her sister Rina and her brother Harish Paul[9]

She stated, “I was unafraid of people, and that’s a requisite of being a psychologist” and “People came naturally to me. My friends would talk to me about their relationships and their parents."[10]

Education

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Bais studied psychology and philosophy at Lady Shri Ram College in New Delhi, India. She completed her master's degree in Psychoanalysis from the University College London. She got admitted for a graduate degree in psychology in Columbia University in New York but later left it and obtained her Doctorate in International Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She obtained her PhD with distinction, focused in International Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology [1]. Bais practices Nichiren Buddhism since 2005.[11]

Career

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Modeling

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Bais started her career as a model at the age of 18 at a campaign of Banana Republic in New York. She was awarded the “Miss Teen India” while studying at college. She was one of the top 20 finalists in Miss India. She walked the ramp at the London Fashion Week while studying at University College London.[12]

Psychologist

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Bais started her career as a refugee psychotherapist while studying for masters at University College London.

In 2015, Bais went to Mumbai and spent four days with the Dalai Lama discussing the intersection of religion and psychology.[12]

Human rights activism

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Bais is the youngest chair in the history of Amnesty International Malaysia.[13][14]

Media and entertainment

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Filmography

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She is the Executive Producer of Hindi Short Film - Katputliwala (The Puppet master) | Father and Son Relationship by filmmaker Mitakshara Kumar of Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat fame.

References

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  1. ^ "Anjhula Mya Bais: LSR instilled respect for women, feminism, strength and grace in me - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  2. ^ "The double lives of India's top models - Vogue Magazine, India". Vogue Magazine India. August 14, 2013. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  3. ^ Kapoor, Kritika (November 26, 2011). "Model Anjhula brings son home from Rwanda". The Times of India. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  4. ^ Agarwal, Rati (April 13, 2013). "Model Anjhula Mya Singh Bais on Her Passion for Social Work". iDiva.com. Diva in Focus. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  5. ^ TNN (November 7, 2010). "Royal Rajput and model, Anjhula married business magnate Hari Selvanathan's son in a four-day long celebration in Rajasthan". The Times of India. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  6. ^ "Alumni stories: Shining on the world stage with Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais". University College, London. December 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  7. ^ Kapoor, Kritika. "Amnesty International". Times of India. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  8. ^ "Alumni stories Shining on the world stage with Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais". University College London. December 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  9. ^ Hicks, Nancy (April 29, 2017). "Plug-in hybrid owner tops 500 mpg equivalent". JournalStar.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  10. ^ UCL (December 1, 2020). "Alumni stories: Shining on the world stage with Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais". UCL Alumni. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  11. ^ "Supermodel Anjhula Singh Bais". www.explosivefashion.in. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Academic Racism, International Modelling & More: Rajput Princess Anjhula Mya Singh Bais Comes Clean : MagnaMags". www.magnamags.com. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  13. ^ "Authors". World Economic Forum. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  14. ^ "Board of Governance – Amnesty International Malaysia". Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.