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Anjhula Mya Bais

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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)

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. She was elected as director for Amnesty International at their global assembly in 2019 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is the first psychologist, the first Indian and first person from Malaysia to do hold this position.[6]

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.[7] She lives in Kuala Lumpur and is married to Satish Selvanathan, a philanthropist and great-great-grandson of Ponnambalam Arunachalam.

Early life and education

Early life

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[8]

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."[9]

Education

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.[10] She was a Fellow of the Apolitical Academy, London and the Oxford University Blavatnik School of Government from 2019 to 2021. Bais was recognized in 2020 as an alumna of University College London, for their professional development programme, UCL Connect.[11]

Career

Bais served as the Chair of Amnesty International Malaysia from 2017 to 2019 where she helped strategize on regional human rights issues such as ICERD and the curbing of freedom of expression.[12][13] She served as a director of Amnesty International Limited until 7 April 2025.[14] Bais also serves on the Board of Directors for the Institute of Semitic Studies.[15]

Bais and her husband, Satish Selvanathan, were held hostage on the final day of their royal 4-day wedding for 16 hours at gunpoint.[16]

In 2012, Bais and her husband Satish Selvanathan founded the Bais-Selvanathan Foundation.[17]

Psychologist

Bais started her career as a refugee psychotherapist while studying for masters at University College London and was acclaimed by University College London as an alumna who “gives back to UCL."[11]

Bais was a speaker at the World Economic Forum, Annual Meeting of the New Champions, Dalian, China.[18]

In 2015, Bais went to Mumbai and spent four days with the Dalai Lama discussing the intersection of religion and psychology.[19]

She sits on the Committee of Global Psychology of the American Psychological Association.[20]

Media and entertainment

Filmography

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.

Modeling

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.[19]

Bais has been on the cover of Ensemble Magazine[21] Peak Women We Love[22] and Life Inspired for The Star Malaysia.[23]

Recognition

  • In 2019, Bais was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.[7]
  • In 2020, she was the recipient of the American Psychological Association Citizen Psychologist Citation.[7]
  • In 2023, Outlook India named her as one of the five psychologists.[24]
  • Bais was ranked by The Times of India as one of New Delhi’s Ten Most Beautiful Women.[25]

References

  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. ^ https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/dr-anjhula-mya-singh-bais-why-cant-a-model-have-a-phd/articleshow/86509297.cms
  7. ^ a b c "Alumni stories Shining on the world stage with Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais". University College London. December 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  8. ^ Hicks, Nancy (April 29, 2017). "Plug-in hybrid owner tops 500 mpg equivalent". JournalStar.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  9. ^ UCL (December 1, 2020). "Alumni stories: Shining on the world stage with Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais". UCL Alumni. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  10. ^ "Supermodel Anjhula Singh Bais". www.explosivefashion.in. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Alumni stories: Shining on the world stage with Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais". University College, London. December 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  12. ^ "Authors". World Economic Forum. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  13. ^ "Board of Governance – Amnesty International Malaysia". Archived from the original on March 6, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  14. ^ https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/01606776/filing-history
  15. ^ "Institute of Semitic Studies". Retrieved December 24, 2024.
  16. ^ "Rajasthan cops in a fix over NRI model's allegation". The Times of India. June 27, 2011. ISSN 0971-8257.
  17. ^ "International Psychology Bulletin" (PDF). Innovation.umn.edu.
  18. ^ "WEF_AMNC19_Report".
  19. ^ a b "Academic Racism, International Modelling & More: Rajput Princess Anjhula Mya Singh Bais Comes Clean : MagnaMags". www.magnamags.com. Retrieved November 29, 2018.[dead link]
  20. ^ "Committee for Global Psychology (CGP)". www.apa.org.
  21. ^ "Dr Anjhula Mya Singh Bais on trauma and transformation". www.ensemblemagazine.co.nz.
  22. ^ "The Peak Women We Love - Page 8 of 10". The Peak Malaysia.
  23. ^ "Star Newsstand". thestar.
  24. ^ "5 Famous Psychologists In India Who Revolutionized Mental Health". Outlook India.
  25. ^ "Delhi's beautiful people". The Times of India. December 30, 2001. ISSN 0971-8257.