Mayaa SH is a prominent figure in contemporary Indian literature and a fierce advocate for women’s rights. She has a multifaceted background that significantly influences her views on developmental feminism. Her upbringing, education, and professional experiences have shaped her understanding of gender issues and the importance of empowering women. Mayaa SH, a prominent feminist philosopher and activist, has had a diverse range of experiences that have significantly shaped her perspective on feminism. These experiences encompass personal encounters, professional challenges, and broader societal observations that have informed her understanding of gender equality and women’s empowerment. Her views are shaped by her extensive experience in activism, literature, and social science, which inform her understanding of the challenges women face and the pathways to empowerment.
Mayaa SH has been honoured with various awards with an international, national and state acclaims acknowledging her multifaceted talent and contribution to the industry. This is a testament to Mayaa SH’s dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to both the writing industry and her dedication and passion towards upliftment of women across all facets. Her journey serves as an inspiration to many not just as a personal achievement but also an inspiration to aspire for women to lead a life of dignity and honour. Mayaa looks every bit a traditional Indian. It is difficult to imagine her seated on the high thoughts in her notions of ideology she represents for women across the nation. She carries the emblem of a being a “Proud Indian” on her face for delivering her bold and assertive mindset on feminism or complex matters of gender equality. Her recommendations have been representative of being a headstrong feminist carrying the flag of women’s rights and gender main streaming. Her passion to fight against societal evil has provided an inspiration to many in the country.
Mayaa SH’s conviction in women’s abilities and her active and bold assertion on women’s issues has drastically changed regressive outlooks towards women not able to shatter the glass ceiling in life. An authoress, mentor, social activist, gender neutrality expert and a lioness in prowess for championing the rights of women and gender equality, and a writer, Mayaa SH has taken onto many roles in life and exceeded everyone’s expectations. In a candid conversation she reflects upon her inner desire for women to lead a life of dignity and honour.
What is your opinion on the Matrimonial Law?
Personal law deals with issues such as marriage, divorce, child custody, adoption, inheritance, and property rights. The lack of understanding of the dynamics of matrimonial conflict by few is much deeper and broader than what is superficially visible. Most of the pendency in the matters of prolonged proceedings can be evaded. For civil matters arbitration, mediation, negotiated rulemaking, neutral fact finding, and minitrials must be considered more rigorously. With the exception of binding arbitration, the goal of Alternate Dispute Resolution is to provide a forum for the parties to work toward a voluntary, consensual agreement, as opposed to having a judge or other authority decide the case. Wide margins of personal discretions and biases to look at a civil matter with a criminal outlook can end up setting unstable precedents; all of which has deep implications on those who fight legal battles within the ambit of family law. Women at large need to be respected as a separate, equal person and body. More insights are required for criminalizing marital rape based on moral and legal arguments for informative but also commendable insights need to to looked at for unbiased judgements. Getting the right advise on how not to file fake cases in an advent to seek justice by a short cut method always saves lives and trauma attached.
How do you look at Women Empowerment and Developmental Feminism?
Women Empowerment begins with self belief from within and the fact that the word Impossible states that “I am Possible”. Life will present you with challenges at every step, it is how we have to convert these into opportunities that matter the most. You can win it only by upholding your innate right to be focussed and by staying diligent with respect to your goals and aspirations. The beginning of any work first starts with an aspiration. As soon as the desire arises, for its fulfillment, the mind starts planning for it through imagination. The intellect finds a way to fulfill the desire and in the form of thinking and contemplation, the seeds of innovation start being planted.What are we, what is our situation and on what ground do we stand, what are our capabilities? They should not be a marathon run only for a chase for ambitions without knowing and understanding them. Do not keep any imaginary assumptions about yourself or have any such aspiration which is not in accordance with your nature and against your own value system and set of beliefs that comprise the mettle in you. Life is a forward momentum, keep moving ahead leaving behind situations or opportunities that are no longer serving you. The norms entrenched in society that has led to gender inequality. Post- independence feminists seek to accomplish this goal by rejecting essentialism, philosophy, and universal truths in favour of embracing the differences that exist amongst women. Post-Independence Feminism has resulted in some of the most groundbreaking research in the last twenty years. Postfeminist sensibility is a noncoherent set of ideas about femininity, embodiment, and empowerment circulating across various media. Ideas that inform women’s sense of self, make postfeminist sensibility an important object for psychological study. Contemporary patterns of sense-making on gender, making a case for continuing research on postfeminist sensibility in the areas of digital cultures, a transformative imperative that includes the mind as well as the body, transnational postfeminism is imperative. Feminists have argued that women are active agents of social change. Across societies, change has been visible in both public and private spheres for example, mothers in the workforce, nuclear family and the changing division of labour, political participation and evolving laws on marriage, divorce, and abortion. Feminist movements have argued for altering the place of women in the society and the formation of women’s agency. Developmental feminism is viewed as a multifaceted approach that emphasizes the empowerment of women through various dimensions, including social, economic, political, and personal development. It is not merely about advocating for women’s rights but also about creating an environment where women can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society. This involves addressing systemic barriers and societal norms that hinder women’s progress. Developmental feminism is rooted in the belief that empowering women is essential for the overall health and development of families, communities, and nations. The importance of self-belief among women, asserting that true empowerment begins from within. According to her, when women recognize their worth and capabilities, they are better positioned to challenge societal limitations and pursue their aspirations.
How according to you women can lead a life of dignity and honour?
I believe that every woman has an inherent right to live with dignity. This belief is rooted in the commitment to dismantling patriarchal norms that often strip women of their self-worth and agency. Dignity is not merely a personal attribute but a fundamental human right that should be recognized and respected within society. Societal structures often undermine women’s dignity through various forms of discrimination, including gender-based violence, economic inequality, and limited access to education. By advocating for women’s rights, I aim to create an environment where women can reclaim their dignity and assert their place in society. Education equips women with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate societal challenges effectively. By promoting educational opportunities for girls and women, she believes they can achieve economic independence and make informed choices about their lives. There must be more advocacy inclusive of legal literacy camps aimed at educating women about their rights. Women are informed about their legal standing in a positive light, they are better positioned to demand respect and equality in both personal relationships and broader societal contexts. Societal norms that perpetuate gender inequality must be challenged on the logical congruence. I intend to use platform as a writer and an activist to address issues such as child marriage, gender bias in education, and the gender pay gap. By bringing these issues to light, it is to inspire change not only among individuals but also within institutions that uphold discriminatory practices. My approach involves encouraging women to reflect on their experiences and recognize their worth. I believe that self-reflection is crucial for overcoming internalized oppression—a common barrier faced by many women living under patriarchal systems. Through various initiatives such as counseling services and community outreach initiatives that works towards building spaces where women can find strength in unity must be encouraged. I believe that collective action is key to challenging oppressive structures and achieving lasting change.
How do you take winning so many awards as? What is your ideology?
Numerous awards reflect a cultural shift towards recognizing women’s contributions in various fields. This symbolises and signifies progress in societal attitudes towards female empowerment and illustrates that women can excel in traditionally male-dominated areas like literature and activism. It also is a recognition of women’s efforts in advocacy, inspiration for others, an enhanced platform for important discussions, personal fulfillment through validation of her work, and a reflection of cultural progress towards gender equality.
Awards serve as a source of inspiration but also for countless individuals who look upto their dreams. By achieving such honors, it demonstrates that dedication and hard work can lead to significant change. Every woman’s journey must encourage others, particularly women, to pursue their aspirations fearlessly and advocate for their rights. Overcoming challenges is essential for personal growth; thus, receiving accolades serves as affirmation that one is on the right path. My ideology centers around women’s empowerment, gender equality, and the importance of self-belief. There is a string need to advocate for the recognition of women’s rights as fundamental human rights and emphasis on that empowering women is crucial for societal progress. My philosophy promotes the idea that when women are given equal opportunities in education, economic participation, and leadership roles, they can significantly contribute to their families and communities, ultimately leading to a stronger society. Advocating for women’s rights and opportunities,Promoting equal rights for all genders, Encouraging individuals to have confidence in their abilities, Importance of education in achieving empowerment and Collaboration Across Genders which includes highlighting the necessity of men supporting women’s rights is a must. One must be deeply passionate about addressing gender inequality and affirm that it is at the heart of many challenges faced by women globally. One’s work must reflect a commitment to creating awareness about these disparities and advocating for policies that promote gender equality. At the core of my philosophy is the unwavering belief in gender equality. One must continue to advocate for creating an environment where every woman can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society. This principle underscores the commitment to dismantling systemic barriers that hinder women’s progress.
What are the accomplishments and achievements in your life that you are proudest of? Out of these accomplishments, which is the most memorable one? Which one made you feel empowered enough to take on anything in life?
Having being able to accomplish many things along with several awards of the international, national and state level acclaim, if I would reflect upon as an individual then the ones that I am proudest about the monikers like Mayaa Devi, Mayaa Tai, Mayaa Di, Mayaa Audio SH, Pushpa “The Fire,” Padma of the East, Female Chulbul Pandey, Lady Karl Mark , Lady Robin Hood, MS Dhoni of Writing and Lady Gandhi etc.that I have received from the people of this country. Every title has a story behind and I cannot attach an intrinsic value to it, it makes you feel complete. Some monikers are shortened versions of our name, here I have been adulated by all the above titles by the people of the country. I would take it as the blessings that I receive from so many people, specifically women all across the country for believing in me and for reinforcing my ideology that “Generosity is not the only good character that people have. It is a matter of our faith.” It feels good to be loved so much by many who just find a better way to pray and think as we seek to make progress in our lives through our actions. It is through immense hope that individuals harbour the notion of self belief in themselves and the purpose of receiving the gifts of gratitude and kindness on Earth through our deeds is by Blessing all. This allows them to speak on behalf of the power that protects them and continues to bless people who in turn bless many others like me. I would take it as an expression of their goodwill towards me. Another accomplishment that allowed me the opportunity to take writing very seriously and which is dear to my heart is the inking of my poem “The Candle in the Wind,” which won me an award at the National Level.
“My heart wore a veil on the barren tapestry,
Woven on the silk threads of the mulberry,
At the stratus of the white cumuliform cluster,
Brushed a breeze that succumbed so rapidly…”
The above is a stanza of the poem. This poems highlighted the essence of unconditional love that holds a special place in our hearts, and it is the unconditional love that captures the essence of love that transcends all boundaries. Unconditional love resonates with the universal desire to love and be loved without any conditions or limits. Unconditional love is mostly used to describe love for family members and other highly committed relationships as well. Unconditional love is the supreme truth and one must not be afraid to state it. Know that you are living in a world that loves you as much as you like it, where you are an inspiration because you love, and you are not attached to the outcome.
What is that one quotation of yours that you would like all women across the globe to connect to?
“If we give women a life full of freedom, she can provide us with the most altruistic masterwork if her intellect. Empowering women leads to significant contributions to society, highlighting the potential of women when they are given equal opportunities and support. One must continue to advocate for the recognition of women’s rights and their role as agents of change in various sectors, including social justice and economic development. True empowerment involves not only providing opportunities but also fostering an environment where women can thrive and express their capabilities fully…”
About The Author
Mayaa SH, also known by various titles such as Mayaa Devi, Mayaa Tai, and Lady Robin Hood etc.She is a prominent figure in contemporary Indian literature and women’s empowerment. She is recognized for her extensive contributions to literature, activism, and social reform. Mayaa SH believes that empowering women is essential for societal development. She argues that when women are safe, fulfilled, and productive, they can contribute significantly to their families and communities. Her philosophy centers around self-actualization as both personal growth and social responsibility. Mayaa SH is a distinguished authoress, activist, and an advocate for women’s rights whose work spans literature, education, and social reform.
Early Influences
From a young age, Mayaa SH was encouraged to express herself through writing, which began at the age of ten. This early exposure to creative expression allowed her to explore societal norms and the limitations imposed on women. Her father’s influence as a prolific writer instilled in her the value of literacy and self-expression, which are crucial components of feminist thought. This foundation laid the groundwork for her later advocacy in women’s empowerment through literature. Mayaa SH envisions a world where every woman lives a life of dignity and honour through education, empowerment, community support, and the active challenge of societal norms that perpetuate inequality. Her multifaceted approach combines advocacy with practical solutions aimed at uplifting women’s status in society while fostering an environment where they can thrive as equals.
Education and Professional Experience
Mayaa SH’s academic journey has been marked by a commitment to understanding social dynamics and gender equality. She emphasizes that education is one of the five pillars of women’s empowerment, believing that it equips women with the knowledge and skills necessary to challenge societal barriers. Her extensive work as an essayist and thinker reflects her dedication to addressing issues such as gender inequality, violence against women, and economic opportunities for women. Her personal and professional experiences further reinforce her views on developmental feminism. As a social activist and legal advisor on family law in India, she has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by women in various spheres—socially, economically, and politically. This exposure has deepened her understanding of how systemic barriers hinder women’s progress and has motivated her to advocate for transformative changes within society.
Advocacy for Women’s Rights
Mayaa SH’s commitment to women’s empowerment is evident in her writings and public engagements. She argues that empowering women is essential not only for individual growth but also for societal development as a whole. By championing women’s rights through literature, she aims to amplify marginalized voices and inspire resilience among women.Her belief that “Dreams Serve As A Catalyst For Women’s Empowerment” illustrates how she connects personal aspirations with broader social change. She encourages women to envision their potential beyond traditional roles, fostering self-belief that propels them toward achieving their goals.
Conclusion
Mayaa SH’s background—rooted in early literary influences, rigorous education, professional activism, and a commitment to social justice—has profoundly shaped her views on developmental feminism. Her advocacy emphasizes the necessity of empowering women through education, economic independence, health rights, political participation, and challenging societal norms.
