Name: Ananya Birla
City: London, LA, Mumbai
Occupation: Entrepreneur
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| Ananya Birla |
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Ananya: I am
just like any other girl or boy, following my passion and dreams, wanting to
make the world a better place. Formally, I would say I’m a musician, singer
songwriter, entrepreneur and a mental health activist and campaigner.
Like any other 23 year old I try to work very hard and I follow my morals very
strongly. I go into studio and try to write good songs and on the other side I
use the platform I’m creating to affectsocial changes when it comes to equality
or stamp out the stigma against mental health. It’s very important to use the
platform and resources that you have in the best way possible and I’m on
this beautiful journey to fulfill my dreams and hopefully give back to the world.
just like any other girl or boy, following my passion and dreams, wanting to
make the world a better place. Formally, I would say I’m a musician, singer
songwriter, entrepreneur and a mental health activist and campaigner.
Like any other 23 year old I try to work very hard and I follow my morals very
strongly. I go into studio and try to write good songs and on the other side I
use the platform I’m creating to affectsocial changes when it comes to equality
or stamp out the stigma against mental health. It’s very important to use the
platform and resources that you have in the best way possible and I’m on
this beautiful journey to fulfill my dreams and hopefully give back to the world.
ST: Who is a woman that
inspires you the most and why?
inspires you the most and why?
Ananya: My role model is, and always has been, my mother. She
is the strongest, most compassionate person I know, and is committed to making
an enduring positive impact on the world in everything she does.
is the strongest, most compassionate person I know, and is committed to making
an enduring positive impact on the world in everything she does.
As well as being a
full-time mom to me, my brother and sister, she has set up schools, one of them
being for special needs children .She is an inspirational woman, who has taught me so much.
Most importantly, she showed me that women are strong, resilient and can handle
anything that life throws at us.
full-time mom to me, my brother and sister, she has set up schools, one of them
being for special needs children .She is an inspirational woman, who has taught me so much.
Most importantly, she showed me that women are strong, resilient and can handle
anything that life throws at us.
My mom and I set up
MPower, a mental health initiative, together. It is a cause that is very
personal to us. I used to suffer from anxiety, and my mother battled with
post-natal depression. We were lucky to have received the help which we needed,
but saw that it was not available for most people in India. We wanted to change
that by campaigning and providing care for people living with mental health
issues who are ignored or discriminated against.
MPower, a mental health initiative, together. It is a cause that is very
personal to us. I used to suffer from anxiety, and my mother battled with
post-natal depression. We were lucky to have received the help which we needed,
but saw that it was not available for most people in India. We wanted to change
that by campaigning and providing care for people living with mental health
issues who are ignored or discriminated against.
We know it’s going to
take time because the stigma has existed for such a long time. Nevertheless,
every day we see progress which inspires us to carry on driving this initiative forward.
take time because the stigma has existed for such a long time. Nevertheless,
every day we see progress which inspires us to carry on driving this initiative forward.
ST: What is the most
important message you want to send out to all the women around the world on
this occasion?
important message you want to send out to all the women around the world on
this occasion?
Ananya: Things are changing, progress is being made, and
people are fighting for those less fortunate than them.
people are fighting for those less fortunate than them.
Women have the
capacity to do anything they want to – but their access to opportunity has
historically and socially been limited. Particularly in India, women were
expected to stay at home and take care of the family.
capacity to do anything they want to – but their access to opportunity has
historically and socially been limited. Particularly in India, women were
expected to stay at home and take care of the family.
When you try to force
people to live according to rules and expectations, you limit their potential
and their ability to find out and pursue what makes them feel happy and
successful as an individual. I want women to know that they are entitled to
this personal pursuit of success as much as any man.
people to live according to rules and expectations, you limit their potential
and their ability to find out and pursue what makes them feel happy and
successful as an individual. I want women to know that they are entitled to
this personal pursuit of success as much as any man.
Women have so much to
offer – culturally, economically – when you empower women and enable them to be
independent and fulfil their potential, it’s good for everyone.
offer – culturally, economically – when you empower women and enable them to be
independent and fulfil their potential, it’s good for everyone.
I also want women to
know that it’s not fair and it’s not OK that they have to live with violence or
the threat of violence, whether that’s in the street from random strangers or
in their own home from their domestic partner. Violence towards women is never
acceptable, and the fact that it is a daily reality for so many women in India
and around the world, is terrible.
know that it’s not fair and it’s not OK that they have to live with violence or
the threat of violence, whether that’s in the street from random strangers or
in their own home from their domestic partner. Violence towards women is never
acceptable, and the fact that it is a daily reality for so many women in India
and around the world, is terrible.
ST: What according to you is ‘women
empowerment’?
empowerment’?
Ananya: Women are an incredibly powerful force and I hope they begin to realize
this more consciously. We make up the majority of the international population!
I think women’s empowerment can come from connecting with other women, by
giving and receiving support from each other we can all experience empowerment.
It’s important that we see the value in women from all walks of life, not just
those who look and sound like us. However, to completely eradicate this
problem, I think the sole definition of power needs to be eradicated in
this case. It’s not about empowering any more, it is about no matter whether
you are a man or a woman, it’s about embracing the fact that you are unique and
have your own identity. I stand for equality. Women have to support women and
men have to support women, and women have to support men. The minute that
starts happening, the world will come around. Practically, it is all about
realizing what the situation is, being your own person, standing up to your own
demons in a sense, and just pushing forward. As a force coming together. I
think nothing can stop us. It is important to hold onto positivity and remember
that there are many men out there who do support women and want to ensure
equality. We should think of it in a positive manner and continue to achieve
another milestone with various things like equal pay and such.
this more consciously. We make up the majority of the international population!
I think women’s empowerment can come from connecting with other women, by
giving and receiving support from each other we can all experience empowerment.
It’s important that we see the value in women from all walks of life, not just
those who look and sound like us. However, to completely eradicate this
problem, I think the sole definition of power needs to be eradicated in
this case. It’s not about empowering any more, it is about no matter whether
you are a man or a woman, it’s about embracing the fact that you are unique and
have your own identity. I stand for equality. Women have to support women and
men have to support women, and women have to support men. The minute that
starts happening, the world will come around. Practically, it is all about
realizing what the situation is, being your own person, standing up to your own
demons in a sense, and just pushing forward. As a force coming together. I
think nothing can stop us. It is important to hold onto positivity and remember
that there are many men out there who do support women and want to ensure
equality. We should think of it in a positive manner and continue to achieve
another milestone with various things like equal pay and such.
ST: What would you say are the main challenges
facing women at present in India?
facing women at present in India?
Ananya: Right now, India has so many things going for it and
so much potential. Our young population, our growing economy and some really
powerful and influential women. From politics to business, we are making good
progress.
so much potential. Our young population, our growing economy and some really
powerful and influential women. From politics to business, we are making good
progress.
But there is still a
lot of work to be done. Many women and girls are still at a disadvantage and are not treated the way they should be. They suffer
from a lack of economic opportunity and financial freedom, inadequate health
care and education, discrimination, early marriage and sexual violence. Not
only is this damaging and unfair for women, it slows down the progress and
prosperity of society overall.
lot of work to be done. Many women and girls are still at a disadvantage and are not treated the way they should be. They suffer
from a lack of economic opportunity and financial freedom, inadequate health
care and education, discrimination, early marriage and sexual violence. Not
only is this damaging and unfair for women, it slows down the progress and
prosperity of society overall.
Women and men should have equal rights in
their public, professional and private lives. Women should be free to express
themselves in whatever ways they feel empowering and authentic as individuals,
regardless of nation, culture or family background.
their public, professional and private lives. Women should be free to express
themselves in whatever ways they feel empowering and authentic as individuals,
regardless of nation, culture or family background.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in next 5
years?
years?
Ananya: My definition of success is constantly evolving. I
want to continue to release music. I want to tour around the world, and show
that India can produce a successful, global musician.
want to continue to release music. I want to tour around the world, and show
that India can produce a successful, global musician.
I am also a big believer
that everyone should aim to leave the world a better place than they find it. I
would like to continue to expand both Svatantra and MPower, eventually
internationally, and to positively impact as many lives as possible.
that everyone should aim to leave the world a better place than they find it. I
would like to continue to expand both Svatantra and MPower, eventually
internationally, and to positively impact as many lives as possible.
