As all Roadies X4 viewers can recall her, after a long debate during audition, Mahamedhaa finally got selected in Karan Kundra’s gang. Apart from being part of Roadies X4 season, she is highly active in Indian politics and as being social activist from ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyaarthi Parishad), she shares her experience and her thoughts regarding youth and politics.
Mahamedhaa has received many prominent accolades for her social and political activities. She received India Youth Icon Awards at UNESCO. She was also awarded with Delhi Youth Awards this year. Her achievements do not stop here. She is also chosen as a delegate at SAARC and is also a representative at United States of America State Department.
Mahamedhaa, apart from being former girl’s coordinator in ABVP (now has become national executive council member), is also associated with some NGOs for social causes. Pukaar foundation is one of her NGOs where she is highly active. Mahamedhaa has done her English honors at Miranda House and is currently preparing to pursue law at Delhi University.
In the conversation with Mahamedhaa…
1. Which factor of Roadies attracted you the most?
The roasting by the gang leaders was the main thing which I was both nervous and excited about! Talking about attraction, it was like a MUST-TO DO in my list. Also, I used to see people coming again and again, every single year, there were some who have been coming for some 10-12 years now, and I was like-OKAY!
I used to think, I would never make it, but I did.
2. Can you share any special moment from your Roadies journey?
Oh there are many! Talking about one of the special ones, when I got selected, Karan Sir told me, “show the world that a Roadie can be equally a good future politician”.
My gang, our baba log were the best thing about my journey as a Roadie.
Remembering one of the funniest moments, we were at this hotel in Darjeeling, had just arrived to our first location. Saad aka “Fasaad” was minutely observing how Divya Verma(Gang Neha) laughs, he would imitate her on her face and she never got to understand. She would laugh back at Saad, and all of us used to break into laughter! Hilarious Saad! Also, when I was eliminated, it was really heartbreaking, the only thing running in my head was-Oh my god! How are those girls who find me their superwoman gonna feel?
3. Since you are so active in politics, do you recommend today’s youth to join politics?
Much definitely! In fact, I would recommend everyone should to be a part of politics at some point in life. If not necessarily to make it a profession, at least to enlighten you to the other side of the coin.
My parents were never happy with me being actively involved in social activism, it is over the period of time, the changes they witnessed in me, made them realize how effectively it has helped me! To groom, to evolve, to enhance, to lead and much more!
For youth, I usually say, the only way we can dispel the darkness is by lighting, not by cursing it. Please believe in your own ability to create ripples. Together, we are powerful!
4. Being a part of ABVP, what are the challenges that you face?
Life is pretty blessed in the hands of ABVP. Parishad has always helped me grow above difficulties, develop my skills, but I read it somewhere, life is not easy for those who dream. And I dream.
I dream of a happy nation. Of a great nation. Then we have some Azaadi gangs, secular media houses, bias writers. I hate it when people call me a Sanghi Goon even if I come out in my self defense. I hate it when I’m judged by some so called “intellectuals”. I see a lot of liberals talking about women empowerment and feminism yet they never fail to address me with unparliamentary words just because I come from certain ideology. This surely troubles me, but then at the end of the day, I believe, it’s all for a greater good!
5. Did you get any other offers from entertainment media after being a part of Roadies?
I did, some! I always declined.
But I had my piece with Roadies enough. It’s just not my cup of tea! I’m more of a field work person. I like social work above anything!
6. As a woman, according to you, is Indian political system fare enough to understand the potential of women in terms of leadership?
We are growing, but it will still take a lot of time. If talking about the current status of women and youth in politics, there can be two reasons for this deplorable scene of Indian politics, one may be that the youth today are not interested in actively participating in the political field. They are content with what they are doing and how the country is being governed. But this reason seems to hold no ground seeing the discontent shown by the youngsters towards cases like reservation, Jessica lal murder case, Nirbhaya case etc. The youth of modern India is aware of the problems facing our country and the world at large. Given a chance, they would be ready to change the political condition of the country for better.
Second reason may be that young women are not given opportunities to prove themselves claiming that they are not equipped with experience to participate actively in the governance of the country. This reason seems to be more logical seeing the dominance of male leaders in almost all the major political parties of the country. Men people should realize that proper development can take place only when they make way for women to take control of the activities.
With the women participating in nationalist movements to being pushed into the domestic household space, to their resurgence as the super-women today, women in our country have seen it all. There have been innumerable debates
about gender in India over the years. Much of it includes women’s positing in society, their education, health, economic position, gender equality etc. What one can conclude from such discussions is that women have always held a certain paradoxical position in our developing country. On the other hand, the country has seen an increased percentage of literacy among women, and women are allowed to enter into professional fields, while on the other hand the practices of female infanticide, poor health conditions and lack of education still persisting still continue. Even the patriarchal ideology of the home being women’s real domain and marriage being her ultimate destiny hasn’t changed much. The matrimonial advertisements, demanding girls of the same caste, with fair skin and slim figure, or the much criticized fair and lovely ads, are indicators of the slow changing social mores. If one looks at the status of women then and now, one has to look at two sides of the coin; one side which is promising, and one side which is bleak. The path towards total gender empowerment is full of potholes. Over the years women have made great strides in many areas with notable progress in reducing some gender gaps. Yet, realities such as numerous women and girls getting trafficked every year and increased practice of dowry, rape and sexual harassment hit hard against all the development that has taken place. Thus, if on one hand women are climbing the ladder of success, on the other hand she is mutely suffering the violence afflicted on her by her own family members. As compared with past women in modern times have achieved a lot but in reality
they have to still travel a long way. Women may have left the secured domains of their home, but a harsh, cruel, exploitative world awaits them, where women have to prove their talent against the world who see women as merely vassals of producing children. The Indian women has to make her way through all the socialized prejudices against her, and the men yet have to allow and accept the women to be equal participants in the country’s way forward.
7. You are associated with ‘Pukaar Foundation’. Can you brief us about it?
“Pukaar”, the word itself gives clear idea that it might be related to any noble cause.
The purpose to establish Pukaar Foundation was to empower downtrodden & linking them with the main stream through education, training, financial support etc to needy one’s.
It is a Non-Government Organization which works for developing humanity & to be a soothing balm for needy one’s. Some of the objectives of Pukaar Foundation are:
• To provide education to all without any distinction of caste, creed or religion.
• To work for “Women Empowerment”.
• To provide necessary facilities & to arrange events at old age home’s to make the senior citizens aware of their rights so that they can play an active role in the society.
• To look after orphans & to arrange programme’s at orphanages to make them feel that they are not alone in this world.
• To do seminars with the help of experts for those citizens who are inclined to commit suicide in worries of fast life & studies which is just known as “Depression”. Etc.
We, the member’s of “Pukaar Foundation”, are a group of youth’s working together & adding our efforts to meet out social responsibilities along with our fast life ahead to develop mankind at it’s best. I’m currently serving as the National Vice President at Pukaar. Running another NGO naming Amaanat Foundation as the National President with a similar theme.
8. So what’s your future plans? Planing to join any leading political party?
Don’t know about any political parties, but I still have my years in the University, so I’m likely to continue as a student activist as of now. I might turn my face to UP for future work.
Also read “From a cab driver to the winner of Roadies X1 and Splitsvilla 9 finalist, Nikhil Sachdeva“