Arbatova brought her husband, an Indian prince, into the world

Childhood and youth

Masha Gavrilina was born in Murom on July 17, 1957. Zodiac sign: Cancer. A year later, the family moved to the capital of Russia. The girl's parents are true intellectuals. Father is deputy editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda, journalist and philosophy teacher. His mother, Jewish by nationality, received a degree in microbiology. In the 90s, the woman became interested in alternative medicine.

Video course “Spring”

Landscaping for busy people, a beautiful garden without the hassle

A training course for those who want to make their dacha beautiful and prefer to spend their time, effort and money wisely.

Special offer! 50% discount! Make good use of your self-isolation!

₽ 1200.00 ₽ 600.00

MORE ❯❯❯

Maria Arbatova in 2018

In addition to Maria, an older brother, Sergei, was growing up in the family, about whom little is known in the press. The writer herself recalled that childhood could hardly be called easy. In an interview, the future feminist said that since childhood she suffered from lameness and received a disability group. The father died when his daughter was ten. Mother and older brother vigilantly controlled Masha, which caused outright rebellion in the teenager.

Maria Arbatova in childhood with her parents and brother

The girl was distinguished by her tenacity and tough disposition. She refused to join the Komsomol because it contradicted her views and life ideals.

A couple of years before graduation, the mother registered her daughter in two rooms on Arbat, bought by her great-grandfather. There the girl organized the “Masha from Arbat Salon” - a meeting place for Soviet hippies, of which the girl quickly became the leader. Then the pseudonym Arbatov appeared, which would later become the official surname.

Maria Arbatova in her youth

As a teenager, the future writer and feminist attended the School of Young Journalists at the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University. However, the girl entered the main university of the capital at the Faculty of Philosophy.

According to the student, due to strong ideological pressure, she changed her plans for a career as a philosopher, entering and graduating from the Gorky Literary Institute. In addition to writing, the girl studied the intricacies of psychoanalysis from B. G. Kravtsov.

Career

According to the writer, maternity leave prompted her to write. In order not to go crazy from everyday life and routine, the young mother writes her first play, “The Envious.” In total, playwright Arbatova has written 14 plays. The latter was created in 1994. According to the author, the disappointment with the drama is due to the fact that the male director does not understand its intention.

Psychologist Maria Arbatova

With the advent of the harsh 90s, Arbatova’s knowledge of psychoanalysis came in handy. Since 1991, the woman has led the Harmony psychological rehabilitation club.

Later, the multifaceted Arbatova began to emerge as a TV presenter and political figure. For five years she acted as a columnist for the socio-political publication Obshchaya Gazeta. Together with Yulia Menshova, she hosted the popular talk show for women “I Am Myself” on the TV-6 channel. On the air of this program, for the first time, she publicly announced the new concept of feminism for Russia and her belonging to the movement.

Maria Arbatova in the show “I Myself”

She received an invitation to act as an expert in writing the program for the presidential election campaign of Boris Yeltsin and the first female candidate for the post of head of the country, Ella Pamfilova.

In 1996, Arbatova and like-minded women opened the “Club of Women Intervening in Politics.” The organization performs an educational function and was created to increase the political literacy and importance of women. Since 2012, Maria Arbatova has been the president of the Women's Assistance Center, which provides support to those in difficult life situations.

Writer Maria Arbatova

There were also attempts by feminists and human rights activists to directly participate politically in the life of the country. Maria ran for the State Duma several times. Unfortunately, her rivals bypassed the candidate in the elections.

The development of the creativity of Arbatova the writer continues. The author's books are based on personal observations and are autobiographical. After a visit to India, the work “Tasting India” appeared with a detailed description of the trip.

Maria Arbatova

The novel “A Week in Manhattan” was published, in which the writer shares her unflattering impressions. By the way, the feminist has spoken negatively about America and the inhabitants of this country before. A quote from an interview with Pravda.ru in 2012 that this country is “a collection of stump people who can be kept together only on a financial basis in order to fight with someone,” frankly reflects the attitude of the human rights activist.

By the way, there is also an autobiography in the list of Arbatova’s works. The book “I'm 46” amazes with the frankness of the realist author, who told the details of childhood, relationships with parents and husbands. Maria Ivanovna also tried her hand as a screenwriter. The film adaptation of the biography of intelligence officer Zoya Voskresenskaya in the episode of the “Fights” project “The Two Lives of Colonel Rybkina” became one of such successful works by Arbatova.

Maria Arbatova and her book “Cinema, Wine and Dominoes”

The fighter for women's rights remains a prominent media personality, whose opinions are heard from television screens. He speaks sharply in articles and posts on his personal LiveJournal blog, as well as on his Facebook account. Thus, in 2017, Arbatova spoke unflatteringly about Ksenia Sobchak and her political ambitions. The writer never had a high opinion of the daughter of Anatoly Sobchak.

The human rights activist became a participant in television shows with hot scandalous topics and heroines, where she did not hesitate to use fair sarcasm and well-aimed attacks. These were Boris Korchevnikov’s programs “Live” about Maria Maksakova, “Let Them Talk” about Evdokia Germanova and the scandal with the actress’s adopted son.

Maria Arbatova and Roza Syabitova “Let them talk”

Some of the shootings and phrases of the writer led to a real scandal. This happened on the site of the same “Let them talk.” Maria Ivanovna made a harsh judgment about Rosa Syabitova. The writer doubted that it was possible to be a successful matchmaker, having such a negative marital experience as the TV presenter. The main TV matchmaker was offended by the harsh sarcasm addressed to her and hurried to leave the studio, but, unable to stand on her stiletto heels, fell on the steps.

For the public, and especially for feminist activists, Arbatova’s sharp protest against the release of ex-YUKOS lawyer Svetlana Bakhminova in 2008 was surprising. Maria Ivanovna unequivocally stated that the thief should be in prison.

Maria Arbatova in the program “To the Barrier”

The topic was developed in the program “To the Barrier”, where Valeria Novodvorskaya became Maria’s opponent. Tatyana Tolstaya, writer and host of the “School of Scandal” (of which Arbatova once became the heroine), said that the position of the human rights activist is disgusting.

We can conclude that, being a feminist, Arbatova does not hesitate to criticize women. The writer supports the position of some men, for example, Maria is clearly impressed by Vladimir Posner’s vision of the socio-political situation.

Creativity[ | ]

Books[ | ]

Plays for reading. - M.: Prometheus, 1991.
Drang nach Westen - Berlin: Felix Bloh Erben, 1992.
Probeinterview zum Thema Freiheit - Reinbek: Rowohlt Verlag GmbH, 1996.
Gleichung mit zwei gegeben - Reinbek: Rowohlt Verlag GmbH, 1996.
Erobrte Bastiionen - Reinbek: Rowohlt Verlag GmbH, 1997.
My name is woman - M.: Prometheus, 1998; M.: Eksmo, 1999 - ISBN 5-04-003539-X; M.: Eksmo-Press, 2001 - ISBN 5-04-008069-7; M: AST, 2008 - ISBN 978-5-17-043667-5, ISBN 978-5-9713-6629-4.

A visit from an old lady. Autobiographical prose. - M.: Podkova, 1999 - ISBN 5-89517-033-1; M.: Eksmo, 1999 - ISBN 5-04-004754-1; M.: Eksmo, 2005 - ISBN 5-699-05585-1; M: AST, 2008 - ISBN 978-5-17-047862-0, ISBN 978-5-9713-7587-6.
I am 40 years old. Autobiographical novel.— M.: Zakharov. AST., 1999 - 464 p. ISBN 5-8159-0013-3
On the way to myself - M.: Podkova, 1999;
Mobile communications - M.: Eksmo, 2000 - ISBN 5-04-004755-X; M.: AST, 2008 - ISBN 978-5-17-044177-8, ISBN 978-5-9713-6628-7.
Against the background of Pushkin... and a bird flies out... - M.: Eksmo, 2001 - ISBN 5-04-007940-0.
The last letter to A. - M.: Eksmo, 2001 - ISBN 5-04-008257-6.
Experience of social sculpture. - M.: Eksmo, 2002 - ISBN 5-04-010340-9.
Lessons from Europe. - M: Eksmo-Press, 2002. - ISBN 5-04-010121-X.
Farewell to the 20th century. In 2 vols. - M.: Eksmo, 2002. - ISBN 5-699-00249-9.
Seven-year search. In 2 vols. - M.: Eksmo, 2003 - ISBN 5-699-03826-4, ISBN 5-699-04583-X; M: AST, 2008 - ISBN 978-5-17-046073-1, ISBN 978-5-9713-7588-3.
I'm 46. - M.: Eksmo, 2004 - ISBN 5-699-05183-X.
Love for American cars. - M.: Eksmo, 2004 - ISBN 5-699-07954-8.
How I honestly tried to get into the Duma. - M.: AST, Harvest, 2007 - ISBN 978-5-17-046018-2, ISBN 978-5-9713-6401-6, ISBN 978-985-16-3319-3.
Tasting India. - M.: AST, 2006 - ISBN 5-17-040576-6, ISBN 5-9713-3550-2, ISBN 978-5-9713-3550-4; Sofia: Riva, 2008.
Old plays about the main thing. - M.: AST, 2008 - ISBN 978-5-17-053496-8, ISBN 978-5-9713-9176-0.
Cinema, wine and dominoes. - M.: AST, 2009 - ISBN 978-5-17-060342-8, ISBN 978-5-403-01655-1.
Ordeal by death or Iron Philatelist. Co-authored with Shumit Datta Gupta - M. Astrel, 2012 - ISBN 978-5-271-40565-5.
A week in Manhattan. - M.: AST, 2020 - ISBN
978-5-17-102382-9.
Living sculpture. - T8 RUGRAM, 2020 - ISBN 978-5-4467-3319-4.
Olivier's Time - 2020. The premiere took place in the “Many Letters” program on the Mayak radio station.

Plays[ | ]

1979 — “Envious”
1982 — “Equation with two knowns”
1984 — “Alekseev and Shadows”
1987 — “Questionnaire for parents”
1985 — “Victoria Vasilyeva through the eyes of strangers”
1987 — “Dreams on the banks of the Dnieper”
1987 — “Seminar by the sea”
1991 — “Session in a communal apartment”
1991 — “Late Crew”
1992 - “Drang nah westen”
1992 — “On the way to myself”
1993 — “Test interview on the topic of freedom”
1991 — “Test session”
1994 — “Taking of the Bastille”

Translations[ | ]

Dedman P.
Natural nutrition, treatment and cosmetics - M.: Culture and Traditions, 1992. (Authorized and expanded translation from English).

Film scripts[ | ]

1990 - I can’t forget, I can’t forgive... (together with N. Repina)
2010 - Fights. Ordeal by Death (with Shumit Datta Gupta)
2011 - Fights. Zoya Voskresenskaya: love and exploration

Movie roles[ | ]

2005 - Day Watch - episode
2009 - St. Petersburg holidays - cameo

Personal life

Despite her clearly unmodel appearance, Arbatova does not complain about the lack of men in her life. The writer was officially married three times. From the first, twin sons were born. The children have grown up long ago, one of the sons is a psychologist, the second is a public figure.

Maria Arbatova and her first husband Alexander Miroshnik with their sons

The men in the feminist's life replaced each other, not allowing her to feel lonely. The writer met her second husband on the day of her divorce from her first. The current husband is an Indian prince by birth, a financial analyst, and the nephew of the leader of the Communist Party of India.

All three times the marriage was concluded quickly. As Arbatova says, a man who does not get his way without additional effort has practically no meaning. By her own admission, she simply does not have time for the bouquet period.

Maria Arbatova and her husband Shumit Datta Gupta

At the same time, the writer does not care about her appearance, does not visit beauty salons, and has no idea about her own weight, because she has not weighed herself since pregnancy. She allows herself to eat whatever she wants, whenever she wants. Quoting Maria Ivanovna:

“If a girl is loved by her father, then men love her later.”

Arbatova recalls that her father adored her. Perhaps this is where the success of a feminist with the opposite sex lies. The writer spoke about this and other details of her personal life on the air of the “Wives. Love story".

Maria Arbatova now

Arbatova continues to be involved in social activities and promotes the ideas of feminism. In 2020, on the Spas channel, Maria took part in the “I Don’t Believe” program with her opponent, priest Pavel Ostrovsky. The broadcast raised issues of the rights and place of women in the church, the legality of abortion and the problem of domestic violence.

Maria Arbatova in the program “I Don’t Believe”

In 2020, the writer’s play “An Equation with Two Known”, written in 1982, was published.

Arbatova actively publishes on the blog, preferring LiveJournal to Instagram and Twitter. As a real writer and publicist, Maria Ivanovna prefers long posts and stories to short quotes and photos. In addition, the latest news, publications and works are posted on Arbatova’s personal website.

Awards for Maria Arbatova

For her active social activities, as well as her contribution to culture and the arts, Maria Arbatova received a number of prestigious awards.
In 1991, Arbatova received the award “For Contribution to the Culture of the 20th Century.” In the same year, she became a laureate of the All-Union Radio Drama Competition.

Maria Arbatova: emigration is a disaster Maria’s prose works were also appreciated by critics. In 1993, her story “Abortion from the Unloved” was recognized as the best work in prose.

In 2002 she was awarded the Order “For Service to the Fatherland”. The charitable alliance “Peacemaker” awarded Maria Arbatova the “Order of the Peacemaker” of the first and second degree.

The work “Tasting India” brought the writer not only additional fame, but also the “Golden Pen of Rus'” award.