The documentary Deconstructing Karen features the work of Race2Dinner, an initiative by co-founders Saira Rao and Regina Jackson whose aim is to ultimately dismantle white supremacy
By Rithika SiddharthaAug 11, 2023
“RAISE your hand if you are a racist.”
This is a question Saira Rao, an Indian American campaigner, poses at the start of the documentary, Deconstructing Karen.
It features the work of Race2Dinner, an initiative by co-founders Rao and Regina Jackson, a black American, whose aim is to ultimately dismantle white supremacy.
There is an uncomfortable silence as the camera pans around the faces of 10 white women sat around a dining table at a home in Denver, Colorado. Rao and Jackson are filmed sitting at the head of the group.
A hand goes up. Then a few more. A final hand is raised – it belongs to Rao.
“Indians are institutionally racist against black women,” she says.
Later, she adds, “I grew up as a white woman trapped in a brown woman’s body.”
Asked what she meant, Rao told Eastern Eye, “It’s the internalised white supremacy. We’ve all been put through the sausage factory of white supremacy – white is what everyone is aspiring to be.
Casteism is among the many forms of discrimination plaguing India, says Rao
“And I did it beautifully. I was very much a white woman with brown skin. I was the biggest and the best ‘coconut’ there was,” she said, referring to the pejorative term to describe ethnic people said to ‘behave like white people’.
Rao and Jackson were in London last month to screen their documentary in the city (July 13-14) and in Bath (16).
Race2Dinner began as an idea to have white women pay to have uncomfortable conversations about their privileged place in society, how it is harming everyone – especially people of colour – and how they can help change that status quo.
Rao is the daughter of Indian immigrants from south India who moved to the US in the late 1960s. She grew up in Richmond, Virginia, where, she recalled, some 25 Asian families lived at the time.
“We were taught to be American and assimilate. And it was very clear that it was assimilating to white culture and not black culture. We just parroted what white people did – what we saw on TV, what we learned at school and what we saw socially.
The cover of the new bestselling book by Rao and Jackson
“What does that look like? It looks like thinking we’re better than black people. The myth is, we’re somehow better than black people. And I bought it hook line and sinker, because – at least I’m not black.”
Rao trained to be a lawyer and had a career in Wall Street. She has also been a television producer and previously owned a book packaging company.
She ran for Congress in 2018 from Colorado in the Democratic primary and lost. It was during this campaign (which involved plenty of fundraising dinners) that she met Jackson. Following her defeat, the idea of Race2Dinner was born.
DeconstructingKaren features one of the first dinners from 2019. Rao said she Jackson have a more focused approach these days, with no more than four a year. All are sold out for 2023. Their aim is for this concept to be adopted outside the US – in Canada, the UK, Europe and also, India.
Rao said, “The reason our work has spread so fast and furiously is it’s so simple. All it is is to tell the truth and do it over dinner. And it will set you free. We hope very much these conversations continue here – in France, Germany, India; my goodness, India needs a big wake-up call around these conversations.”
India is a different beast, Rao said, describing how casteism, colorism and Islamophobia predated British colonial rule.
“I have family members who live in the US who – now – will acknowledge slowly and quietly anti-blackness, but will 100 per cent not acknowledge casteism. We all need to do the work.”
Since Rao’s defeat in the elections, (Democrat) Kamala Harris has become US vice-president. In recent months, with preparations underway for the 2024 presidential election, Indian American (Republican) Nikki Haley has thrown her hat in the ring to be the party nominee in a race that also includes her former boss and president, Donald Trump.
Rao did not hold back in her assessment of race relations in the US in recent years, and what the election of Harris means to black and brown people in America. “What has changed? Nothing, nothing has changed,” she said.
“If anything, Trump was a direct retaliation for having (Barack) Obama be president. And let’s be honest, Obama (a Democrat) was not awesome for black and brown people – the deporter-in-chief.”
Rao was referring to the allegation by some activists of the number of illegal immigrants removed from the US under the Obama administration. (Analysis by the Migration Policy Institute showed more than five million were removed or returned during the Obama administration, a number fewer than the more than 12 million people “deported” – either removed or returned – from the US during Bill Clinton’s time as president, and the more than 10 million were removed or returned during the George W Bush administration).
Rao added, “Kamala Harris, what did she do? One of the first things she did was go down to Central America, point to brown people and say, ‘do not come’.
“America’s becoming browner and browner – the census tells us that will happen in the next 40 years. Who cares? Who cares if we’ve not dismantled white supremacy, culture and colonialism and imperialism? It’s going to be a bunch of people who look like you and me doing the same s**t that white people have done? No, thank you.
“I think that Kamala Harris, Nikki Haley and Saira Rao, all of us – and I use myself in the third person because I don’t want to exceptionalise myself – are all flip sides of the same point.
“We all have come through the same factory. What is the difference? That one’s a Republican and one’s a Democrat?
“Under Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, we still don’t have Medicare for all. We still have police brutality. It was on Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s watch that the Feds [informal term for federal law enforcement agencies] whipped Haitian refugees, there still ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) concentration camps.
A scene from 'Deconstructing Karen'
“There hasn’t been a qualitative difference. It’s fiction. These partisan things are fiction. How was England super different pre-Boris Johnson? There’s been racism the whole time and we pretend that somehow it’s better to have a Democrat versus a Republican. There’s absolutely no difference and we are the fools who keep voting, voting, voting for more of the same.”
Another hard-hitting point in the documentary comes when Jackson asks for a show of hands of those who would trade places with a black person. Cue some squirming by the 10 women – ‘I don’t know the answer to that,’ says one participant, while another admits she would not do it. Jackson calmly reiterates her question. One hand goes up and it sparks a debate about the lived experiences of a black person versus those who married a mixed-race person and are raising mixed-race children.
Rao told Eastern Eye there was no penny-dropping moment to realise how prejudiced she was. Instead, she recalled that six or seven years ago, she began to be aware of the propaganda that she had been fed her entire life.
“It’s not just, ‘oh my goodness, I’m on the receiving end of racism and xenophobia and white supremacy, but I’m also on the giving end.’ I sit on the ecosystem, like everybody else.
“We all have benefits and burdens; we all have privileges – I have ablebodied privilege, I’m cis gendered, I’m straight, I have money.
“And so, and I’m not black, I have non-black privilege.
Kamala Harris
“Where does that put me? It means we have real obligations with our privileges. It is very important for all of us Asians to acknowledge this and to know where the power lies and where you sit, so you can mitigate the harm that you’re causing.”
Since the murder of black American George Floyd in May 2020 by white police officers, Rao said the conversation at Race2Dinner events have shifted, “in that the people are much more honest, humble and sincere and truly are there to work”.
“The white women there are ready to listen, they are ready to talk, ready to learn, ready to unlearn. I would say that our dinners now are far more productive and interesting and good.”
Following the dinner, the participants are invited to provide feedback and continue to join an online network where they “deconstruct” whiteness and build communities with each other.
In the film, Rao said, the one thing all white women want to do is “be nice”.
She told Eastern Eye, “White woman don’t have community with each other. They’re all in competition – who’s the smartest, who’s the skinniest, who’s the prettiest? Who makes the most money, where do the kids go to college? Sound familiar? Absolutely happens here. They hate each other. All they do is compete, they talk so much s**t about each other. And so ‘Race to Community’ is for them to actually build real friendships and community with each other.”
There are some uncomfortable moments in the documentary, but Rao is clear about their purpose.
She said, “These conversations are the most radical things any of us can do. So yes, of course, people are hostile about it. You’re gonna be mad. We’re used to people getting upset and uncomfortable, but I don’t feel uncomfortable. People keep saying it’s uncomfortable. I’ve no discomfort around having these conversations. But I used to, and it’s taken me time. I’ve had to sit in my discomfort and work through it.
Nikki Haley
“So when you feel discomfort, the invitation is to sit with it and use that as an opportunity to learn what it is that’s making me uncomfortable? Why is it making me uncomfortable and instead of rejecting it, and walking away, use it as an awakening, a tool for awakening. I promise you, once you work through that, it takes you to a different level and it sets you free. The more that you work through the discomfort, the freer you become.”
Towards the end of the film, Rao describes her sense of scepticism and her thoughts about shutting it down – unsurprising, given the (mostly online) hatred both she and Jackson experience.
Does she still hold that view?
“This movie took place in 2019. Here I’m in 2023. If you had told me four years later, we would have a book that’s now upwards of 100,000 copies in publication seven months out, and a movie that’s going viral globally, I would have not believed you.
“Our work is absolutely catching on in a way that none of us could have predicted four years ago. Is it thankless? No. Do I feel like constantly shutting down? Yes. Because I am here. I’m not with my children right now, I’m travelling all over the place. We still get trolled all the time.
“But the difference is, now we’re actually seeing the impact of our work among black and brown people.”
Rao said she and Jackson were blown away by the reaction at their first screening in London, when south Asian and black women came up to them and said, ‘We actually now have gotten brave enough to start speaking up. Your work has given us the confidence to change our lives.’
“So it is not thankless. That’s what makes this work so gratifying, and keeps Regina and me going in the end.”
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach releases on 26 June 2025 for PlayStation 5
Critics highlight its stylised storytelling, visual design, and A-list cast
Gameplay centres on post-apocalyptic cargo delivery and exploration
Reviews call it hypnotic, emotional, and sometimes frustratingly slow
Players are divided over its pacing, symbolism, and niche appeal
A cinematic sequel that’s both familiar and strange
Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches worldwide on 26 June, and early impressions suggest it’s just as unconventional as the original. Described by critics as a “hypnotising, slow-paced art-house game,” the sequel continues the unique blend of traversal gameplay, cinematic storytelling and surreal world-building introduced in Death Stranding (2019).
Set in an alternate future where the boundary between life and death has collapsed, the sequel follows protagonist Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus) as he leaves his quiet life in Mexico to reconnect isolated communities across Mexico and Australia. The goal: restore access to a high-tech communication system called the chiral network in the wake of a fragmented, post-disaster world.
Critics praise storytelling, tone, and ambition
Several early Death Stranding 2 reviews emphasise the game’s meditative pace and symbolic narrative. The story is said to be layered with allegory and poetic metaphors, often requiring players to interpret its dreamlike events and characters.
Kojima’s vision is clearly rooted in cinematic inspiration. The opening includes a six-minute cutscene, and reviewers note that long, quiet stretches of walking allow players to reflect on the game’s meaning. One reviewer described it as “a game that invites scrutiny and rewards patience,” while another called it “equal parts game and existential art project.”
The cast features major talent including Léa Seydoux, Elle Fanning, George Miller, Guillermo del Toro, and Shioli Kutsuna, many of whom reprise roles or take on new surreal identities. Their characters serve as metaphors as much as people: one rains wherever she goes, another pilots a ship with a tar-infused hand. The emotional performances are surprisingly affecting, particularly in quieter scenes.
Gameplay: Delivery missions, upgraded combat
At its core, Death Stranding 2 remains a delivery game. Players guide Sam through rugged terrain, balancing cargo, managing supplies, and planning safe routes between settlements. While this sounds mundane, reviews say the game’s detailed systems — including tools, gear, and environmental challenges — add real depth.
- YouTubeYouTube/ KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS
Combat has been expanded. Players can now face off more often with Beached Things (BTs) and hostile humans, using grenades, firearms, or stealth tactics. The mechanics have been refined since the first game, with some calling the combat “slick” and “surprisingly satisfying.”
One review notes, “The pleasure is as much in the preparation as it is in the action,” referring to the logistical decisions players make before embarking on missions. New traversal tools and improved mission variety also help keep things engaging.
Post-pandemic influence and online connection
Kojima reportedly rewrote the sequel’s story during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the parallels are evident. Themes of isolation, fear of contact, and re-establishing human connection run throughout the game.
Like its predecessor, Death Stranding 2 includes asynchronous multiplayer features. Players can build structures and leave equipment or messages for others in their own single-player worlds. This feature has been interpreted by reviewers as a satirical nod to social media, with “like” icons and digital clutter slowly overtaking the environment, a subtle critique of online attention culture.
Not for everyone, but rewarding for some
While the game has received strong praise from critics for its ambition and style, it has also been described as a “niche experience.” Some players find the pacing too slow and the gameplay too repetitive. Others argue that the symbolism can become overbearing or confusing.
Still, for fans of Kojima’s previous work or anyone seeking something outside mainstream action game formulas, Death Stranding 2 offers a compelling and unusual journey.
“Everything that was good and frustrating about the first game is back,” one critic summarised. “But this time it’s more polished, more confident, and more meaningful.”
Final verdict from the review community
Most Death Stranding 2 reviews agree on a few core points:
It’s visually stunning, with atmospheric design and excellent voice acting
The delivery gameplay is detailed and deliberate, appealing to those who enjoy planning and slow exploration
The narrative is symbolic and open to interpretation, rewarding thoughtful players
It’s not action-packed, and won’t suit everyone, but it stands out in today’s gaming landscape
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
Black women nearly three times more likely to die during childbirth compared to white women, while Asian mothers face double the risk. (Photo for representation: iStock)
HEALTH SECRETARY Wes Streeting has ordered an immediate nationwide probe into England's maternity services following a string of NHS scandals that have cost the lives of hundreds of mothers and babies.
The fast-track investigation will focus on the country's poorest-performing maternity and baby care units, with findings expected by December 2025, the BBC reported.
Streeting on Monday (23) issued an apology to families who have suffered preventable harm and said urgent action was needed.
"We must act - and we must act now," he declared, after meeting parents who lost children in various NHS maternity disasters.
The health secretary promised the inquiry would "make sure these families get the truth and the accountability they deserve" and ensure "no parent or baby is ever let down again".
The investigation comes amid alarming statistics showing maternal death rates have worsened dramatically. Government data revealed that between 2009 and 2022, maternal mortality increased by 27 per cent, and even after accounting for Covid deaths, there was still a 10 per cent rise.
Official figures exposed stark racial inequalities, with black women nearly three times more likely to die during childbirth compared to white women, while Asian mothers face double the risk. Despite a 2017 government pledge to cut maternal deaths by half between 2010 and 2025, the opposite has happened.
The probe will be split into two sections. The first will examine up to 10 of the most troubling maternity and newborn units to provide answers to affected families as quickly as possible.
University Hospitals Sussex and Leeds Teaching Hospitals have already been confirmed for investigation, though it remains unclear whether these will be part of the 10 units or separate cases.
The second phase will take a broader view of the entire maternity system, combining lessons from previous investigations to create national improvements across all NHS maternity services.
At Morecambe Bay between 2004 and 2013, mothers and babies died unnecessarily due to what investigators called a "dysfunctional culture" with poor clinical skills and failure to learn from mistakes. The Shrewsbury and Telford scandal saw more than 200 mothers and babies who could have survived with better care, according to a 2022 investigation.
In another case, at least 45 babies might have lived if given proper treatment at East Kent, a review found in October 2022.
Meanwhile, an ongoing review at Nottingham examining around 2,500 cases is set to be the largest maternity scandal investigation yet.
Adding to concerns, inspectors found that not a single one of 131 maternity units checked in 2024 received the highest safety rating.
Dr Clea Harmer from baby loss charity Sands called the national investigation "much-needed and long-overdue", stressing the need for "lasting systemic change".
Rhiannon Davies, who lost her daughter Kate at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust in 2009, welcomed the inquiry but argued it should cover the entire UK, not just England.
Anne Kavanagh from Irwin Mitchell solicitors, representing many affected families, said the scandals "all pointed to deep-rooted problems nationally" and stressed the need for decisive action.
She warned that "sadly many recommendations from previous reports and investigations had not been fully implemented, missing crucial opportunities to improve patient safety and learn from mistakes".
The government has also announced plans for an anti-discrimination programme aimed at addressing the unequal treatment of black, Asian and other underserved communities in maternity care.
Streeting acknowledged that while most births are safe and the majority of NHS staff want the best outcomes, "it's clear something is going wrong".
"What they have experienced is devastating – deeply painful stories of trauma, loss, and a lack of basic compassion – caused by failures in NHS maternity care that should never have happened," he said of the bereaved families.
The investigation will begin this summer, with affected families given a voice in how the inquiry is conducted.
Keep ReadingShow less
India's Hardeep Singh Puri, who is leading a 7-member delegation, meets Irish prime minister Micheal Martin. The delegation paid tribute to the victims of the Air India Kanishka bombing at the Ahakista Memorial, on the 40th anniversary of the incident, in County Cork, Ireland. (Photo: PTI Photo)
INDIAN minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday (23) called for ending funding channels to terrorists and separatists and urged collective action to counter global terrorism, as he paid tribute to the victims of the Air India Flight 182 Kanishka bombing on its 40th anniversary.
The Montreal–London–New Delhi Air India ‘Kanishka’ Flight 182 exploded mid-air on June 23, 1985, killing all 329 people on board. The flight was 45 minutes away from landing at London’s Heathrow Airport. Most of those killed were Canadians of Indian origin.
Commemoration held at Ahakista Memorial
Puri, who is the Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, attended the memorial event at the Ahakista Memorial in County Cork, Ireland. He was joined by Irish prime minister Micheál Martin and Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree. County Cork is about 260 kilometres from Dublin.
“On behalf of the people and Government of India, a 7-member delegation led by Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas @HardeepSPuri paid tributes to the victims at the Ahakista Memorial in County Cork, Ireland,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X.
‘Need to be united against terrorism’
In his speech, Puri thanked the “wonderful community of Ahakista and the people of Ireland,” saying they had responded with compassion when the tragedy occurred 40 years ago.
“This memorial stands testimony to the tragedy of that crash on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean not far from here,” Puri said.
He added, “Irrespective of the differences in ideologies and political differences, we need to be vigilant about terrorism and united in combating the menace.”
Calling for an end to terrorism financing, Puri said in another post on X, “We need to double our efforts to ensure that what happened on June 23, 1985 is not repeated anywhere in the world in future.”
329 lives lost in mid-air explosion
Irish prime minister Micheál Martin wrote on X, “It was a privilege to attend the commemoration to mark 40 years since the Air India disaster in West Cork. 329 innocent people lost their lives over the skies of Ireland that morning, and the passing of time does not dim the scale of loss and of this atrocity.”
According to The Air India Flight 182 Archive, maintained by McMaster University, the Ahakista Memorial was unveiled on June 23, 1986, during the first anniversary of the bombing. The site includes a garden, a sundial, and a curved stone wall bearing the names of all those who died.
Relatives of victims attend memorial
Every year, families of the passengers and crew gather at various memorials dedicated to the victims.
According to Irish public broadcaster RTÉ, about 60 relatives of the victims attended the annual ceremony in Ahakista, which is the closest point on land to the crash site.
“The ceremony at the memorial monument began with a minute’s silence at 8.13 am, the exact time the explosion occurred on Air India Flight 182. It was followed by tributes from the families and Hindu and Christian readings,” RTÉ reported.
(With inputs from PTI)
Keep ReadingShow less
Mohini Dey has played with legends across continents and\u00a0now she\u2019s stepping into the spotlight with her own voice
Mohini Dey laughs down the line, a deep, unfiltered chuckle that cuts through the noise. “Ronnie Scott’s? With my band, playing my music? That’s crazy,” she says, still letting it sink in. Speaking exclusively to Eastern Eye from Los Angeles, where she recently wrapped a show at the Hollywood Bowl with Willow Smith, the 28-year-old bassist is now preparing for her first headline performance in the UK this July.
For Dey, who grew up riding Mumbai’s local trains with a Walkman and no room for childhood distractions, this moment feels both improbable and hard-earned. It’s the kind of full-circle milestone that doesn’t come from luck, but from surviving, insisting, and showing up anyway.
A childhood full of sounds and music
Mohini was never a regular child. Born into a musically disciplined home in Mumbai, her father a bassist, her mother a singer, Mohini’s life was all structure and sound. But not the kind most children grow up with. “I didn’t have friends my age,” she says plainly. “My dad was strict. He believed childhood was for building something, not wasting time.”
While most kids her age were at birthday parties, Mohini was at Nirvana Studio, jamming with jazz legends like Ranjit Barot and Louis Banks. “It was like going to two schools: one for academics, one for music history and reality checks,” she recalls. “I was surrounded by giants, and I learned early that to make it, I had to be exceptional.”
Mohini Dey will make her UK headline debut at London’s iconic Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club this July Instagram/dey_bass
That early push turned her into a master of her craft but also left scars. “I was depressed as hell,” she admits. “I was constantly being moulded into someone else’s dream.”
At 17, she left it all and became the family’s breadwinner
At 17, she snapped. In a moment of quiet rebellion, she left home. Cut ties. Lived alone. And decided to prove, especially to her father, that she could make it on her own. “He told me I wouldn’t be successful without him,” she remembers. “I needed to show him he was wrong.”
Those three years were lonely, but transformative. Mohini toured, hustled, and became her family’s main earner. “I learned to navigate everything. The business side, the gigs and all of it,” she says.
Bassist Mohini Dey is redefining what it means to be an Indian woman on the global music stageInstagram/dey_bass/bassplayunited
When music became medicine
The silence with her father finally broke when he called her after three years. “He said he was proud. That was enough. He didn’t apologise, but he didn’t need to.” She began taking him to her shows. In the last two years before he passed away, Mohini made sure he saw what she’d become.
“I took him to my shows. Introduced him to the life I’d built. It was healing,” she says, voice softening. “His death hit hard... but also made me push even more,” she says. “The last two years before he passed… they were good. Really wholesome. I’m glad we had that.”
Her father’s death could have derailed her. Instead, she kept playing. “I got back on stage within days. Because music took care of me when I couldn’t take care of myself.”
Mohini Dey opens up about burnout, ambition, and finding balance in a demanding industryInstagram/dey_bass
Not just the bass girl
Mohini is now one of India’s most sought-after musicians, having worked with legends like A.R. Rahman, Clinton Cerejo, Zakir Hussain, Salim–Sulaiman, and even Willow Smith, with whom she just played the Hollywood Bowl.
She’s crossed genres with ease, from Carnatic to rock, from fusion to pop. Her only rule? Never stay comfortable. “I’ll do a metal tour one week, a classical show the next,” she grins. “If it feels too easy, I’m bored.”
But don’t mistake that hustle for perfectionism. “I’m burnt out,” she says without flinching. “I’ve been working nonstop, albums, tours, even managing a side business. Sometimes I just want to disappear into a cave with my bass.”
Still, when she plays, the burnout fades. “There are these rare moments when I’m on stage, not overthinking, just being. That’s what I chase.”
Mohini Dey’s journey from a musically strict childhood in Mumbai to international acclaim is a story of rebellion, resilience, and rhythmInstagram/dey_bass
“I’m not a diversity hire. I’m just good”
Despite being a young Indian woman in an industry that rarely makes space for either, Mohini refuses to paint herself as a victim. “If anything, I used it to my advantage,” she says with a shrug. “I’m talented, I’m beautiful, I’m Indian. It made people take notice. But then I had to prove I deserved it.”
That confidence comes from lived experience. “I’ve never been treated like a diversity hire. I get called because I deliver. And because I’m versatile.” Her mentor, drummer Ranjit Barot, taught her early on: “You’re a musician first. The rest is noise.” That philosophy stuck.
From Mumbai to the world stage, Mohini plays life her own wayInstagram/dey_bass
Redefining success on her own terms
Despite the accolades, Forbes 30 Under 30, global acclaim, and sold-out venues, Mohini says awards never meant much to her. “In India, there are no awards for instrumentalists. Everything is for playback singers.”
So how does she define success? “I don’t know what it means yet,” she admits. “But contentment? That’s what I chase. Those rare moments when I play and I’m not overthinking, just flowing. That’s a win.”
Mohini Dey says music saved her when nothing else couldInstagram/dey_bass
What’s next: less travel, more life
As she readies her set for Ronnie Scott’s, including unreleased tracks and new sounds, Mohini is also thinking about slowing down. “I hate travelling,” she laughs. “By the time I’m 38, I want to be working from home, running a studio, picking only what excites me.”
She’s already laying the foundation with a social media company, side hustles and plans to support young musicians. “Music can’t feel like a grind,” she says. “It has to stay personal.”
Mohini Dey has become one of India’s most in-demand musicians across genresInstagram/dey_bass/bahrainjazzfest
Advice to dreamers: trust your gut
Asked what she’d tell her 14-year-old self, Mohini smiles. “Nothing. That kid was solid. She did what her dad told her to do. Then she did what she wanted to do. I’m proud of her.”
Her advice to young artists is blunt but inspiring: “People will try to drag you down. You’ve got to stay consistent, stay grounded, and own your story. Don’t wait for validation. Let your work speak. And if it doesn’t? Keep going until it does.”
From lonely train rides in Mumbai to sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s, from rejection and burnout to quiet moments of clarity on stage, Mohini Dey’s journey isn’t just about music, it’s about survival, rebellion, and learning to finally breathe in a life she built for herself.
And through it all, one truth remains: the bass didn’t just give her rhythm. It gave her voice.
Keep ReadingShow less
International Day of Yoga stood as a powerful reminder of yoga’s enduring role in personal and collective transformation
The 11th International Day of Yoga was celebrated at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh
Ambassadors, high commissioners, and guests from over 25 countries participated
The event followed the global theme: “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”
The Common Yoga Protocol was conducted by trained instructors with government audio
Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji led the spiritual programme
Celebrations concluded with a World Peace Yajna and the national anthem
A global gathering on the banks of the Ganga
Rishikesh, 21 June – The 11th International Day of Yoga was marked by a large-scale, spiritually uplifting gathering at Parmarth Niketan Ashram on the banks of the River Ganga. Diplomats, dignitaries, and yoga enthusiasts from over 25 countries participated in the celebration, which followed the global theme of “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”.
The event began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and the recitation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. The session featured the Common Yoga Protocol conducted by trained instructors to the government-issued audio guide.
Parmarth Niketan’s President, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji, and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji presided over the gathering and delivered spiritual discourses on the deeper significance of yoga.
The message of harmony and global health
This year’s theme highlights the link between individual well-being and planetary health. Addressing the participants, Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji remarked, “When we take care of ourselves, we begin to care for the Earth. This is the divine message of Indian culture — Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, the whole world is one family.”
Many of the guests shared their appreciation for India’s leadership in promoting wellness through yoga Parmarth Niketan
He described yoga as a gift from India to the world, bringing together the body, mind and consciousness through ancient physical, mental and spiritual disciplines.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati Ji added, “Yoga is not just a physical practice to increase flexibility, but a complete lifestyle. It allows us to remain balanced in the face of challenges, and helps us live with more focus, patience, and peace.”
A tradition recognised by the United Nations
International Yoga Day was first adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 11 December 2014, following a proposal from India that was co-sponsored by 177 countries. At the time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called yoga “an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition,” highlighting its holistic approach to well-being.
The Rishikesh event featured a special video message from Prime Minister Modi, along with a musical performance on the flute, guided yoga demonstrations, and reflections from various spiritual and yogic leaders.
A diplomatic and cultural moment
Dignitaries in attendance included representatives from Mexico, Peru, Japan, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, Nepal, Botswana, Uzbekistan, Namibia, Ecuador, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ethiopia, and several other nations. Their participation underlined yoga’s growing international appeal and its role in diplomacy and cultural exchange.
Many of the guests shared their appreciation for India’s leadership in promoting wellness through yoga and called the celebration a symbol of shared human values and interconnectedness.
Participation from schools and yoga institutions
The event also saw active participation from students, teachers, and instructors from educational institutions, yoga schools, and local associations across Uttarakhand. Parmarth’s own Yogacharya Ganga Nandini led the Common Yoga Protocol, which was performed with devotion by hundreds on the ghats.
The session featured the Common Yoga Protocol conducted by trained instructors Parmarth Niketan
Groups such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Komaleshwar Yoga School, and the Yoga Association of Uttarakhand also contributed to the successful conduct of the session.
Concluding with a prayer for peace
The celebration concluded with a World Peace Yajna, bringing together participants in a traditional fire ritual aimed at spreading harmony and spiritual upliftment. The national anthem was sung collectively to close the event on a patriotic and unifying note.
As the sun rose over the River Ganga, the 11th International Day of Yoga stood as a powerful reminder of yoga’s enduring role in personal and collective transformation.