My mission

Hi! My name is Riya Gupta and I am the founder of Kali’s Karma. My mission is to make women’s mental health a global priority and facilitate discussions around different therapies, mental illnesses, and resources specifically within the South Asian community. 

I have been immersed in Indian culture all my life, from Kathak Classes to Hindi Classes, and Bollywood Playlists blaring through my mom’s car on the way to school. These experiences fostered a connection between me and my roots as I developed a passion for Hinduism. As a child, I remember my Nani telling me the story about Navratri and Mahishasur. Learning about Durga, rasa (emotion), avatars, and Shakti (female energy) brought a sense of fascination over me, but it was mixed with longing. One of Durga’s avatars, Kali Ma, fiercely went into battle with demons and conquered them with her rage, skill, and divine presence. The strength this beautiful goddess demonstrated was an ideology I had begun to subconsciously admire, but simultaneously I began to realize the lack of female appreciation in my community. In being a collectivist culture, women are the backbones of Indian society, but their wellness is not prioritized. It was then I realized that mental wellness, in general, was not at all acknowledged or discussed within the South Asian culture. 

Satisfying needs and fulfilling roles are not the purposes of human existence. Social perceptions have chained the idea of mental health as something to be ashamed of, which is a topic highly stigmatized in the South Asian community. Furthermore, the extent to which females can express their mental struggles is highly censored, as they have been sculpted to adopt roles that are extrinsic, giving, and static in nature. Women in South Asian communities empty themselves and are never self-prioritizing. My love for Kali Ma, and my experience within an Indian community, have led me to develop a vision for cultural and global prioritization of women’s mental health. 

Through @spiderinthetoilet, I raise awareness on borderline personality disorder, different therapies, self-care tips, and spotlight South Asian stories. I created this account due to my interest in this personality disorder that is largely misunderstood, as well as to express to my Indian community how valid and true mental illnesses are. With my podcast Satori, meaning sudden enlightenment, I deconstruct stigma in the Desi community and portray to my audience the danger of silent struggles, and their detrimental nature on self-perception. I have a creative style blog, where I write psychology pieces, discussing self-perception, maladaptive daydreams, and works of writing that align with my moods. Mental health is largely associated with the human capacity for creation, and being able to express oneself through art, music, and/or writing prompts a sense of self-awareness and growth. My works are paired with pictures from different movies and animations, and some of my posts deal with heavier topics like: what is Borderline Personality Disorder and how can it be treated.  

 I firmly believe that access to mental health resources and treatment is an inalienable right, and it must be more accepted by my community. Going further, women who are mothers, sisters, friends, and wives deserve and have a right to feel appreciated, loved, and validated, and their mental health struggles must be taken seriously and spoken about. Through my various digital content mediums, I strive to convey the journeys of different South Asian women, and alongside my own posts, I share links, websites, and books that foster understanding, non-judgemental mindsets, and the idea that recovery is attainable and beautiful. 

Holistically, my content spotlights South Asian mental health, inspiring appreciation for multifaceted experiences and identities. Mental health accessibility is a global right, and I desire to implement educational resources to promote intergenerational healing in the South Asian diaspora. Vulnerability can lead to discovery and belonging. My personal experiences have made me acutely aware that the human experience is not monolithic, and I seek to partner with diverse - yet authentic - ideologies. 

Kali’s Karma will be uploading a Satori podcast episode every week, through the Spotify link in the top right corner. Instagram posts are daily, but my BPD info series will be curated through this platform once a week, alongside helpful links. Furthermore, the blog will have regular once-a-month updates, occasionally twice a month, so please check it out! 

Riya Gupta

Founder and advocate of Kali’s Karma