Dr. Prerna Rai - Healthcare & Beyond

  Butterflies are celebrated for their beauty, their vibrant colors, and the freedom of their flight in daylight. Everyone notices them; they get the limelight. But what about moths? Often underrated, less noticed, and associated with the night, moths undergo the same process of transformation as butterflies. Sometimes, their journey is even harder. Moths emerge from their cocoons with thicker bodies, stronger wings, and intricate patterns that reflect the resilience required to survive the dark. They navigate the night, unseen, thriving where others struggle. Their beauty is subtle, not flashy, but it’s no less extraordinary. Human beings are a lot like moths. Some of us struggle in the shadows, undergo challenges quietly, and grow stronger in ways that may not be immediately visible to the world. We’re often underestimated, overlooked, or compared to those who seem brighter and more “daylight-friendly,” but our journey is no less significant. Being a moth doesn’t make one l...

  Reading Days at Morisaki Bookstore felt like stepping into a world that mirrors fragments of myself. I found pieces of me in Takako, in her uncle Satoru, in Mokoko, and even in the smaller characters who flitted in and out of the story. It reminded me that we are not defined by a single identity - we are complex, vivid, multi-layered personalities, each holding simple, human desires: to be seen, to be accepted, and to find peace. One moment that stayed with me was when Takako went with her uncle to confront the guy who double-dated her. He dismissed her, saying he had no idea about her story and that it was all “fake.” Takako simply thanked him and walked away. She cried rivers later, yet she also felt calm. In that moment, non-closure became closure. She realized what many people never do: healing does not always require answers or acknowledgment from others. Sometimes, a quiet expression of hurt is enough. It reminded me of a simple truth: when life “bites” you - like a sna...

Some journeys are not meant to end. They simply pause until the goddess calls you back again.   During my time studying in Northeast India, I had only one temple on my spiritual travel list — the revered Kamakhya Temple. The temple is widely known across India for its unique rituals, tantric traditions, and powerful origin stories rooted in the legend of Goddess Sati. Perched on the Nilachal Hills of Guwahati, Kamakhya is one of the most significant Shaktipeeths in the country. According to Hindu mythology, when Goddess Sati self-immolated and Lord Shiva carried her body in grief across the universe, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to dismember the body to restore cosmic balance. The places where the body parts fell became sacred Shaktipeeths. At Kamakhya, it is believed that the yoni (symbol of feminine creative power) of the Goddess fell, making the temple a powerful symbol of fertility, creation, and divine feminine energy. Unlike most temples where a deity is worshi...

  There are some places you plan to visit. And there are some places that call you. For me, Nongjrong was that place. The Plan That Didn’t Happen I had imagined watching this sunrise with my batchmates in Meghalaya. We spoke about it. We planned it. But life had other plans. Exams. Emotional turmoil. Stress. That heavy cloud inside that makes even beautiful places feel far away. I almost didn’t go. And that “almost” would have stayed with me. The Decision Something inside me refused to leave Meghalaya without seeing Nongjrong. Not because someone was going. Not because I had company. Not because it was convenient. But because I wanted it. So I went. Alone. The Walk Down (And The Climb Back Up) It isn’t easy. You walk through the quiet village paths in the dark. You descend all the way down to the lowest viewpoint. And later, you know you’ll have to climb back up.  It’s physically demanding.But I went till the end and surprisingly it did not ...