In earlier times, a Maharaja (Monarch) of India would be welcomed into public or private gatherings with a vocal announcement of his majesty’s arrival by a gatekeeper, followed by warm greetings from his Navaratnas (nine key people of Monarch). He would then sit on his throne and the day would proceed. The Maharaja would allow the audience to voice their matters and listen keenly before passing his judgment. Times have evolved. Monarchies have disbanded and democracies have descended upon the world.
But the word Maharaja still has some references in modern times. Not in the same way, as it has taken new shapes and new responsibilities in a more aesthetic and less monarchical way. The Maharaja of contemporary times are industry leaders, trailblazers in different walks of life, and commanders of change in the world we live in. Rahul Maharaj, an accomplished entrepreneur and mental health speaker, is one of them.
Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Rahul grew up with his grandparents due to the divorce between his parents. Unfortunately, his childhood wasn’t an ideal one, and was tarred with bullying and abuse, including at the hands of his stepfather. But he never let these dark things lurking in his life hamper his progression toward a better future. He always strived hard to fight internal and external demons, and chase his dreams like that’s what only mattered in life.
Rahul eventually got into the University of West Indies St. Augustine Campus and graduated in Computer Science in 1998 before moving to the US after two years.
“The land of opportunities – that’s what they called the US and when I landed here and started my hustle, I knew it was a well-deserved title,” said Rahul. “I didn’t get on the tech-boat here, as my academic career suggested. I went for a construction company, then financial services, and a daycare business before realizing what I was made for – helping people struggling with traumas and anxieties and making them embrace life again!” he further added.
Mental health, as confirmed by the National Institute of Mental Health, is alarmingly deteriorating in the country and has been on a downward trajectory for the last many years. According to NIMH, one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness, with a total number hitting almost 53 million people. Rahul observed a grave lack of solemnity around the issue and toxic societal attitudes toward it and decided to do his part in addressing the simmering predicament.
And here we are today, watching Rahul talking about depression, traumas, and multiple mental disorders on his show, Your Life Experiences With Rah, and inviting other people to share their stories of descending into the dark and subsequently coming out of it. In its four years, the show has significantly grown its outreach and is watched by a diverse audience around the world. It not only includes interviews with people who defeated mental illness, or still going through it but also meditation sessions led by Rahul himself.
“We invite people to just talk about their dark life experiences because when they do so, it will reach out to those people who, if they are going through the same experience, will realize that they are not alone in this and that if Rahul or Jake or Jennifer can do it and come out of it, they can win too and embrace their life again,” said Rahul.
This show has changed lives, and the reason is simple: people need safe spaces where they can give vent to their suffocating experiences, killing them inside. Where they are not judged and can be vulnerable enough to be healed and rejuvenated with life. Truth be told, Mr. Maharaj has laid a foundation stone for a healthier world, and deservingly got the title of The Maharaja of Mental Health.
