We are proud to celebrate a new publication that is the result of truly global collaboration. Researchers from the International Executive School (IES) in Strasbourg joined forces with colleagues from Amberton University in the United States, Sharda University in India, and Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada to produce a piece of research we believe deserves wide attention.
Their paper, “Dismantling Centuries of Misunderstanding”: The Role of the Kali Yatra Festival in Addressing Stigma Towards Kali Worship in Trinidad and Tobago,” has been published in the International Journal of Indian Psychology (Volume 14, Issue 2, 2026).
At its heart, this is a study about dignity. Kali worship has deep roots in Trinidad and Tobago’s Indo-Caribbean community, yet for generations its devotees have faced stigma and misunderstanding, from within the broader Hindu community and from wider society. Many have felt pressure to keep their faith private, practising in silence rather than with the openness and pride their tradition deserves.
The research explores how the Kali Yatra Festival is helping to change this. Through education and community, the festival has given devotees the knowledge and confidence to reclaim their identity, challenge misconceptions, and move from shame to pride. It is a powerful reminder that culture and community can be agents of real psychological and social change.
This is exactly the kind of research IES exists to support. Work that crosses borders, listens to communities whose voices are too rarely heard, and produces insights that matter beyond the academic page. We are proud of this collaboration and delighted to see it reach readers, researchers, and policymakers around the world.
The full article is available Open Access for anyone to read and reference.Full citation: Naipaul, R., Bacchus, S., Gangai, K., Persaud, R., Kyriakou, S., Naipaul, T., & Naipaul, J. (2026). Dismantling centuries of misunderstanding: The Role of the Kali Yatra Festival in Addressing Stigma Towards Kali Worship in Trinidad and Tobago. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 14(2), 001-010. DIP:18.01.032.20261402, DOI:10.25215/1402.032
