Esther John Ramdeen is an Indo-Caribbean immigrant, singer, mother, and beloved daughter of the Twin Islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Born into a musical family, Ramdeen cultivated her artistry while attending school and performing at her local Mandir in San Juan, Trinidad.

Commonly referred to as Auntie Esther, In 1997, Ramdeen migrated to the United States and currently calls New York home. She is an internationally recognized performer and is famously known for her rendition of the Hindu bhajan, "Prabhuji Sukh Ka Sagar Hai." Like many intergenerational Caribbean musicians, she has no formal music training. Still, she has recorded three widely successful albums, "Mera Sapna" Volumes 1, 2, and 3, which has exponentially amplified her singing career.

In celebration of Phagwah/ Holi 2021, the Caribbean Equality Project's Founder Mohamed Q. Amin interviewed Auntie Esther to produce this oral history and storytelling piece for our "Phagwah Feminism: Honoring our Ancestors through Activism." virtual forum. The short documentary highlights her childhood, passion for music, and advocacy for women's empowerment.

Ramdeem is a living icon, a prolific recording artist, and a well-respected singer. Her majestically and powerful voice regularly captivates her audience at cultural shows, religious functions and had been a healing vibration at Hindu funerals during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a mentor and motherly figure to many young musicians and has created spaces for their artistry to flourish, including her grandchildren.

Ramdeen has far exceeded her own expectations as a singer and has built a legacy rooted in preserving Indo-Caribbean culture and traditions through music and other interdisciplinary performing arts.