Spiritual journey

Amol Rajan undertakes a testing pilgrimage to India in honour of his late father

- WORDS: JEN PHARO

"My dad was my hero, totally and utterly," says Amol Rajan as he recalls the toughest journey of his life.

Earlier this year, the broadcaster, 41, joined 500 million pilgrims from across the globe to attend the Maha Kumbh Mela festival in Northern India, the world’s largest religious gathering. While on his journey, he explores his Indian and Hindu heritage and grieves for his beloved father, P Varadarajan, who died three years ago from pneumonia.

“I revered him growing up as I did my beloved mum,” says Amol. “Both him and my mum were from very, very, very poor, very, very big families. My dad was one of 11 from a very poor part of southeast India called Tamil Nadu, and he gave up everything to come to this country because he wanted a better life for his two sons.”

Amol grew up in West London and is forever grateful for the opportunities that his father gave him.