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In a candid revelation, University Challenge presenter Amol Rajan discussed his personal struggle with grief after the unexpected loss of his father, who passed away at 76 following a bout of pneumonia. The prominent BBC personality admitted to having consciously avoided confronting his emotions since his father’s passing, vividly recalling the moment he received a distressing call from an unidentified number on January 17, 2022.
Amol Rajan’s Battle with Grief
The urgency of the situation became clear when a hospital nurse requested Amol’s immediate presence, stating, “please come immediately,” and confirming, “he’s not responding.” Amol expressed feeling “ashamed” for not directly addressing his grief and for suppressing the painful emotions he had deliberately ignored.
Confronting Pain After Three Years
In a sincere article for the Radio Times, Amol confessed that it was time for him to “confront” the pain he had carried for three years. “Time is a healing balm and all that, but I’m ashamed to say that I have actively avoided thinking about him,” he wrote in his heartfelt contribution.
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He elaborated, “Grief is both universal – we all experience it – and particular, in that every grief is different according to the bond that’s broken. Yet there comes a moment when you think, ‘Maybe I should confront this; I’m not a kid any more’.”
Journey to the Kumbh Mela
Amol’s decision to confront his feelings was prompted by a conversation with executive producer Anwar Mamon, who proposed that he participate in a film about the Kumbh Mela, a significant Hindu pilgrimage and festival celebrated approximately every 12 years, known as the world’s largest peaceful gathering.
Family Support and Initial Hesitations
After discussing the film project with his family, Amol recognized that he had been evading thoughts of his father.
He explained, “I didn’t want to think about my dear dad, thank you very much. But a conversation with my beloved mum and my kind wife, in the presence of my four young children, softened the scepticism.”
- Despite his initial reservations, Amol accepted the offer.
- He was supported by his family and a “brilliant team,” including director Brigid McFall, sound supervisor Mark Roberts, and Anwar.
- He joined 500 million pilgrims from around the globe at The Kumbh Mela.
The Significance of the Maha Kumbh Mela
The Kumbh Mela occurs every 12 years, but the 2025 event that Amol attended held special importance due to the rare alignment of Jupiter, the Moon, the Sun, and the Earth, which happens only once every 144 years – creating a Maha Kumbh Mela.
- Hindus believe that bathing in sacred Indian rivers,
- Such as the Ganges,
- Will purify sins and liberate souls from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
While Amol remained discreet about whether he participated in the ritual bathing, he conveyed that his father “would have been proud” of his undertaking.
Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges will air on BBC One on June 25, 2025 as part of the BBC documentaries schedule, and will be available to stream on BBC’s iPlayer.