Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Till death do us part

After hearing about an increasing number of people my age falling ill or passing away, I came across an online article about the regrets people have when dying

Till death do us part

Embrace joy, express love, and live a life without regrets

SEEING the word “death” in the title of this column might evoke a range of thoughts.

Is Priya getting married? Erm, no! Is Priya dying? Definitely not. I am fitter than ever since drinking less, getting a personal trainer, and adopting a healthier diet. However, I do often think about death. Those who read my column will know I have never shied away from difficult topics.


I have not been thinking about death in a negative way. My best friend Bharti and I often discuss how we want to be celebrated and the wishes we have after our souls have left. I want to leave a legacy and believe I have accomplished this to some extent through my writing.

After hearing about an increasing number of people my age falling ill or passing away, I came across an online article about the regrets people have when dying. It made me reflect on the topic in more depth.

The article covered many areas, but a couple of points particularly resonated with me. The first was people regretting not telling others how they felt. I wish I had told people I love them more. I did not tell those I was in relationships with that I loved them enough. Now, if I like someone, they know! (Do not forget to tell your parents and best friend how much they are loved – it will make their day.)

Another key point from the article was that people wished they had done more for themselves and lived the happy life they always wanted. Often, our lives revolve around family, children, work, and everyday challenges, but how often do we prioritise the things that genuinely bring us joy?

Especially if you are a parent, have caring responsibilities, or a demanding job? Life has taken over for me recently, leaving little time to pursue one of the things that brings me joy – writing. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try or how much you want to, you simply cannot make time. In those moments, which can feel overwhelming and frustrating, take a step back and remind yourself that this is just a phase, and it too shall pass.

For 2025, let us do what makes our souls happy. Tell that boy or girl you like them. Go for that less demanding job that allows you to pursue your dreams. Hire a cleaner to save yourself three hours of tidying up each week. Ask for help from friends and family when you need someone to look after your children. Whatever makes life easier, do it. And do it for you.

As Marcus Aurelius said, “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”

More For You

Amol Rajan confronts loss along the Ganges

Amol Rajan at Prayagraj

Amol Rajan confronts loss along the Ganges

ONE reason I watched the BBC documentary Amol Rajan Goes to the Ganges with particular interest was because I have been wondering what to do with the ashes of my uncle, who died in August last year. His funeral, like that of his wife, was half Christian and half Hindu, as he had wished. But he left no instructions about his ashes.

Sooner or later, this is a question that every Hindu family in the UK will have to face, since it has been more than half a century since the first generation of Indian immigrants began arriving in this country. Amol admits he found it difficult to cope with the loss of his father, who died aged 76 three years ago. His ashes were scattered in the Thames.

Keep ReadingShow less
One year on, Starmer still has no story — but plenty of regrets

Sir Keir Starmer

Getty Images

One year on, Starmer still has no story — but plenty of regrets

Do not expect any parties in Downing Street to celebrate the government’s first birthday on Friday (4). After a rocky year, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer had more than a few regrets when giving interviews about his first year in office.

He explained that he chose the wrong chief of staff. That his opening economic narrative was too gloomy. That choosing the winter fuel allowance as a symbol of fiscal responsibility backfired. Starmer ‘deeply regretted’ the speech he gave to launch his immigration white paper, from which only the phrase ‘island of strangers’ cut through. Can any previous political leader have been quite so self-critical of their own record in real time?

Keep ReadingShow less
starmer-bangladesh-migration
Sir Keir Starmer
Getty Images

Comment: Can Starmer turn Windrush promises into policy?

Anniversaries can catalyse action. The government appointed the first Windrush Commissioner last week, shortly before Windrush Day, this year marking the 77th anniversary of the ship’s arrival in Britain.

The Windrush generation came to Britain believing what the law said – that they were British subjects, with equal rights in the mother country. But they were to discover a different reality – not just in the 1950s, but in this century too. It is five years since Wendy Williams proposed this external oversight in her review of the lessons of the Windrush scandal. The delay has damaged confidence in the compensation scheme. Williams’ proposal had been for a broader Migrants Commissioner role, since the change needed in Home Office culture went beyond the treatment of the Windrush generation itself.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eye Spy: Top stories from the world of entertainment

Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh

Eye Spy: Top stories from the world of entertainment

Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh’s ‘Sapphire’ collaboration misses the mark

The song everyone is talking about this month is Sapphire – Ed Sheeran’s collaboration with Arijit Singh. But instead of a true duet, Arijit takes more of a backing role to the British pop superstar, which is a shame, considering he is the most followed artist on Spotify. The Indian superstar deserved a stronger presence on the otherwise catchy track. On the positive side, Sapphire may inspire more international artists to incorporate Indian elements into their music. But going forward, any major Indian names involved in global collaborations should insist on equal billing, rather than letting western stars ride on their popularity.

  Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh

Keep ReadingShow less
If ayatollahs fall, who will run Teheran next?

Portraits of Iranian military generals and nuclear scientists, killed in Israel’s last Friday (13) attack, are seen above a road, as heavy smoke rises from an oil refinery in southern Teheran hit in an overnight Israeli strike last Sunday (15)

If ayatollahs fall, who will run Teheran next?

THERE is one question to which none of us has the answer: if the ayatollahs are toppled, who will take over in Teheran?

I am surprised that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, has lasted as long as he has. He is 86, and would achieve immortality as a “martyr” in the eyes of regime supporters if the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, succeeded in assassinating him. This was apparently Netanyahu’s plan, though he was apparently dissuaded by US president Donald Trump from going ahead with the killing.

Keep ReadingShow less