IN LOVE WITH
DEATH by Satish Modi
“A
must read for everyone who seeks spirituality and happiness, by giving joy to
others and those who simply want to make the most of the one short life that
one is given.”
— Ashanti Omkar, cultural expert, Monocle
New Book by Industrialist and Philanthropist
Explores “Love Affair” with Death, and Reveals Surprising Secret to Living Well
Described as the “son of the
founder of modern industrial India,” Satish Modi is a member of one of the most
influential and affluent families in India. Yet despite privilege and success,
he discovered happiness was not synonymous with wealth—and the secret to a
meaningful life begins with a fresh understanding of death.
He now shares how
his unique understanding of death has enabled him to embrace an extraordinary
and impactful life, and reveals how reinterpreting death can help others live to
the fullest in his new book, In Love
with Death (Birlinn
Limited, $16.95
/ £9.99 hardcover, May 1,
2014).
Challenging readers to mark their
“death date” and calculate their remaining time on earth (or, “reverse
living”), Modi seeks to empower people to overcome their fear of dying, and
enable them to live meaningful lives of goodness, love, and compassion.
Including poignant narratives
from people from all walks of life, Modi sweeps the reader into a journey
through life’s joys and sorrows with fascinating stories, thought-provoking
philosophy, and wise advice from a life well lived.
The result is a fascinating book that teaches us that whoever we are and
whatever our aspirations in this life, it is important for everyone to accept
their own passing—and embrace the courage to live fully.
“It is my
hope that engaging with our own mortality will help us to appreciate the world
in which we live and encourage us to make the most of our lives,” Modi said.
Modi started India’s first private airline (Modiluft, now known as Spice
Jet) in 1993, and established the International Institute
of Fine Arts (www.iifaindia.org) in India in 2000. His foundation also runs
the Right to Education program, which provides subsidized/free education to
four thousand underprivileged children.
He set up the charity “Arts for
India” (www.artsforindia.org) help needy young artists in India get the
education they deserve.
IN LOVE WITH DEATH by Satish
Modi
Published by Birlinn
Limited, May 1, 2014
ISBN: 978-1780272146
$16.95 / £9.99 Ÿ 174 pages
website:
www.inlovewithdeath.com
About
The Author
SATISH MODI is a philanthropist, educationist,
industrialist, and author who divides his time between London and New Delhi. He
is respected for his entrepreneurial approach to international business.
Modi started India’s first private airline
(Modiluft, now known as Spice Jet) in 1993 and in 2013 he founded a Football
Club in the U.K. known as Modi Town Football Club. He founded and is on the
board of India’s first offshore mutual fund, the J.F. India Fund, which is part
of J.P. Morgan Chase. His father established the Modi Group of Industries and, in 1933, established
the industrial township of Modinagar, which now has a population of half a
million people. The group has a turnover of about US $1.2 billion.
Satish Modi and his wife Abha established the
International Institute of Fine Arts (www.iifaindia.org) in 2000. His
Foundation also runs the Right to Education program, which provides
subsidized/free education to four thousand underprivileged children in India.
The philanthropic project, ‘A Stitch in Time' is an initiative to empower
women. This has enabled thousands of women to earn their livelihood
respectfully. In 2010 Modi launched Arts for India, a charity to raise funds to
support underprivileged, yet talented artists from India (www.artsforindia.org).
Satish Modi is President of the Dayawati Modi
Foundation for Art, Culture and Education.
Mother Teresa was one of the first to receive its annual award. His
Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Dayawati Modi Award for Art, Culture and
Education in
2011.
Other prominent awardees include Anish Kapur, Mark Shand, Goldie Hawn, Simon
Beaufoy, Pandit Ravi Shankar and Amitabh Bachchan.
He is also President of the G.M. Modi Science
Foundation that promotes Science and Technology in India and has instituted the
prestigious annual G.M. Modi Science Award. Among the recipients is Dr.
A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India.
Under his initiative, various art shows were
organized at several venues around the world, including Tate Britain, London;
the House of Lords, London; the Saatchi Gallery, London and the New York
Academy of Art, New York. A Fashion Show
was also organized at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2011.
He was a member at UNESCO’s Global Forum on
the ‘Power of Peace’. On the invitation
of UNESCO, Satish Modi created, for the first time, an Art Show on the theme ‘Power
of Peace’ at the UNESCO Global Forum held at Bali, Indonesia in 2007.
For his services to the nation, Satish Modi
has received a number of awards and honors including the Gem of India Award. He
was appointed an Ambassador for Philanthropy by the UK’s Founding Ambassador
for Philanthropy, Dame Stephanie Shirley.
In 2010, he was nominated for an Arts
& Business Prince of Wales Medal for Arts Philanthropy. He was also invited
for a Breakfast Prayer Meeting in Washington D.C. by Mr. George Bush, the then
President of U.S.A.
Praise for
In Love with Death
“Now I accept death
without dread, and think, it could happen to me tomorrow. So, now I stop
worrying and enjoy every tiny moment of life.”
—Mark Shand
Conservationist and Philanthropist
Conservationist and Philanthropist
v
“I highly recommend
this book to anybody – it’s a real eye opener.”
—James Caan
Serial Entrepreneur
Serial Entrepreneur
v
“This is an astounding
book…a beautiful, slim, hardback volume refusing to shout out its wares in
testimonials and garish photos…It will be a comfort to people. It has been more
than that to me; it has been a call to arms.”
—Kindred Spirit
v
“In
Love with Death is thought provoking and optimistic.
The message I took from this beautifully written book is to appreciate what one
has and take nothing for granted – every moment of this life is precious so
don’t waste it.”
—Selma Day
Editor of Mayfair Times
Editor of Mayfair Times
v
“This book is a gem
for those who simply want more than the mundane seeking of fame and money. It
empowers the reader to use their inherent talents and skills, to help heal the
world, and gives many aspirational messages.
"A must read for everyone who seeks
spirituality and happiness, by giving joy to others and those who simply want
to make the most of the one short life that one is given.”
—Ashanti Omkar
Cultural expert, Monocle
Cultural expert, Monocle
v
“Without hectoring or
moralizing, Modi invites us to embrace the inevitability of our fate, rather
than fear it. His book is a life-affirming read that reveals resonant stories
of everyday grief and survival, suggesting a refreshingly open, positive
framework for any atheist dealing with death.”
—Sophie K. Walker
Freelance Writer
Freelance Writer
About the Book
Death
is the inevitable fate of every single person on earth.
How do we accept the inevitability of our own death?
How do we accept the inevitability of our own death?
How do we live our lives with meaning?
Will money lead us to happiness?
Satish Modi examines these questions in a
moving, powerful, thought-provoking work based on his own reflections as well
as the experiences of people from all walks of life.
The result is a
fascinating book that teaches us that whoever we are and whatever our
aspirations in this life, it is important for each and every one of us to
accept our own passing. In doing so we can free ourselves to live as well and
fully as possible, guided by the principles of goodness, love and compassion.
website: www.inlovewithdeath.com
An Interview with
Satish Modi
1.
Why is the
subject of death in particular so fascinating to you?
It’s not a question of
fascination. Death is a reality. Everyone who is born is meant to
die. We are here in this world on a lease of just a few years. If one
understands this fact, then all problems in this world appear very tiny.
Focusing on death and on the brevity of life changes our perception of life and
of the happenings around us.
Of course, this answer cannot be encapsulated in a
few words – the reader has to go through my book to grasp the exact meaning and
essence of what I am trying to convey.
2.
In your
book, you illustrate how to determine how close you are to death using a fork,
a knife, and a saltshaker. Where would you place yourself on your own
‘timeline?
I would place myself on my own
timeline, according to which, I have already lived 80% of my life and 20%
remains.
How did
your perception of your own “death date” inspire you to write this book?
The perception of my own death date
did not really “inspire” me. The inspiration came from a Buddhist spiritual
lady from Japan who mentioned that she knew me from a past life.
Of course, the
awareness of my death date did help me to crystallize my thoughts – understanding
that all of us are just visitors to this world and we are here only for a
limited time – so why not make the best of the given life by living it in
goodness, love and humility.
4.
What is
“reverse living?”
This is very important. We
should consider that today is the first day of the rest of our life. We
should think about what lies in front of us and try and forget about the past.
5.
What do
you think is the “secret” to living a fulfilled, successful life?
Everything in this life will pass.
True happiness does not lie in money or in the material world. “Death,” which
is often ignored or treated as a forbidden subject, should be viewed instead as
a catalyst to living fulfilling, meaningful lives.
This present journey is a
precious one – so why not live it in goodness, gratitude, humility and
kindness, fulfilling our responsibilities with good thoughts, words and deeds.
6.
Should people fear death in any capacity? Why should/shouldn’t people fear
death?
If we were to live forever, life would be unbearable! People should not fear death. It is bound to
happen any time, any day and at any place. This is the universal truth.
If one has lived a good, worthwhile life in purity
and goodness, one should not fear death. To quote from my book, “Just as an
Olympic athlete could never win without proper preparation, so we cannot
achieve the goal of a peaceful final departure unless we are ready.
After years
of preparation, the athlete looks forward to the Games. We, too, can actually
await the final passage without any fear – in fact, with anticipation and
complete satisfaction – but only if we have prepared ourselves for it.
“It is never too late to start. Recognise the value
and importance of being prepared: by living a life of good deeds, by fulfilling
our responsibilities, by elevating ourselves above the web of worldly
illusions, by moving towards a higher plane.
Such a person is ready to face
death without any fear. Here is a person ready to embrace the opportunity to
enter a new world in happiness and peace. Here is a person totally in love with
death.”
7. Your
book includes narratives from people from all walks of life. What is one
of your favorite stories that you share in the book?
As an author, all stories are equally dear to me and carry their own
unique messages. However, out of all the chapters, four topics - on “Time,”
“Money,” “Grief” and “Preparedness” - are very critical and preferred by me.
8. You
are a member of one of the
most influential and affluent families in India, yet you
eschew wealth and power. Isn’t that a contradiction?
All wealth and power are temporary. Once you leave this world,
the wealth and power are left behind. Actually, power comes from being
humble, tolerant and loving, not from being wealthy. If we are humble, people
will remember us after we die. That is power! So, we need to take care of our
souls.
9. Out
of all your achievements, what is your greatest accomplishment in life?
My
greatest accomplishment is that I have been able to write this book. Everything
in this world is temporary but a book remains forever! It gives me
immense satisfaction to know that I have been able to reach out to people and
give them some sort of comfort.
10. If
you were to die tomorrow, would you honestly be able to say that you have
accomplished everything you were meant to do?
Life
is not about accomplishments but about the purity of our soul. If, at the time
of final departure, I find that my soul is pure, I have achieved everything!
11. What
is the number one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
The number one thing that the readers, I hope, will take away from my
book is the constant reminder that our time in this world is limited and for
the time left we should live in happiness, goodness and humility rather than in
greed, jealousy and anger, running after money or pursuing material
wealth.
If I can bring about such a change in the minds of the people, I
would have achieved my goal.
We need to constantly remember that this whole life is an illusion; we
have come to go. So, let’s start living with a sense of detachment and not get
caught in the web of pursuing temporary happiness in the form of material
goods, wealth and power.
I also hope that people understand from the book that death is a great
equalizer. All people – achievers, non-achievers, everybody – will all
eventually be reduced to 3.5 kgs of dust! So, it’s not about achieving and not
achieving – it is about the purity of the soul.
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