The Eye That Defined India Falls Silent

Raghu Rai passes away at 83

Your vision will forever be the lens through which India is seen Shashi Tharoor Indian parliamentarian and author 

metro india news  I hyderabad

The legendary photographer who shaped India’s visual memory for over five decades passed away on Sunday. A civil engineer by training, he took up photography at the behest of his elder brother and joined The Statesman newspaper in 1966. In later years, he went on to work with leading magazines. His work stands testimony to the adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” From the Bangladesh War to the Bhopal gas tragedy, his knack for capturing the true essence of India on its streets caught the imagination of the entire nation.

Born on December 18, 1942, in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai made a name for himself in India as well as abroad through his work. In his twenties, his photographs were exhibited in France, where he gained recognition. Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to Magnum Photos in 1977. Over the years, his photo essays appeared in renowned international publications, including Time, Life, The New York Times, The Independent, and The New Yorker. He served three times on the jury of World Press Photo and twice on the jury of UNESCO’s International Photo Contest, according to Magnum Photos.

Mr. Rai became known for his remarkable photographs of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, and film director Satyajit Ray. Beyond the political realm, his photojournalism also led him to spiritual leaders such as the Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa.

In 1972, Rai was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours, for his exceptional work. He also won the inaugural Académie des Beaux-Arts Photography Award, cementing his place on the global stage. The French government conferred on him the Officier des Arts et des Lettres in 2009.

“To the world, he was an incomparable master of photography, the visionary who captured the pulsating heart and soul of India,” Indian parliamentarian and author Shashi Tharoor said in a tribute. “Your vision will forever be the lens through which India is seen.”

He once said that in newspapers, stories die daily, so he remained mindful of creating photographs that would live beyond dated narratives. Mindful indeed they are, as he has left behind a vast body of work from which the younger generation can learn.