Father of Indian photojournalism Raghu Rai passes away at 83

New Delhi: Renowned photographer Raghu Rai, widely considered the father of Indian photojournalism, passed away at the age of 83 on Sunday. His family shared the news of his demise through his official social media accounts. The funeral will take place at the Lodhi Road crematorium. He is survived by wife Gurmeet Rai—a prominent writer, educationist and heritage conservationist—and his children, Nitin, Avani and Purvai.

Known also as the "Father of Indian Photography”, Rai’s career spanned decades of pivotal historical moments. The world witnessed the haunting reality of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy through his lens, most notably in his iconic photograph of a half-buried child with glassy eyes.

A witness to history

Raghu Rai possessed an extraordinary collection of rare photographs featuring India’s top leaders, starting from the era of Indira Gandhi. He was also celebrated for capturing the most extensive photographic record of Mother Teresa. Long before the Pope declared her a saint, Rai published a book titled Saint Mother, showcasing her life and work.

Born in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), as Raghunath Rai Chowdhury, he took up photography professionally in 1962, starting his career at The Statesman. He eventually became a member of Magnum Photos, the world-renowned international cooperative of photographers, nominated by the legendary Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Global legacy

Throughout his career, Rai authored over 18 books. His work has been featured in prestigious global publications including Time, Life, GEO, The New York Times, Sunday Times, Newsweek, The Independent, and The New Yorker.

His extensive coverage of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy culminated in the book and documentary ‘Exposure: A Corporate Crime’. Rai also served as a jury member for the World Press Photo contest three times and for UNESCO’s international photography competition twice. He travelled the length and breadth of India, documenting the soul of the nation. He was the brother of the famous photographer S Paul.
Raghu Rai was also a member of Magnum Photos, the world-renowned international co-operative of photographers.