Renowned photographer and photojournalist Raghu Rai passed away at a private hospital on Sunday, April 26, at the age of 83. His family confirmed that he had been battling cancer, which later spread to multiple organs, along with age-related complications.
His son, photographer Nitin Rai, said, “Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, but he was cured. Then it spread to the stomach, which was also cured. Recently the cancer spread to his brain.”
He is survived by his wife Gurmeet Rai, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani, and Purvai. His last rites will be performed at Lodhi Crematorium in Delhi at 4 pm.
A chance beginning that shaped Indian photojournalism
Raghu Rai’s journey into photography began unexpectedly in the 1960s. Originally a civil engineer, he picked up a camera during a visit to his brother S Paul in Delhi. One of his earliest photographs, a donkey staring into the lens, was published in The Times of London, marking the start of his lifelong career.
He began his professional work with The Statesman in 1962 and went on to become one of India’s most influential visual chroniclers.
Capturing India’s most defining moments
Over a career spanning more than six decades, Rai documented some of India’s most significant and sensitive historical events. His work included coverage of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the Emergency, the Bhopal gas tragedy, and major political transitions.
One of his most powerful images from the Bhopal disaster, showing a child victim, became an international symbol of industrial tragedy and human suffering.
He also photographed prominent figures such as Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and the Dalai Lama, often capturing intimate and human moments rarely seen in official imagery.
Global recognition and Magnum Photos legacy
Rai gained international acclaim and in 1977 became the first Indian photographer invited to join Magnum Photos, on the recommendation of legendary photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson.
His work has been featured in major global publications including Time, Life, Newsweek, The New York Times, and The New Yorker.
He also authored more than 18 books, including a widely known collection on Mother Teresa titled Saint Mother, created before her canonisation.
“Explorer of life” leaves behind a lasting legacy
Rai often described his work as a journey of discovery. “I became an explorer of life,” he once said.
Through decades of work, he built one of the most important visual archives of modern India, capturing both its struggles and its spirit.
