Raghu Rai: India's Iconic Photo Journalist (1942–2026)



By: Mahadev Desai

India’s acclaimed photo journalist Raghu Rai, a towering figure in global visual storytelling, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. Born in Jhang in undivided Punjab, Rai trained as a civil engineer before discovering photography through his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. What began as curiosity soon became a lifelong calling.
 

Rai started his career at The Statesman in New Delhi, where he spent a decade before turning freelance. He later joined India Today as picture editor and photographer, shaping the magazine’s visual identity during its formative years.
A pivotal moment in Rai’s journey came in 1977 when Henri Cartier Bresson, the legendary master of candid and street photography, nominated him to join Magnum Photos, the prestigious international photographers’ cooperative founded in Paris in 1947. This recognition placed Rai among the world’s most respected photo journalists.

Over six decades, Rai chronicled some of the most defining events and personalities of modern India. His lens captured the Bangladesh refugee crisis, the Bhopal gas tragedy, and intimate portraits of Mother Teresa, Indira Gandhi, and countless ordinary citizens whose stories he elevated with empathy and depth. His work appeared in leading global publications including Time, Life, The New York Times, The Independent, The New Yorker, and GEO.
Rai authored more than 18 books, offering a sweeping visual chronicle of India’s cultural, political, and spiritual landscape. Among his notable titles are Bangladesh: The Price of Freedom; Mother Teresa: A Life of Dedication; Khajuraho; Taj Mahal; A God in Exile: The Fourteenth Dalai Lama; Mahakumbh; and Raghu Rai’s India: Reflections in Colour. Although he worked in both mediums, he remained especially devoted to black and white photography, believing it revealed the soul of a moment.
 

A respected mentor, Rai served twice on UNESCO’s International Photo Contest jury and three times on the World Press Photo jury. His honors include the Padma Shri (1972), Photographer of the Year (USA, 1992), the Lifetime Achievement Award from India’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (2017), and the Académie des Beaux Arts Photography Award – William Klein (2019).
 

In his condolence message, India’s Prime Minister Modi ji said “Shri Raghu Rai Ji will be remembered as a creative stalwart, who captured India’s vibrancy through his lens. His photography had extraordinary sensitivity, depth and diversity. It brought people closer to the different aspects of life in India. His passing is an irreparable loss to the world of photography and culture. My thoughts are with his family, admirers and the photography fraternity in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”

Raghu Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet Rai, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani, and Purvai. His legacy continues through the Raghu Rai Foundation (raghuraifoundation.org), which preserves and promotes his extraordinary body of work.