Indian photography legend Raghu Rai has passed away at the age of 83. He breathed his last in Delhi on Sunday, bringing an end to an extraordinary career that spanned more than six decades, one in which his camera did far more than capture images; it documented time, history and human suffering.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, then part of undivided India and now in Pakistan, Raghu Rai initially trained as a civil engineer. But he soon abandoned that path to pursue photography, a decision inspired by his elder brother when he was just 23. That journey would eventually transform him into one of the world’s most celebrated photojournalists.
The family has informed that his last rites will be performed this evening at the Lodhi Road crematorium.
He began professional photography in 1965 and quickly rose through the ranks, working as a lead photographer for some of India’s top publications. He later joined the renowned international photo agency Magnum Photos, further cementing his global reputation.
During Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, Raghu Rai captured haunting images of refugee camps, border areas and the devastating human cost of war. His photographs, portraying hunger, exhaustion and the desperate flight of refugees seeking shelter, resonated across the world and remain a powerful visual record of Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.
In recognition of his remarkable contributions, he was awarded India’s prestigious Padma Shri in 1972. Over the years, he went on to document many defining global moments, earning widespread international acclaim.
Through his lens, Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama and Mother Teresa, alongside ordinary people and their daily struggles, became part of his enduring visual archive. His work also chronicled India’s political, social and cultural evolution with rare depth and sensitivity.
He authored several books, while his photo essays were featured in some of the world’s leading magazines. From war and disasters to humanitarian crises and everyday resilience, Raghu Rai used photography as a powerful storytelling tool, one that set him apart as a true master of the craft.
With his passing, the world of photography loses a towering figure. Yet his images will continue to stand as timeless witnesses to history.