Raghu Rai - Never without the camera
The Hyderabad Centre for Photography, in association with the Indian Photo Festival organised a memorial gathering ‘Remembering Raghu Rai - An Evening of Memories & Reflections’ at the State Gallery of Art, Hyderabad.
This program was held to honour the life, work, and enduring legacy of legendary Indian photographer Raghu Rai, whose contribution to photography and visual storytelling has inspired generations in India and across the world.
Whenever he moved out of home, the camera would invariably be with Raghu Rai. An exhibition of rare Raghu Rai photo books from private collections were kept for visitors showcasing selected works and publications that highlight the depth and range of Raghu Rai’s photographic legacy courtesy Kandukuri Ramesh Babu, Kishor Krishnamoorthi and Vinod Venkapalli.
Kandukuri Ramesh Babu says, “From the time that 23-year-old young man named Raghunath Chowdhury began his professional life as a photographer until his passing last month at the age of 83, he lived and breathed with his finger on the shutter for a full six decades.
With a small camera given by his brother, he took his first photograph, a young donkey standing upright like a yogi. That image was not only published in The New York Times but also won an award and was printed on greeting cards.”
“When he joined ‘The Statesman’ as a photographer, he changed his name to Raghu Rai “just for rhyme” he said. And it clicked perfectly.
As a full-time “lensman,” he extraordinarily documented the times, conditions, and soul of this country, leaving behind thousands of artistic masterpieces.
No other photographer in the world has produced over fifty books, compiling his work into a priceless treasure. Looking at them all, it feels as though he, like a loving child, wove a fragrant garland of diverse flowers using images of his ‘Bharat Mata’ and offered it with utmost affection and humility.”
