Renowned Indian photojournalist Raghu Rai passed away on Sunday, 26 April 2026, at the age of 83. He died at a private hospital in New Delhi following a two-year battle with cancer.
Born on December 18, 1942, in Jhang (now in Pakistan), Raghu Rai became one of the most respected photographers not just in India but across the world. He started his career in the mid-1960s. Later, he joined The Statesman as a staff photographer.
Often hailed as the “father of Indian photojournalism,” Rai’s career spanned over six decades, during which he became a visual chronicler of modern India.
A protégé of Henri Cartier-Bresson, Rai became the first Indian photographer to join the prestigious Magnum Photos agency in 1977. He is best remembered for his haunting documentation of the 1984 Bhopal Gas Tragedy, including the ‘Burial of an unknown child’ image, and his extensive coverage of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Raghu Rai served as the chief photographer for The Statesman and later as the director of photography for India Today (1982–1992). For his contributions, he received the Padma Shri in 1972 and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in 2017.
Rai’s son, Nitin Rai, confirmed that while he had previously recovered from prostate and stomach cancer, the disease eventually spread to his brain. His last rites were performed at the Lodhi Road Cremation Ground in New Delhi on the evening of his passing, media reports said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national leaders expressed grief, remembering him as a “creative stalwart” who captured the vibrancy and soul of India through his lens.
