A legendary figure in Indian photography, Raghu Rai has spent over five decades capturing the soul of a nation through his lens. Nominated to Magnum Photos in 1977 by the iconic Henri Cartier-Bresson, Rai's work has shaped visual storytelling in India and beyond.
From his early days as Chief Photographer at The Statesman to his influential role as Director of Photography at India Today, Rai has documented India’s evolving social, political, and cultural landscape with unparalleled depth. His lens has chronicled everything from the Bhopal gas tragedy—creating one of the most powerful visual narratives of environmental justice—to intimate portraits of Mother Teresa, the vibrancy of Delhi, and the mysticism of Khajuraho.
With over 18 books to his name and exhibitions across the globe in London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, and Sydney, Rai’s work has been featured in Time, Life, Geo, The New York Times, The Sunday Times, Newsweek, The Independent, and The New Yorker. His contributions to photography have earned him some of the highest accolades, including the Padma Shri in 1971 and a celebrated National Geographic cover story on India’s wildlife conservation.
Having served multiple times on the World Press Photo and UNESCO jury, Raghu Rai continues to push the boundaries of visual storytelling as a Magnum Photos correspondent. With an unerring eye for detail and emotion, he remains an inspiration for generations of photographers worldwide.
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