Amit S

Ahmed Faraz and the gentle art of silent affection.

जब हमने दस बीस पचास सौ किताबें पढ़ ली होती हैं तो हम गिनती करते रहते हैं और गौरवांवित होते रहते हैं कि वाह हमने कितना पढ़ लिया है. पर जैसे जैसे और किताबें पढ़ी जाती हैं, पढ़ी हुई किताबों की गिनती भूल कर हम दुनिया की उन किताबों को देखने लग जाते हैं जो अब तक नहीं पढ़ी नहीं गईं. थोड़ा पढ़ने से बहुत पढ़ने का भ्रम होता है. थोड़ा और पढ़ने से ये एहसास होता है कि कितना कम पढ़ा है. कितना कुछ पढ़ना बाकी है. कितना कुछ पढ़ना रह जाएगा और जीवन यूँही बीता जा रहा है… ~ khan Market Delhi

It is with deep sorrow that I learned the devastating news of the passing of Raghu Rai. Today, the lens of one of the world’s finest visual storytellers has finally closed. My memories of Raghu stretch back to my childhood, since he was a colleague of my father's at The Statesman newspaper. For me, he wasn't just a global name; he was the man with the gentle smile and the observant eye who inspired my father's generation of journalists. To the world, he was an incomparable master of photography, the visionary who captured the pulsating heart and soul of India. From his powerful early years at The Statesman to his prestigious appointment by Henri Cartier-Bresson to Magnum Photos, his contribution to visual history is unparalleled. His portfolio contains many of the world's most defining images: the harrowing documentation of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, his profound and intimate portraits of Mother Teresa and Indira Gandhi, and countless scenes that captured the exquisite beauty and complex humanity of everyday Indian life. Recipient of the Padma Shri (1972) for outstanding service to his nation, and the inaugural Acadèmie des Beaux-Arts Photography Award, he also authored dozens of definitive volumes, including Indira Gandhi, The Sikhs, Raghu Rai’s India, and Mother Teresa. Raghu Rai did not just photograph India; he lived it, and through his lens, he made us feel its pulse. Our thoughts are with his beloved family: his wife Gurmeet Rai, and children Nitin, Lagan, Avani, and Purvai during this painful time. Rest in power and peace, Raghu Rai. Your vision will forever be the lens through which India is seen. 🕉️ शांति ।