Raghu Rai, pioneering Indian photographer, dies at 84

Raghu Rai, a trailblazing Indian photojournalist and esteemed member of Magnum Photos, has passed away. He was born in 1942 in Jhang, which is now part of Pakistan, and initially pursued civil engineering before shifting his focus to photography, inspired by his elder brother S Paul. Rai began his career at The Statesman in 1966 and gained recognition for documenting the India-Pakistan War in 1971, which highlighted the struggles of Bangladeshi refugees, earning him the Padma Shri in 1972. After departing from The Statesman in 1982, he joined India Today. His notable works include the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster coverage, leading to the book Exposure: A Corporate Crime and exhibitions across Europe, the US, and Bangladesh. Rai authored over 30 books on various topics, including Tibetan exile and Indira Gandhi, and became a Magnum Photos member in 1977, supported by Henri Cartier-Bresson, known for his discreet photographic style.