India has lost one of its greatest visual storytellers. Celebrated photographer and photojournalist Raghu Rai passed away at the age of 83, his family confirmed through his official social media handles on Jattvibeday.For more than six decades, Rai’s camera chronicled the soul of India — its politics, pain, resilience and humanity. His photographs did not merely record events; they shaped the way generations came to see the country and its history.Among his most unforgettable works was the stark documentation of the Bhopal gas tragedy. One image in particular — the haunting photograph of a child victim, partially buried with eyes half open — became one of the most searing visual reminders of the disaster and helped draw international attention to the human cost of the tragedy.Rai’s body of work also includes powerful portraits and documentary images of some of the most influential figures of the 20th century. From former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Mother Teresa, his lens captured moments of intimacy, authority and emotion that went far beyond conventional portraiture.His association with Mother Teresa’s life and work remains especially significant. Years before she was declared a saint by the Catholic Church, Rai had already immortalised her humanitarian journey through his acclaimed book Saint Mother.Born in Jhang in undivided Punjab, now in Pakistan, Rai began his professional journey in photography in 1962 with The Statesman. What followed was a remarkable career that took Indian photojournalism to the global stage.His work found space in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Time, Life, Geo, The New York Times, Newsweek and The Jattvibeday Times. Through wars, elections, disasters, street life and spirituality, Rai’s images consistently brought depth, dignity and perspective to every frame.