India, 2013

Raghu Rai (b 1942) was born in the small village of Jhhang, now part of Pakistan. He took up photography in 1965, and the following year joined The Statesman newspaper as its chief photographer. Impressed by an exhibit of his work in Paris in 1971, Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated Rai to join Magnum Photos in 1977.

In the last 18 years, Rai has specialised in extensive coverage of India. He has produced more than 18 books and has worked as Picture Editor for some of India's leading news publications contributing trailblazing picture essays on social, political and cultural themes.

Besides winning many national and international awards, Rai has exhibited his works worldwide. His photo essays have appeared in many of the world’s leading magazines and newspapers including Time, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The New Yorker. He has served three times on the jury of the World Press Photo and twice on the jury of UNESCO’s International Photo Contest.