Author Interview: Rachna Singh

Rachna Singh

(Eminent Indian author-editor-presenter Rachna Singh discusses her new book on the iconic photographer Raghu Rai with Sangeeta Sharma, senior editor, in this email interview, covering allied aspects of writing and a famous subject. ---Editor)

 

Q: Congrats Rachna on your latest book on the legendary Raghu Rai! How did it start, the idea of doing a project on the man called the father of Indian photography? A much-deserved narrative on his legacy? 

A: My connection with Raghu Rai’s work began nearly four decades ago, in 1984. I was just 16 years old when the Bhopal gas tragedy occurred. India Today magazine featured a 10-page spread on the disaster, accompanied by haunting photographs that captured its devastating impact. One image, in particular, has stayed with me: a young boy lying in the rubble, his lifeless eyes staring into space as a hand tenderly caressed his forehead in farewell. That heart-wrenching photograph, which graced the cover of India Today, moved me to tears. The photographer was none other than Raghu Rai. Since then, Raghu Rai and his work has held a profound place in my personal pantheon of inspiring figures.

In 2022, thanks to a whimsical fate, I had the privilege of interviewing Raghu Rai for The Wise Owl. The conversation was rich with wisdom and life lessons, leaving an indelible impression on me. It was then that I realized the world needed to know more about this man’s incredible journey and enduring legacy. That realization marked the beginning of my deep dive into the life of the father of Indian photography.

 

Q: The title is intriguing Raghu Rai: Waiting for the Divine for a reader out shopping for a good read in a market surfeit with various products. Titles are important clues and good titles catch the fleeting attention, besides being self-explanatory, a kind of summation of the entire book. How did it happen, this beautiful title?

 

A: Raghu Rai himself suggested the title, and I felt it beautifully captured the essence of both the man and the photographer. As you delve into the memoir, you’ll come to see, as I did, that his life has been a quest to discover the divine in nature and the world around him.

In his own words:

“My life has been a pursuit of finding this divine presence in nature and the world around me. Jab darshan ki chah ho aur darshan hote hain nature ke, life ke, tab kan-kan mein Bhagwan nazar aate hain. Aur jab divine energy apki antaratma se connect hoti hai, toh, darshan lazmi hain.”

 

 

He further emphasizes:

“Photography has been my entire life—it has, in fact, become my religion, a faith to which I have dedicated myself completely. My craft led me toward a meditative path that gave me insights into life and the divine, which has been profoundly fulfilling.”

No title, I feel, could better encapsulate Raghu Rai’s journey than Waiting for the Divine.

 

Q: Memoirs are getting popular as a genre these days. Publishers love them. Something authentic, real and inspiring. The fav of industry and readers looking for things, subjects relatable, motivational; stories that resonate so well. How is this memoir different from others?

A: Every great life is shaped by unique experiences, and the wisdom derived from them is equally distinctive. This memoir captures the many dimensions of Raghu Rai—the devoted photographer whose images are born from instinct, free of preconceived thoughts or emotions, offering viewers an insider’s perspective on profound moments; the sage who believes that magic happens when an artist connects with divine energy, and who values the silence that great art can restore.

What sets this memoir apart is its unconventional approach. It is not a traditional third-person, chronological account of Raghu Rai’s life. Instead, it takes the form of a candid and vibrant conversation about his journey, his craft, his relationships, and the creative principles that drive his work. His ‘deewangi’ (obsession) for photography permeates the narrative, infusing it with energy, intensity, and passion. The dialogue draws readers into this intimate exchange, transforming the memoir into a shared experience.

Moreover, the memoir is enriched by iconic photographs from Raghu Rai himself, which add depth and visual resonance to the storytelling.

 

Q: How did you go about it? Doing conversations with the great photographer, the great guru whose pictures capture the realities suffused with an element of the spiritual? How many sessions?

 

A: I would travel to Mehrauli, Raghu Rai’s base, every month to engage in these extraordinary conversations with him. Each session lasted about 6–8 hours a day and spanned 3–4 days. Over a period of 18 months, this process became an incredible experience for me.

While his unwavering dedication to his art was undoubtedly impressive, it was his profound philosophy of life that truly captivated me. These conversations were not just about his craft but also about his deeply spiritual approach to photography and existence, which added a whole new dimension to the experience.

Q: Raghu Rai has been a personal influencer for you, and many others. How did you find the real man behind that divine lens? The celeb as a human being?

A: The most endearing thing about Raghu Rai is that he doesn’t see himself as a celebrity. He’s perhaps one of the most grounded individuals I’ve ever met. I vividly remember, during one of our conversations about his childhood, he made it a point to tell me not to shroud his life in mysticism or portray him as an unattainable creative genius. He said:

"I want people to connect with me. I want them to believe that with hard work and dedication, they can become like me. I don’t want to be an inaccessible paragon for them. So, make my life as normal as can be."

This humility runs deep in his life. When he was on a world tour in 1971 and received accolades from the European and US press, he wasn’t delighted; instead, he was upset that the press was unnecessarily elevating a fledgling photographer like him. His reaction to the news of being considered for the Padma Shri was simply, “Are you sure?” And when Henri Cartier-Bresson invited him to join Magnum Photos after the tour, Raghu Rai didn’t even respond to the telex because he felt he wasn’t ready to sit alongside legends like Cartier-Bresson.

Raghu Rai never let fame dictate his actions or get to his head. From the start, he put me at ease, always approachable and unpretentious. Whether it was sharing lunch or tea or offering deeply insightful glimpses into his eventful life, he remained a warm and gracious guide throughout my journey with him.

 

Q: What else do you find endearing about this highly-respected and much-awarded artist with a camera, and a heart full of empathy and sympathy?

 

A: Beyond his humility, what struck me most about Raghu Rai was his child-like enthusiasm for his craft. One afternoon, as I was sitting with him, immersed in discussing his work and gathering insights for my book, I noticed he seemed slightly distracted. His eyes kept darting toward a table with a box on it. Curious, I glanced at the box and saw it bore the image of a camera. I quickly deduced that it was a carton containing a new camera—and I was right.

After a while, Raghu Rai admitted, with a disarming honesty, that he had just received a new camera and was eagerly waiting to unbox it. Seeking my permission, he asked if he could try it out, his anticipation almost tangible. Naturally, I nodded.

What followed was an unforgettable moment. Watching him unbox the camera and test it out was like witnessing a child unwrapping their most desired gift. The reverence, joy, and sheer excitement he displayed for this tool of his craft were extraordinary. His hands moved with precision, but his eyes sparkled with a delight that was almost infectious. It was a rare, unfiltered joy, the kind one usually associates with very young children.

Most of us lose that kind of pure passion over time, our excitement dimmed by routine and responsibility. But here was a man, an artist of immense stature, who remained unabashedly in love with his craft. His dedication and openness to his Muse were not only inspiring but also a testament to the depth of his connection with his art. It’s a quality few possess and one that makes Raghu Rai truly remarkable.

 

Q: Any memorable experience, while writing this memoir?  An episode, moment, epiphany you can share with our readers, please?

A: Talking to Raghu Rai was transformative in many ways, opening up avenues of thought I had never explored before. Two conversations, in particular, stood out for me and had a profound impact on my outlook, almost epiphanic in their effect.

The first was about the purpose of creativity. For a long time, I believed that my books would be the legacy I’d leave behind, something I would be remembered for even after I was gone. Fame as a writer had become my driving force, eclipsing the creative fulfilment that had once inspired me. I had transitioned from writing for national dailies—pieces with a limited shelf life—to writing books, believing they were more aligned with my aspiration for lasting recognition. But one day, during our discussions, Raghu Rai shared something that changed my perspective entirely. He said:

"On a serious note, art and creativity, in their truest sense, bring a sense of fulfilment and attainment. If you live fully and with a deep sense of fulfilment, you achieve mukti (true freedom). When I work on a project, I pursue it until I reach that ‘Aha!’ moment of perfection. I published a book on Varanasi about fifteen years ago, and I’ve recently created another one that gives me a feeling of completeness. I’m also working on a book about Delhi and hope to finish it before I go. These books aren’t intended as legacies for the world; whether people see them or not is immaterial. What matters is that I leave with a sense of complete fulfilment.”

Hearing this was like a wake-up call. I realized I had been walking the wrong path, chasing recognition instead of striving for creative fulfilment. Raghu Rai’s words reminded me that true art is about finding that “Aha!” moment, a sense of completeness within oneself, not external validation.

The second conversation that struck me was about the hunger for exploration. Raghu Rai spoke passionately about the kind of curiosity and yearning one must have to hone creativity:

"He who hungers to live his life fully, who yearns to understand the intricacies of nature, who craves to be brought face to face with the divine, like Mirabai craved for Lord Krishna—that is the kind of passion and craving one must have. My love and craving to explore and understand the world transcend my ‘self’ and go beyond this world. It is this hunger that drives exploration. You must have a hunger to learn. Without that hunger, you are merely a newsman, a recorder, reproducing things without depth.”

These words resonated deeply. They made me take stock of my own life philosophy, forcing me to reassess what truly mattered. Raghu Rai’s unrelenting passion for learning, his humility, and his focus on creative fulfilment inspired me to pivot, to chase not fame, but a deeper understanding of my craft and the world around me.

Q: Any memorable quote that can be uplifting in trying times?

A: There are several memorable quotes, but one in particular stands out as truly uplifting, especially in trying times. It is Raghu Rai’s reflection on what makes a great work of art:

"The greatest work of art is one that doesn’t ask you questions, it doesn’t shake up your emotions. The art which restores silence within you is the greatest art. When you are one with yourself, there is silence. Mother would restore me and make me one with myself. It is from her that I learnt the importance and significance of silence."

He elaborated further, connecting this silence with creativity and the divine:

"When you connect with every inch of space, every energy, you are in a very silent zone where the self becomes a sensor. This sensor of your soul is receiving and ticking with the energy of the place. At such a time, a moment of intensity comes and you experience magic. Your heart misses a beat. And the situation acquires your heartbeat, and the moment has all the power of this heartbeat. When you connect with the Divine, new spaces, new experiences open up."

This quote captures the profound interplay of silence, connection, and creativity—a guiding light for those seeking solace or inspiration during challenging times.

 

Q: What continuities are there in your previous book Phoenix in Flames and this one?

A: On the surface, there seems to be no continuity between Phoenix in Flames and Raghu Rai: Waiting for the Divine. The former is a collection of stories about ordinary women who, through resilience and grit, rise from the ashes of pain and sorrow like the mythological phoenix. The latter is a memoir of a celebrated photographer, Raghu Rai, who received the highest honour for photography from the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 2019.

However, a common thread connects both books: they are narratives of resilience, grit, and dedication. In Phoenix in Flames, the protagonists are ordinary women who achieve inner strength and transformation but remain unacknowledged by the world. In contrast, Raghu Rai: Waiting for the Divine tells the story of an extraordinary artist whose life, craft, and work are globally celebrated. Despite this difference, the essence of rising above challenges and pursuing one’s passion with determination links the two books.

Q: Wishing you success, critical and commercial and hoping for more of such works from you, works rooted in immediacy and social contexts that can be sources of inspiration and empowerment. Thanks for your time.

A: Thank you for your kind wishes, Sangeeta. It was a pleasure to engage with such thoughtful questions that delve into the significant aspects of Raghu Rai's memoir.

 

 

 

Short resume: Rachna Singh

Rachna Singh is a writer and the editor of The Wise Owl, a literary and art magazine that provides a free platform for upcoming poets, writers and artists. Singh was awarded the Nehru centenary scholarship to pursue a doctorate degree at Cambridge University. However, a whimsical fate, beckoned and Singh joined the Indian Revenue Service in 1991 instead. However, the call of the Muse was so strong that after completing 30 years of service, she put in her papers to pursue her passion for writing and other creative endeavours.  Her last assignment was that of a Principal Commissioner Income Tax Delhi. She is also working as Advisor to the Language Panel Expert of the Lok Sabha Secretariat and mentoring Research Associates of the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

The travails of a demanding career notwithstanding, Singh has been penning articles and book reviews for various National Dailies. She has authored two books on economic issues, ‘Penny Panache: Piecing the Economic Puzzle’ (2016) and ‘Financial Felicity: Making Sense of Money Matters’ (2017). ‘Myriad Musings’ (2016) is a collection of her published articles and travelogues. ‘The Bitcoin Saga: A Mixed Montage’ (Bloomsbury, 2019), the fourth book from her stable, narrates the story of the birth and growth of cryptocurrencies and the blockchain technology underpinning it. She has also curated and edited two anthologies of poetry and short stories namely, The Repertoire & The Collectibles: Eclectic Tales of 2023 and an e-Chapbook of poetry called Ides of March. Her book ‘Phoenix in Flames’, is a book about the fortitude and struggle for survival of 8 women protagonists from different walks of life. Her latest title is Raghu Rai: Waiting for The Divine, which is an authorised memoir of Raghu Rai, the legendary photographer.

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Setu, January 2025