‘Photography is my dharma’

Raghu Rai put India on the world map for creative photography. His passion for photography goes beyond mere technique. It is the attempt to catch what lies beyond the visible, in the area of the inexpressible, that defines most of his collections. Charu Singh caught up with the ace lensman after his recent exhibition in Delhi to understand the man and his passion.

Raghu Rai: Delhi was treated to a selection of his unique photographs at the exhibition ‘Just By The Way: Rocks Clouds and Nudes’

What is the central theme of your recent exhibition, ‘Just by the Way: Rocks, Clouds and Nudes’ ?

This collection is literally by the way-side: one was travelling to Mysore and saw these massive sculptured rocks standing like unbelievable characters and I felt this urge to photograph them. What you photograph by the way can be much stronger then something done purposefully, or journalistically, something that has stopped you for that moment has tremendous strength and magic. For me these ‘whispers’ and ‘nudges’ are extremely precious – these mysteries of nature and life are always endless and ever-changing, if you don’t respond to them right now they are not waiting for you. Sensitivity lies in responding to these moments. These are intuitive, instinctive responses that are more valid than the mundane business of life in which we stay engrossed.

Now that lotus leaf, nature can’t possibly be more naked – even a woman can’t get more naked. Divine essence is hidden in every little thing, every little particle and I tend to look at every little thing to live life. Like a lotus leaf I first see it for the pleasure it gives me, then capture it on camera for the sheer joy of doing so and then sharing this. The spiritual and divine bit comes because you are connecting with the world soul and responding with the soul.

Nature really invites all to take a serious look at it, that is, if you make yourself available. The sky, clouds, rocks...are there for everybody but people do not make the time for it. They lead these busy little lives and do not like to look out.

Being in journalism gave me great opportunities to meet all kinds of people, from the farmer in the village, to politicians, to artistes and celebrities. I was not only working with India Today but also sending my photographs to many foreign newspapers and magazines. As you go along you have to make crucial choices. Journalistic photographs are very short lived and I strongly feel that the pictures must live beyond the daily needs.

I’ve also discovered that working for newspapers has its limitations and you want to live beyond this and I did not want to be slotted in a limited existence. For instance, I do not like to wear branded clothes and make my own, likewise you create your own brand, so at this point I set out in search for my own brand. That’s why I left.

In the beginning people trusted less, in the case of new uncharted territory`85. new discoveries, human minds tend to doubt. Human minds want familiar easy things and coming across something new is tough – mentally, spiritually and physically—you have to be available for this birth. Photography is not my profession, it is my dharma. Its needs are different. Life and nature are so complete that there’s no time to waste. Whatever you do has to be done with total commitment, only then your own way of doing things takes expression.

If we operate from the heart we can be different individuals and it has taken me so long to unlearn this. The problem is that human society is dangerous. It makes you into a mediocre, standardised guy. A tremendous openness has to be developed. A stand has to be taken to break societal conditioning – only then the human spirit can find perfect expression. So doing something new is a huge affair.

To begin with, my father was very unhappy about the fact that two of his sons were ‘lost to photography.’ It changed when I started making money and recognition began pouring in, then it was accepted.

The fact is that if you are honest and committed, things come your way; nature takes care of this. I am really against all styles as styles come and disappear with times.

There is a lot to be known and discovered. People and life interest me the most: life which is an unchanging river that flows on and on. My next exhibition is in France at an annual photo festival where they are providing a big space for my works. Penguin, Stiedl and other publishers are bringing out both black and white as well as colour books on my work. I am also doing a book on musicians with Harper Collins and later, an exhibition of this collection will also be held at a music festival in Singapore.

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