Biopics and biographies have been a popular genre of the film and publishing industries. They bring alive the persona whose life we have found intriguing. Great personalities have left their footprints on this earth and writers have reconstructed their lives for the benefit of their many admirers over generations. Yet as time evolves, creative processes in the genre of the biographic writings also change and become more complex and interesting. Here too is a new book that dives into the life of a creative giant in search of his true persona with the desire to draw out for the reader what makes the genius that Raghu Rai is.
One wonders at the outset: why does a book on arguably India’s foremost visual chronicler have the title ‘Waiting for the Divine’? What does the Divine have to do with a person who has travelled the length and breadth of the country and is in touch with its reality? The writer tries to probe and get a sense of the super energy that is coming out of the great photographer’s instinct for catching the right frame. The book is an encapsulation of a series of conversations that open Raghu Rai’s mind to the world. What strikes us is that he is a firm believer in the world of immersion and dedication to his craft. He often uses the word ‘Darshan’ during his interviews and equates it to something beyond just looking at the subject that he is