N. Thiagarajan
Encyclopedia
N. Thiagarajan was an Indian photojournalist and photographer who described himself as "a pictorial photojournalist."
From 2002 to 2004 he was a member of the Press Council of India but it was in the field, as a practising photojournalist, and later as photo-editor, that N. Thiagarajan made his name. For many years he worked for The Hindustan Times but spent time at The Hindu
, Sport and Pastime and the Times of India.
"I have always said that a photojournalist or a journalist
should be committed to journalism
, but should not be a ‘committed journalist’. Like many embedded war photographers or correspondents,” he said, famously.
His big break came in 1955 with the visit to India of the Soviet leadership, Nikita Khrushchev
and his Prime Minister Nikolai Bulganin
. He went on to photograph many of the great names of world politics, including Fidel Castro
, Indira Gandhi
and Jawaharlal Nehru
. His coverage of the 1971 war, in Bangladesh
, where Kishore Parekh and Raghu Rai
were also active, and the Bhopal gas tragedy are widely remembered.
He also wanted to move away from portraying India in a negative manner, as a land of beggars and snake charmers. "I want to show that real India exists far away from all of this. The rich cultural heritage and the diversity of the country is what I wanted to portray in my images," he said.
His legacy is his body of work, family and the Academy of Visual Media, which promotes photography and art.
From 2002 to 2004 he was a member of the Press Council of India but it was in the field, as a practising photojournalist, and later as photo-editor, that N. Thiagarajan made his name. For many years he worked for The Hindustan Times but spent time at The Hindu
The Hindu
The Hindu is an Indian English-language daily newspaper founded and continuously published in Chennai since 1878. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it has a circulation of 1.46 million copies as of December 2009. The enterprise employed over 1,600 workers and gross income reached $40...
, Sport and Pastime and the Times of India.
"I have always said that a photojournalist or a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
should be committed to journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
, but should not be a ‘committed journalist’. Like many embedded war photographers or correspondents,” he said, famously.
His big break came in 1955 with the visit to India of the Soviet leadership, Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
and his Prime Minister Nikolai Bulganin
Nikolai Bulganin
Nikolai Alexandrovich Bulganin was a prominent Soviet politician, who served as Minister of Defense and Premier of the Soviet Union . The Bulganin beard is named after him.-Early career:...
. He went on to photograph many of the great names of world politics, including Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
, Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
and Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
. His coverage of the 1971 war, in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, where Kishore Parekh and Raghu Rai
Raghu Rai
Raghu Rai is an Indian photographer and photojournalist. A protege of Henri Cartier-Bresson who appointed Rai, then a young photojournalist to Magnum Photos in 1977, which he co-founded....
were also active, and the Bhopal gas tragedy are widely remembered.
He also wanted to move away from portraying India in a negative manner, as a land of beggars and snake charmers. "I want to show that real India exists far away from all of this. The rich cultural heritage and the diversity of the country is what I wanted to portray in my images," he said.
His legacy is his body of work, family and the Academy of Visual Media, which promotes photography and art.