MAM
MyGate delivers free e-newspapers to 1.6 million homes in lockdown
NEW DELHI: With more than 425 million people reaching out to read a newspaper every morning, India is one of the top consumers of the print news industry globally. Despite the growing onslaught of the digital medium, print in India has held its own. It is still considered the most credible source of information by many.
However, the ongoing lockdown in the wake of a contagious COVID-19, the industry is facing massive roadblocks, including distributors denying delivering papers, and lower manpower in the logistics department.
But to make sure that the loyal patrons of many print dailies don’t miss out on their daily dose of information, MyGate, one of the topmost mobile-based visitor and community ecosystems in the country, is delivering free e-papers to them.
MyGate COO and co-founder Abhishek Kumar told Indiantelevision.com: “The newspaper is a big part of the morning for most of our users. As they are not let into most of our gated communities during the lockdown, we wanted to figure out a way to deliver them their newspaper safely and provide access with minimum effort.”
He added, “The pandemic has affected newspaper circulation across India. Although websites provide news, many readers still prefer reading the newspaper. Hence we have tied up with many leading publications.”
MyGate is neither charging the publications or the users for these services and has tied up with several leading players including The Times of India, Indian Express, Deccan Herald, Deccan Chronicle, Financial Express, Loksatta, Prajavani, and Jansatta.
The service is benefitting 1.6 million homes that MyGate is present in across 17 cities in India.
Kumar is elated at the splendid response the initiative has been getting and says that he will continue to deliver the services till the lockdown gets over.
MAM
Raghu Rai passes away at 83, leaves behind iconic legacy
Padma Shri-winning photographer documented history across 5 decades.
MUMBAI: The lens may have stilled, but the stories it captured will never fade. Raghu Rai, one of India’s most celebrated photojournalists, passed away on April 26, 2026, at the age of 83. He breathed his last at a private hospital in New Delhi after battling cancer and age-related health issues.
His son, Nitin Rai, revealed that Rai had been diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago, which later spread to the stomach and, more recently, the brain. Despite multiple rounds of treatment, his health had declined in recent months.
Born in 1942 in Jhang, Punjab (now in Pakistan), Rai entered photography in his early twenties, inspired by his elder brother, photographer S. Paul. Beginning his career in the mid-1960s, he went on to build a body of work that spanned more than five decades, contributing to global publications such as Time, Life, GEO, Le Figaro, The New York Times, Vogue, GQ and Marie Claire.
His global recognition took a decisive leap in 1977 when legendary French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson nominated him to join Magnum Photos, placing him among the world’s most respected visual storytellers.
Rai’s lens chronicled both power and poignancy. He photographed towering figures such as Indira Gandhi, Dalai Lama, Bal Thackeray, Satyajit Ray and Mother Teresa, while also documenting defining moments like the Bhopal gas tragedy later captured in his book Exposure: A Corporate Crime.
Over the years, he published more than 18 books, building an archive that blended journalism with artistry. His contributions were recognised early when he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 for his coverage of the Bangladesh War and refugee crisis. In 1992, he was named “Photographer of the Year” in the United States for his work in National Geographic, and in 2009, he was honoured with the Officier des Arts et des Lettres by the French government.
Rai is survived by his wife Gurmeet, son Nitin, and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. His last rites will be held at Lodhi Cremation Ground in New Delhi at 4 pm on Sunday.
With his passing, Indian photojournalism loses not just a pioneer, but a patient observer of history, one frame at a time.
