MAM
Taronish Karkaria to lead iconic Taj West End, Bengaluru as GM
MUMBAI: Taj West End, Bengaluru has appointed Taronish Karkaria as its new general manager. A second-generation hotelier, Karkaria has spent more than 20 years with Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), shaping operations at some of the group’s most celebrated properties.
He was most recently the pre-opening general manager of Taj Gandhinagar Resort & Spa, and earlier served as director of operations at Taj Palace, New Delhi, the capital’s largest luxury convention hotel. His career has also spanned senior roles at The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, and Taj Lands End, Mumbai.
IHCL, senior vice president–operations, Satyajeet Krishnan said Karkaria’s experience would “play a key role in further strengthening the hotel’s position as one of the city’s most distinguished luxury destinations.”
Calling Taj West End “a true icon of Bengaluru’s hospitality landscape,” Karkaria said he aimed to build on its legacy by blending warmth and innovation to craft meaningful guest experiences.
In his new role, he will oversee operations, sharpen revenue strategy and strengthen the property’s reputation as one of Bengaluru’s most storied hotels.
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.
