After a stint in leading ad agency Lintas and work in industrial photography, Rajan joined the Times of India group in 1994 and started his career with Independent and Metropolis on Saturday newspapers. During his 11 year tenure with the group, he rose to bigger positions and became Chief Photographer of Bombay Times, India’s leading life-style and entertainment paper. He moved to join the core team of journalists to DNA newspaper in 2005. In 2008, Rajan joined the Indian edition of People magazine (US magazine), Outlook group who has got licensee to publish in India as a Photo-Editor.

Critically acclaimed for his pictures, Rajan has led big photo-teams during his career. Conceptualizing, ideating and planning special shoots of leading stars and newsmakers has been his forte. He has worked with 14 top-notch editors of India in managing photo-desks, acquiring best pictures and creating archival packages for the media houses he has worked.

Besides excelling in his professional sphere, Rajan took time off to work on some special assignments, all of which received appreciation and rewards. His exhibition Kashmir After Kargil, based on the post-war scenario in 2001, considered one of his best works, went all across the state of Maharashtra. Another exhibition Confluence of Dreams, capturing the human spirit of the Kumbh Mela at Allahabad, 2002 drew record crowds in Mumbai. His vast collection of candid and stylized pictures of India’s leading celebrities was showcased in 2007 through an exhibition titled Camera Never Lies was inaugurated by Gautam Rajyadhaksha and Amitabh Bachchan.

Often invited by media and photography schools to guide students, Rajan was chosen as one of the 10 ‘brand ambassador photographers’ in India by Nokia, Singapore in 2004 to use their latest camera phone, 7610 and contribute those photographs for a Coffee Table publication, the proceeds of which were given to charity. The same year, he also felicitated by the Maharashtra government for his contribution to the ‘Art of Photography’, under the auspices of World Photography Day organized by Pan Media.

Rajan has extensively travelled across the world in connection with his work. He is one of the few photo-journalists who attended the ‘Visa pour l’image – Perpignon’ in Paris and interacted with leading global contemporaries from various media.

rajan.chaughule@bharatividyapeeth.edu