Eminent photojournalist Jagdish Yadav reveals many untold incidents from his journalistic life

RAJEEV RANJAN NAG, SR. JOURNALIST

A resounding cheer erupted at the Nimbus Retail book outlet in Meerut. Applause filled the air as prominent citizens of the city gathered to listen to senior news photographer Jagdish Yadav. There was a palpable eagerness to hear from a man who, having spent four decades in mainstream media, was about to share his experiences of photographing politicians, celebrities, business icons, bureaucrats, artists, renowned editors, singers, and people from all walks of life across the country and the world.
Important yet interesting anecdotes from Jagdish Yadav’s books, “Viewfinder” (English) and “Tamasha Mere Aage” (Hindi), were read aloud.

In the presence of the city’s notable personalities, Jagdish Yadav revealed many untold incidents from his journalistic life. Indira Gandhi had to wait while he loaded the film into his camera… Such was the power of his camera.
Jagdish Yadav made the then Railway Minister, Kamlapati Tripathi, wait for an hour for a cover page photo for “Sunday Magazine.” Yadav wanted a picture of him in a natural mood, and he finally succeeded after an hour. The story of hiding in a bunker on the Indo-Pakistan border during the Punjab insurgency to take photographs was very interesting. Then there were the incidents of photographing dacoit Phoolan Devi in jail… and the story of his conversation with Rajiv Gandhi… which was also worth listening to.
Jagdish Yadav’s book has already been launched and discussed in Delhi, Allahabad University, and Varanasi. Stories from his photo session with Lalu Yadav’s wife, Rabri Devi, were among the anecdotes Jagdish shared.

Published by Manak Publications, Delhi, “View finder” – “Tamasha Mere Aage” is a useful book for students and teachers of journalism, especially photojournalism. It describes the challenges of the profession and explains in detail the nuances to be kept in mind during news photography, citing experiences as examples.
Jagdish Yadav, who has been a news photographer for “The Telegraph” for more than two decades, had many stories and anecdotes to share… Time was short, and people wanted to hear more. The book launch event, organized by Ms Alka Sharma, Director of Nimbus Retail book outlet in Meerut, was attended by Delhi-based journalist Vini Yadav, former news editor of The Statesman and former general secretary of the Indian Women’s Press Corps IWPC, (Women’s Press Club), senior journalist Rajeev Ranjan Nag, former member of the Press Council, and senior journalist Vipin Dhulia, former head of Sahara TV, and National General Secretary of the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ).