104-year-old photographer awarded for his pre-independence photos

Centenarian Pranlal Patel was Thursday honoured with the National Photo Awards along with two other photographers.

New Delhi: Centenarian Pranlal Patel, who captured some beautiful pictures of the freedom struggle which also serve as a repository of social and historical values of the era, was Thursday honoured with the National Photo Awards along with two other photographers.

The 104-year-old Patel, a former primary school teacher, captured the memories of the country`s struggle for independence through his black and white photographs. He, along with eminent photojournalist T.S. Nagarajan and famous wildlife photographer T.N.A. Perumal, was presented the lifetime achievement awards by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. The event was organised by the photo division of the union information and broadcast ministry. "The photo division through its initiatives had engaged in documentation, production and preservation of photographs through its news photo network, it had converted its conventional images into the digital format," said Meira Kumar. Lauding the award winners, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said: "The function was a celebration of life to honour the stalwarts of the Indian photographic movement." "Each of them had contributed innovatively in presenting the essence of life, the visual portrayal of India as a nation during the course of history. Their works also reflected the dynamic socio-cultural ethos of the country in the realm of change and how photography had touched the pulse of the common man in day to day life," he said. IANS