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Photojournalist Chandu Mhatre dead

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Mumbai: Globally published photojournalist Chandu Mhatre, who photographed major news stories of India for the past four decades, has died, his family said. He was 66.

Mhatre died of a cardiac arrest at his home in Juhu on Friday.

In the recent years, Mhatre had taken to chronicling Mumbai’s changing urbanscape and held exhibitions on it, including a solo exhibition in Delhi just two months ago.

Seasoned in the old school news ethics, Mhatre’s work stood out for its precision and speed. As a veteran news agency photographer, who reported both for the Associated Press and Reuters, as well as for the Illustrated Weekly of India apart from several leading Indian and international publications, he had an unerring instinct for news.

His photos have appeared in leading publications in India and around the world as well.

Not given to the flamboyance of some of his peers, Mhatre worked as an under-the-radar professional who delivered on his assignment unfailingly and always within the deadline.

From the rise of the Naxalite Movement of the 1970s to the uprising in Punjab led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale of the early 1980s, from the Bhopal gas tragedy to the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Mhatre was at hand to report on all major stories for a variety of media outlets.

He also photographed the Dalai Lama in McLeodganj in the aftermath of the 1989 Tibetan uprising, riots that followed the demolition of the Babri Masjid and both “Operation Bluestar” and “Operation Black Thunder” at the Golden Temple, Amritsar.

“I am a hard-boiled news photographer driven and motivated by news first and everything else later,” Mhatre used to say.

Deeply informed about the techniques of photography and very up-to-date with changing technology and trends, he fundamentally believed that in the end it was always the photographer’s eye that separates the great from the mediocre. “It is not the camera, but the one behind it,” he used to say.

Mhatre was a sought after photography teacher even though his style of teaching could often come across as unsparing and unemotional. In recent years he had begun training amateur photographers of Mumbai by taking them on conducted photo walks around the metropolis, a city he loved and whose decline he bemoaned. He also held photography classes at the Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai.

Mhatre is survived by his wife Vineeta, a historian, and daughter Mallika, a design and communication professional.

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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