India’s First Woman Photo-journalist Homai Vyarawala died in Vadodara

India’s first woman photo-journalist Homai Vyarawala died on 15 January 2012 in Vadodara, Gujarat. She was the only professional woman photojournalist between 1939 and 1970. Homai Vyarawalla was commonly known by her pseudonym Dalda 13.
Born at Navsari in south Gujarat in a Parsi family in December 1913, Vyarawala had her education in Mumbai and moved to Delhi in 1942. She had studied at the Mumbai University and the J J School of Arts.

She shot to national fame as a woman photo-journalist who photographed events leading to Independence as an employee of the British Information Services. Vyarawala was in the profession for nearly four decades before retiring soon after her husband's death and settled down in Vadodara since 1973.

Some of the most momentous political events in India were captured by her camera in Delhi during 1941-1970, which include unique image of the Dalai Lama crossing over into the Indian territory in 1959, captured by her lens, are of immense historical significance.

She also captured the first flag-hoisting ceremony at the Red Fort on August 16 1947, the departure of Lord Mountbatten from India and the funerals of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri.

The former Indian Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was one of her favourite subjects.

She was awarded Padma Vibhushan during the Republic day felicitations in 2011 in recognition of her contribution as a photo-journalist.