Renowned photographer Raghu Rai, who passed away in Delhi on Sunday, has left behind one of his final creative contributions through a forthcoming international publication on urban economies. Rai had helped curate images for City Economies in the Global South: Growth, Inclusion and Sustainability, a book by the Indian National Habitat Forum (INHAF) that is scheduled to be published by Routledge.

The project now stands as a significant posthumous work from one of India’s most celebrated visual storytellers. According to organisers, Rai personally selected photographs that would complement the book’s academic focus on urban growth, inclusion and sustainability. His involvement was seen as an effort to add a powerful visual narrative to a publication examining the challenges and opportunities of cities across the Global South.

Kirtee Shah, an Ahmedabad-based architect, urban planner and city development specialist associated with the initiative, said Rai was the natural choice for the assignment. He noted that a prestigious international publication required imagery with the same depth, credibility and integrity as its scholarship, qualities long associated with Rai’s decades of work documenting India and the world. Organisers said his participation elevated the visual direction of the project.

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The international photography competition organised for the book reportedly received 16 submissions comprising nearly 100 photographs. From these entries, Rai handpicked seven images for inclusion in the final publication. The selection is expected to reflect his signature eye for human stories, urban contrasts and social realities.

As tributes continue to pour in following his death, the unfinished yet enduring project underscores Rai’s lasting influence on photography, culture and the documentation of changing cities.

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