India's first woman photo-journalist dead

Vadodara: India's first woman photo-journalist Homai Vyarawalla died at a private hospital in Vadodara on Sunday morning at the age of 98.

She fell from her cot three days ago and was hospitalised at a private hospital, officials said. Her husband Maneckshaw Vyarawalla predeceased her in 1970.

Born on December 9, 1913 to a Parsi family, Vyarawalla grew up in Mumbai and moved to Delhi in 1942 where she photographed events leading to Independence, as an employee of the British Information Services.

She took photographs of key events that would have a decisive impact on Indian history, including a meeting where leaders voted for the June 3 plan for India's partition.

She also photographed the first flag hoisting ceremony at Red Fort on August 15, 1947, the departure of Lord Mountbatten from India and the funerals of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri.

She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in January last year.