Veteran Gujarati photo journalist Padma Shri Zaverilal Mehta passes away

November 27, 2023

Ahmedabad: Veteran photo journalist, Padmashri Zaverilal Mehta passed away today here. He was 96. He passed away at his daughter Kanan Joshi’s residence due to age-related illness.

Hailing from Halvad in Surendranagar district of Saurashtra, Zaverilal worked with Gujarat Samachar as lead photo journalist since 1970s. He was deputed in the national capital New Delhi as a photo journalist. Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi would tie Rakhi to Zaverilal. Known for his Kishor Kumar like styling, Zaverilal was not just admired for his photograph, but also for photo lines, in which he would express his take on the image. Thousands of photographs of Zaverilal were published in four-column size on the front page of the highest selling Gujarati daily Gujarat Samachar.

Zaverilal had received numerous State level awards, but also Padmashri, a national honor in 2018 at the hands of the then President. A number of young buds had joined the path of photojournalism as a career, looking at the popularity and celebrity status of Zaverilal in the later decades of the last century. With Zaverilal’s passing away, an era of Gujarati photo journalism has ended.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paying tribute to Zaverilal Mehta tweeted: The news of death of well-known photojournalist Zaverilal Mehta from Gujarat is very sad.

During his long career in the newspaper world, his contribution to the field of photojournalism will always be remembered.

Prayers for the repose of Sadgat’s soul and condolences to the bereaved family…

ૐ Shanti…!!

Various other dignitaries have also expressed grief over passing away of veteran photo journalist. Reliance Director and Rajya Sabha member Parimalbhai Nathwani in his tweet stated:

DeshGujarat

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