Raghu Rai is  one of India’s most renowned lensmen having featured regularly in some of world's leading publications including Time, Life, Paris Match, National Geographic, New York Times, Sunday Times and many more. 

At 60 he continues to display the same enthusiasm and artistic temperament that won him a Padmashree in 1971 and compelled the world's prestigious Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris to put up a permanent exhibition of 25 of his best works.

" I’m still a part time photographer," says Rai with touching modesty. " I am still learning, still trying to explore the majestic beauty of India, through my camera. The quest has not changed ever since I became a professional four decades ago."

But in his latest outing, Rai is not alone in his quest. He has teamed up with another master----of the writing craft---author Khushwant Singh, to bring out a coffee table book, titled, The Sikhs. The 12 inch by 12 inch, 144-page coffee table hardback is a treasure trove of rare glimpses into the Sikh community's beliefs, rituals, traditions and culture. It showcases through pictures why the Sikhs are an assertive and extrovert people with a zest for life.

The bond between Rai and Singh dates back to 1982, when they first bought out a book by the same name. Their new book, though inspired by the earlier one, presents the changing face of the Sikh culture.

" There was this creative urge that egged me on to do a book on the Sikhs again. In the 1982 book, I felt my photographs were not up to the mark and a lot more could have been achieved. But during those days, colour photography was at its nascent stage in India and there were hardly any sophisticated cameras. That hampered creativity. That's why I decided to bring this new version."