Baripada: Veteran photographer of Odisha Purnachandra Bindhani passed away on Sunday following age-related ailments at the age of 100.
Bindhani, considered by many as the first press photographer of Odisha, breathed his last at Baripada in the morning, family sources said.
Born in August 1924, Bindhani was witness to the long journey of photography right from the princely era to the present day when mobile phones are being used as cameras by many.
While studying in Baripada High School, Bindhani was attracted towards photography and his hidden talent was recognised by a teacher Jagat Mohan Sen. He has predicted that Bindhani would carve a special identity in the world of photography.
When Bindhani was struggling in is effort to make a career, Maharaja Pratap Chandra Bhanja came to know about his skill and appointed him as a photographer. After coming close to the erstwhile royal family, Bindhani earned recognition as a photographer and there was no looking back for him.
With the passage of time, he earned name and fame. On one occasion, the king of Nepal was so pleased with his photography that he gifted him an expensive German-made camera.
He became the only photographer who met the criteria to become a police photographer which is mentioned in the book titled ‘Police Wants Your Help’.
A multi-faceted personality, Bindhani is also known as a journalist, press photographer, artist, actor and writer. During his career, once he had the opportunity to click a photograph of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for which he was felicitated as well. The photo was featured on the cover page of a book.
His ‘Bhashalipi Sanskara Prastaba’ was published on the seventh edition of the Odisha Sahitya Akademi’s magazine ‘Konark’.
He has hundreds of photographs of those bygone years to speak for his unmatched talent. He was active till the end.
Apart from being an ace photographer, Bindhani has also left his footprint in Odia cinema. He has acted in films like ‘Abhiman’ and ‘Phula Chandan’ and proved his talent as an actor.
