Veteran photo journalist Aloke Mitra passes away

Kolkata, Oct 24 (IANS) Eminent photo journalist Aloke Mitra died at the state-run SSKM hospital on Thursday after a nearly two-month battle with cancer, family sources said.

Mitra, 77, left behind his wife and only daughter.

He was diagnosed with lung cancer on August 30, and the disease spread fast, with the end coming at 3.40 p.m.

Starting his journey with the lens way back in the 1950s as a freelance photographer in local newspapers and national dailies, Mitra had worked with renowned international publications such as Time, The Guardian, Stern and Die Zeit and leading news agency AFP.

He had a long stint with the ABP Group and retired as the chief photographer of The Telegraph.

In 1978 he became the first Asian to be associated with The Royal Photographic Society on 'Visual Journalism', where he got a fellowship. He was also associated with the Photographic Association of America.