Syed Hyder Raza was born in Barbaria, a remote village in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh, in the family of a Forest Officer that imbibed the love for nature from his childhood. His unconditional love for nature & river Narmada reflected in his paintings predominantly, especially in landscape paintings.

When Raza died on 23rd July 2016, newspapers carried out stories dubbing

Him ‘Master of Bindu’, but the best tribute came from his artist friend Krishen Khanna,‘ with his death we have lost one of the India’s best colourists’. This is the colour that was imbibed in Raza for his connect with Nature.

My tribute to Raza is in form of the much required change of perspective in my photography… taking the cue from his advocacy of nature … ‘I would try to create my own creative ability distinct from others and project wildlife of this motherland in a better & and distinctive way.’

I have been clicking Peacock, national bird, over a period of 14 years, but death of Raza on 23rd July, 2016 has changed my entire perspective and that has certainly given classic look to my photography … it has certainly enhanced the Greenery all around the frames of my photos.

I have never met Raza in person & my regret is missing his company even when he himself visited my photo exhibition ‘Jewels of the Wild’ at Open Palm Court, India Habitat Center, 16th to 24th February, 2012… I fondly remember wheelchair bound Raza was viewing each and every photographs frame to frame taking his own time to enjoy the pristine beauty of the nature that we have captured over a period of time. It was 22nd February, and his birthday.

In fact, the painter was also holding Exhibition of his work at Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Center, next to our exhibition in the same time, and he took a break to see our exhibition as well may be a little change in hectic schedule on his birthday prompted him to see our exhibition. I was told that his love for nature brought him to our exhibition, which he liked.

My regret was not being able to identify him and thank him for his time to see our photographs … it was a missed opportunity to meet the person of his stature & his love for his roots that too on his birthday…

Today, after his demise, I pay my homage to this great painter by adding one more style to my photography …