July 07, 2024

Homai Vyarawalla Biography, Age, Death, Husband, Children, Family, Caste, Wiki & More

Updated On : December 8, 2018

Short Biography

Homai Vyarawalla was born on 09-12-1913 in Navsari in the state of Gujarat, India. She was an Indian Photo Journalist, Photographer & Writer.

Homai Vyarawalla Complete Bio & Career

Homai Vyarawalla was India’s 1st woman photojournalist. She was known as "Dalda 13".She had moved from places to places with the family due to his father’s occupation. She went to St.Xavier's College for her diploma and then the Sir J. J. School of Art for her further education.
 
She began her career in the 1930s.She started working for The Illustrated Weekly of India magazine’s assignments. The magazine was based in Bombay. She kept her identity hidden during initial days and her photographs used to be published by her husband name. She joined the British Information Services in Delhi in the year 1942.This was the time when her work was noticed at the national level. She captured many national leaders and politicians photos during the period up to independence. The names whom she captured in her camera were Mohandas Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Jawaharlal Nehru, Nehru-Gandhi family including Indira Gandhi. She worked as a press photographer. She had also captured Dwight Eisenhower's (Former United States President) and Queen Elizabeth's visits to India.
 
She loved to capture Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who was the 1st Prime Minister of India. Her work was published under "Dalda 13″.This name was preferred by her considering her birth year 1913, her 1st car number DLD 13 and her age of 13 when she first time met her husband. In 1970, she decided to quit the photography after her husband’s death. She expressed her opinion about the photographers of the new generation looking for quick money and not following any rules. She didn’t capture any picture for last forty years of her life. She gave all her photographs’ collection to Alkazi Foundation for the Arts in Delhi.

Honours & Awards

AWARD NAME AWARD CATEGORY RECEIPT YEAR RECEIPT FIELD
Padma Vibhushan Civilian Award 2011 Arts

Health Issues, Illness and Death Info

Homai Vyarawalla died on 15-01-2012 in Vadodara in the state of Gujarat, India. She died at the age of 98 due to lung disease.

DEATHDAY 15 January,2012 (Monday)
DEATH PLACE Vadodara, Gujarat
DEATH COUNTRY India

Homai Vyarawalla Family, Relatives and Other Relations

Her father was having a traveling theater company. She was married to Times of India’s photographer and accountant Manekshaw Jamshetji Vyarawalla. The couple had one son named ‘Farouq‘. After Manekshaw’s death, she quit the photography and started living with her son Farouq (A teacher at BITS Pilani). Farouq died due to cancer in 1989. 

Life's Important Dates Of Homai Vyarawalla

Body Measurements

Skin Colour Fair
Eye Colour Brown
Hair Colour Black

Personal Info

Home Town Mumbai
Nationality Indian
Religion Hindu
Address Vadodara, Gujarat, India
School N/A
College University of Mumbai, Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art
Qualification N/A
Hobbies Gardening
Marital Status Married
Debut Illustrated Weekly Magazine (1930)

Shocking / Interesting Facts & Secrets About Homai Vyarawalla

  • She received 2nd highest civilian award ‘Padma Vibhushan’ in 2011.
  • Alkazi Foundation for the Arts Delhi and National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai collaborated to present a retrospective for her in 2010.
  • On her 104th Birth Anniversary, Google gave tribute to this lady with a Doodle “First Lady of the Lens".

Homai Vyarawalla Age, Birthday Facts and Birthday Countdown

Homai Vyarawalla was 98 years 1 month & 6 days old age.