When India’s First Woman Photojournalist Documented India’s First Republic Day Parade

Homai Vyarawalla (9 December 1913 - 15 January 2012) was renowned as India's first female photojournalist, recognized by her pseudonym Dalda 13. Beyond breaking gender barriers, her illustrious career bore witness to the transformative period of the overthrow of British colonial rule in India. Commencing her journey in 1938 with the Bombay Chronicle, she adeptly captured the nuances of daily life in the city.

Intriguingly, Vyarawalla's presence, clad in a saree and skillfully managing a Rolleiflex, confounded her contemporaries. Despite being perceived as an amateur due to her gender, this perception worked to her advantage, affording her unrestricted access to her subjects. Dismissed and overlooked by many, she moved freely and pursued her photographic endeavours without hindrance.

Initially publishing her work under her husband's name and later adopting the pseudonym 'Dalda 13,' Vyarawalla's photographs gradually gained national recognition. She transitioned from capturing everyday life to documenting significant political figures and events during India's Independence movement. Notable subjects included candid portraits of Jawaharlal Nehru, photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, and later, India's first female Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.

Her lens also framed some of the most iconic images from the inaugural Republic Day parade in 1950.

In 2011, she received the Padma Vibhushan, the Republic of India's second-highest civilian award. She was one of the first women to contribute to a mainstream publication in India when she joined The Illustrated Weekly of India. A trailblazer in her field, Vyarawalla died at the age of 98.