A letter to the editor from Gabrielle Palmer recounts her experience contacting photographer Raghu Rai in 1987 to request permission to use one of his photographs in her book "The Politics of Breastfeeding." Unable to afford the £200 fee, Palmer called Rai in India, who generously waived the fee entirely and wished her well. The letter is a brief tribute published in response to Rai's obituary in The Guardian.
This letter matters because it offers a personal, humanizing glimpse into the character of Raghu Rai, a celebrated Indian photographer, shortly after his death. It highlights his generosity and support for social causes, adding a meaningful anecdote to his legacy beyond his professional achievements.