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PM Modi Honors Top Photographers as HT Concludes 100-Year Legacy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped wrap up Hindustan Times' 100th-anniversary celebrations by honoring the winners of a special photography contest. The "My Country, My Lens" contest invited citizens to capture India's essence, drawing an incredible 10,000-plus entries from across the nation. A jury of renowned photographers selected the top images, which were displayed in an exhibition at the HT Leadership Summit. This event marks the conclusion of a year-long centenary for the newspaper, which was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1924.

Key Points: PM Modi Felicitates Winners of HT's My Country My Lens Contest

  • PM Modi presented citations at the HT Leadership Summit to the 12 winning photographers
  • The contest received over 10,000 entries from more than 30 Indian cities
  • Winning photos were selected across themes of Borders, Rivers, Monuments, and Communities
  • The exhibition showcased a Top 100 collection, forming a contemporary visual archive of India
2 min read

PM Modi felicitates top 12 winners of HT's 'My Country, My Lens' contest as it concludes centenary celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored the top 12 winners of Hindustan Times' centenary photography contest, which received over 10,000 entries from across India.

"The photographer friends have captured moments in a way to make them immortal... believe it can become a source of great strength for photography in the country. - Prime Minister Narendra Modi"

New Delhi, December 7

Prime Minister Narendra Modi felicitated the top 12 winners of HT@100 My Country, My Lens, a nationwide photography contest organised as part of Hindustan Times' centenary celebrations.

According to a release, the ceremony held on Saturday at the HT Leadership Summit 2025, PM Modi presented citations to the winning photographers in the presence of Hindustan Times Chairperson and Editorial Director Shobhana Bhartia.

The contest, launched to mark 100 years of the Hindustan Times, invited citizens to capture India "through their own lens."

It received an overwhelming 10,000+ entries from over 30 cities, submitted across four themes -- Borders, Rivers, Monuments and Communities of My Country.

A jury featuring acclaimed photographers Rohit Chawla, Dhritiman Mukherjee and Ajay Aggarwal shortlisted the Top 100 entries, from which the Top 3 photographs in each category were selected for felicitation by the Prime Minister.

After viewing the exhibition, PM Modi praised the creativity and depth of the winners' work."I watched the exhibition and will request everyone to see it. The photographer friends have captured moments in a way to make them immortal... believe it can become a source of great strength for photography in the country," he said.

Bhartia noted that the contest was a way to honour not just HT's centenary but also India's diverse stories.

"The photographs we received reflect the depth, diversity and dynamism of India and capture the spirit that has always inspired our journalism," she noted.

The Top 100 photographs were unveiled as part of a special exhibition at the summit, where policymakers, global leaders, thinkers and artists experienced the visual narratives. The display formed a contemporary archive that showcased how Indians interpret their landscapes, communities, and national identity. The centenary celebrations also highlighted the newspaper's historical legacy.

Founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1924, Hindustan Times emerged as a key voice of India's freedom movement, backed initially by the Akalis and later guided by leaders such as Lala Lajpat Rai, Madan Mohan Malviya and GD Birla. Over the decades, HT provided a platform for towering figures including Subhas Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Martin Luther King Jr and MS Swaminathan.

With the Prime Minister honouring the Top 12 photographers and the Top 100 exhibit unveiled at the summit, Hindustan Times officially concluded its year-long centenary celebrations.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Congratulations to all the winners! 10,000+ entries is incredible. I hope they publish a coffee table book with the Top 100 photos. Would love to own a piece of this visual history of our nation.
D
David E
As someone who follows Indian media, it's impressive to see a newspaper with such a storied legacy – founded by Gandhi, platform for Bose and MLK – celebrating its centenary in such a public, artistic way. The historical context in the article is fascinating.
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Rohit P
While it's great the PM attended, I do hope the focus remains on the photographers and their art. Sometimes these events become more about the politician than the people being honoured. That said, the exposure for the winners must be phenomenal.
S
Shreya B
The 'Borders' theme must have yielded some powerful, emotional shots. Our soldiers, the landscapes... it's more than just a line on a map. Proud of everyone who participated. 🙏
K
Karthik V
HT has been a part of our family's morning routine for decades. A big congratulations on 100 years! This contest was a brilliant way to mark the occasion by giving the mic, or rather the lens, back to the people. Here's to the next century!

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