Frying pakoras for journalists, a rakhi from Phoolan Devi — Ram Vilas Paswan’s life, in photos

Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan passed away on 8 October 2020, days after he underwent heart surgery at a Delhi hospital. He was 74.

From left to right: Ram Vilas Paswan with former PMs Chaudhary Charan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee, during his days as a member of the erstwhile Janata Party | Photo: Praveen Jain

New Delhi: Union Cabinet minister Ram Vilas Paswan died at the age of 74.

His son and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Chirag Paswan announced his death on Twitter with an emotional message. “Papa, you are no more, but I know you will always be with me,” Chirag wrote, sharing an old photo of him and his father.

The senior Paswan had undergone heart surgery at a Delhi hospital last weekend, and was supposed to have another in a few weeks.

Paswan has been a constant on the Indian political scene for decades. Since 1989, he had been a part of every coalition government at the Centre. Through this journey, he was often captured by ThePrint’s National Photo Editor Praveen Jain. Photographs from Jain’s personal archives don’t just paint a vivid picture of Paswan, the politician, but also offer a glimpse at the man behind the celebrity.

Ram Vilas Paswan (extreme right) with Congress stalwarts who left the party to form the Jan Morcha | Photo: Praveen Jain

Ram Vilas Paswan helps his wife Reena Paswan fry pakoras for journalists before a press conference | Photo: Praveen Jain

(From left to right) Ram Vilas Paswan shares a laugh with RJD leader Lalu Prasad and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav | Photo: Praveen Jain

Ram Vilas Paswan emerged as a political force in Bihar as a representative of the Paswans, a Dalit community | Photo: Praveen Jain

Ram Vilas Paswan with former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda (centre), one of the many prime ministers he served with | Photo: Praveen Jain

Ram Vilas Paswan with H. D. Deve Gowda and other dignitaries | Photo: Praveen Jain

The late dacoit-turned-politician Phoolan Devi (left) ties a rakhi to Ram Vilas Paswan | Photo: Praveen Jain

(From left to right) With veteran leader L.K. Advani and former President Giani Zail Singh at Parliament House | Photo: Praveen Jain

(From left to right) Chirag Paswan, former PM V.P. Singh, Ram Vilas Paswan and Reena Paswan. The Paswans’ daughter Asha is seen far right | Photo: Praveen Jain