"Everybody knew him by name — my Ramesh."

For Tarulatta Shukla, that is how she wants the UAE to remember her husband, Ramesh Shukla — not just as the nation's 'royal photographer', but as a man who belonged to the people as much as he documented them.

Shukla passed away on February 14, 2026, drawing tributes from across the country he spent over five decades photographing. His vast collection chronicled the UAE's transformation — from its early years to its rise on the global stage — capturing intimate aspects of life that now form part of the nation’s visual memory.

His images of the country’s rulers adorn palaces and private collections. His work has appeared on UAE postage stamps and currency notes. Over the years, he received several honours, including a gold plate presented on the twenty-sixth Accession Day of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

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Today, a permanent exhibition of his historic photographs is housed at the Etihad Museum — a pinnacle of his artistic journey.

Yet, behind the accolades was a deeply personal story of partnership and perseverance.

In an interview with Khaleej Times on Monday, Tarulatta recalled arriving in the UAE in 1970, when facilities were limited and resources scarce. Photography, she said, was built on improvisation and grit.

“We didn’t have any equipment. So, we used plate (thalis) that we ate in, and no other equipment was available. We developed pictures in that,” she said.

With no proper dark room, the couple transformed their home into a workspace.

“There was no dark room... only one room was there. We used to cover the room with curtains, and had no stop watch. My husband taught me how to sift the best negative and how must develop a good picture.”

Over time, she became an essential part of his craft. “He almost made me a professional developer,” she said, explaining how he would carefully ask about the time of day, the sunlight, whether it was cloudy or sunny — details that shaped how each frame was processed.

Tarulatta with husband Late Ramesh Shukla

Never stopped working

The octogenarian never stopped working, his wife recalls. “He was working till the very end. My husband was very active,” she said.

What stood out the most, however, was the trust he built. Tarulatta recalled how her husband travelled many times with the Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as he photographed the Royals — access earned not through status, but through years of dedication.

“Even very famous people knew him by his first name. We could go anywhere and there was no need for special permissions, because people knew him very well,” she said.

“Everybody knew him by name — my Ramesh.”

She also spoke warmly of Dubai's Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s photography, noting that true photography demands patience and struggle — something she witnessed firsthand through decades beside her husband.

“I love Sheikh Hamdan’s photography. He is very talented. I understand what photography involves — the struggle behind the lens and the immense patience it demands.”

Encapsulating the rhythm of their shared life, she added, “I travelled throughout the world for photography with my husband. We were married for 61 years.”