Photographs That Shook the World — Images That Moved History

By Sushant Agarwal

Published on | Apr 24, 2025

Loss Amidst Kashmir's Beauty (2025)

Newly married Navy officer Vinay Narwal was shot by terrorists in Pahalgam. His wife sat beside his body in shock — a photo that shocked the world.

Burial in Bhopal (1984)

A child killed in the Bhopal gas leak is buried by his family — a photo of grief that won the 1985 World Press Photo of the Year.

Taj Hotel in Flames (2008)

The burning dome of the Taj Hotel during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks became a symbol of terror and resilience. The image lit up front pages worldwide.

Aylan Kurdi (2015)

The body of 3-year-old Syrian child Aylan Kurdi on a beach put a human face to the refugee crisis. The world could no longer look away.

The Napalm Girl (1972)

9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc flees a napalm strike in Vietnam — naked, burned & screaming. The award-winning photo ignited global anti-war protests.

Tank Man (1989)

A lone protester blocks tanks in Tiananmen Square — a moment of defiance immortalized in one of the boldest acts ever captured.

The Falling Man (2001)

A man falls from the Twin Towers during 9/11. His descent, frozen in time, became one of the most haunting images in modern history.

Vulture and the Girl (1993)

A starving child collapsed in Sudan as a vulture watched. The image stunned the world and confronted us with our moral failure.

Earthrise (1968)

Earth, small and blue above the Moon’s horizon — captured by Apollo 8. It changed how humanity saw itself.

Elian Gonzalez Raid (2000)

Armed agents storm a Miami home to seize 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez. The flash-lit photo became a symbol of political tug-of-war.

George Floyd Protest (2020)

Amid BLM protests, a figure stands against riot police as fire burns behind. A moment that echoed the urgency for justice.

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