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Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar dies at 95, Modi expresses condolence

Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar dies at 95, Modi expresses condolence

Aug 23, 2018
10:23 am

What's the story

Veteran journalist and former editor of Indian Express, Kuldip Nayar died on Thursday, aged 95. A staunch voice of dissent during the Emergency, Nayar had written 15 books including 'Beyond the Lines', 'India after Nehru' and 'Emergency Retold.' He was given the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for his contribution in journalism at the eighth edition of Ramnath Goenka Awards, 2015. His last rites will take place at 1 PM at Lodhi crematorium.

RIP

Nayar is survived by wife and two sons, cremation today

Nayar is survived by his wife and two sons. Apart from being a journalist, Nayar also served as Indian ambassador to the UK in 1990. He was also a Rajya Sabha member in 1997. Calling him an "intellectual giant", PM Modi expressed his grief over his death. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted Nayar will be missed for his fight for human rights.

Twitter Post

He was an intellectual giant: PM Modi

Emergency

One of the strongest voices against Emergency, Nayar was jailed

Nayar was among the voices to strongly oppose Emergency implemented by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was jailed under Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) after he led a protest against administration's excesses. "Indira Gandhi switched off the lights of democracy to make us grope in the darkness of police raj," Nayar had once written for IE about those dark days.

Media disdain

Once, Nayar expressed concerns about current state of media

Once Nayar had also expressed his disdain for the current state of media. He had said the government didn't need to take any extra-constitutional measures as the newspapers and channels have themselves become pro-establishment. He had expressed concern over 'soft Hindutva' taking over print and electronic media. "What worries me is the increasing parochialism that is overtaking society," he wrote. May his soul RIP!