In remembrance of journalist, author Kuldip Nayar

Kuldip Nayar, renowned author, journalist, human rights activist and parliamentarian, passed away on Thursday in Delhi. He was 95 and is survived by his wife and two sons.

Nayar was among the journalists who staunchly opposed the Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was also jailed during that period under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act for leading a protest against the excesses of the administration.

Over the course of his long career, the 95-year-old donned many hats, including those of a diplomat, human rights activist, parliamentarian, author and columnist. He authored 15 books, including “Beyond the Lines”, and “Emergency Retold”.

In the 90s, Nayar served as High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom and was nominated to Rajya Sabha in 1997.

In this 2012 interview, Nayar spoke about his disappointment with the commercialisation of journalism. “I am disappointed. Disappointed in the sense that I find too much commercialism, too many stories which really don’t mean anything to the society as such,” he had said.