Senior journalist Kuldip Nayar died at a Delhi hospital this morning, his elder son said
Senior journalist and author Kuldip Nayar, widely respected for his columns and reportage, died at a Delhi hospital early this morning, his family said. He was 95. Mr Nayar was admitted to Escorts Hospital five days ago. He had been suffering from pneumonia. He died at 12:30 am today, his elder son Sudhir Nayar said.
Born at Sialkot (now in Pakistan), Kuldip Nayar graduated with a law degree from Lahore before moving to India after Partition. He served as high commissioner to Britain in 1990 and was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
Mr Nayar is survived by his wife and two sons. He will be cremated today at Lodhi crematorium in south Delhi.
In his autobiography published in 2012, he wrote about the collapse of trust between communities after Partition and how he was forced to migrate to Delhi across the blood-stained plains of Punjab.
"From his perilous journey to a new country and to his first job as a young journalist in an Urdu daily, Nayar's account is also the story of India," the introduction to the book reads.
From a young journalist in Anjam, he went on to head the news agency, UNI. His syndicated column, "Between the Lines", was appreciated for how he always stood for the freedom of the press.
He has covered several historical turns that the country has seen, from the 1971 war with Pakistan to liberate Bangladesh to the Emergency of 1975.
People tweeted condolences on hearing about the death of the senior journalist, some of them remembering the effectiveness of the journalism Mr Nayar pursued.
Historian Ramachandra Guha tweeted, "...he was a journalist who followed the dictates of his conscience rather than the lure of money or fame... Nayar was not a prose stylist, and prone to the odd conspiracy theory, yet his commitment to interfaith harmony, his professional commitment and integrity, and his courage during the Emergency absolutely shine."
Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh gave his condolences in a letter to Bharti Nayar, the wife of Mr Nayar.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Mr Nayar's contribution to journalism will be remembered. "My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family," Mr Singh said.