Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar dies at 95, PM Modi expresses grief

Noted journalist and author Kuldip Nayar, who is known for his fearless movement for the freedom of the press and civil liberty, on Thursday passed away at a hospital in Delhi. He was 95. Nayar's last rites and funeral ceremony is slated to take place at Lodhi Road crematorium around 1 pm today.

Nayar was suffering from pneumonia and breathed his last at around 12.30 am at the Escorts hospital, his elder son confirmed. The veteran journalist was undergoing medical treatment for the last five days.

Meanwhile, expressing his grief over Nayar's death, PM Modi remembered his strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to the country.

"Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many decades. His strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to a better India will always be remembered. Saddened by his demise. My condolences," PM Modi tweeted this morning.

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Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many decades. His strong stand against the Emergency, public service and commitment to a better India will always be remembered. Saddened by his demise. My condolences.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 23, 2018

Sachidanand Murthy, the editor of Week magazine also condoled Nayar's demise, saying "He had protested the infamous Defamation Bill which was brought by the Rajiv Gandhi government in the late 1980s. He had also worked tirelessly to ensure the protection of civil liberties in India".

The sudden demise of Nayar has simply sent grave shocks across the country, especially in the media industry. 

Talking about Nayar's journalism career, he worked in several newspapers including as the editor in the Statesman. In 2015, Nayar was felicitated with 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for his significant contribution to the arena of journalism.

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Apart from his celebrated career in journalism, Nayar also served as the Indian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in the 1990s and was nominated to the Rajya Sabha back in 1997.

Nayar also tried hands in writing, which gifted India a total of 15 mind-boggling write-ups, including Emergency Retold, India after Nehru, Beyond the Lines: An Autobiography, Between the Lines and many more.

Nayar, who was arrested during the Emergency, is survived by his wife and two sons.

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