Kuldip Nayar

Kuldip Nayar was born on 14 August 1923 in Sialkot, Punjab, then part of British India and now in Pakistan. He studied at Forman Christian College in Lahore and later earned a law degree from the Law College Lahore. In 1952, he received a scholarship to study journalism at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in the United States.

Nayar began his journalism career with the Urdu newspaper Anjam in 1948. He subsequently worked in government information services before becoming editor and general manager of United News of India. He later served as editor of The Statesman and was associated with the Indian Express and other international newspapers. His columns were syndicated widely and appeared in newspapers across India and abroad.

Nayar became particularly prominent for his writings on civil liberties, democracy, press freedom, India-Pakistan relations, and major political events. During the Emergency declared in India in 1975, he was among the journalists imprisoned by the authorities. His experience during this period influenced his later writings about the Emergency and freedom of the press.

He was also involved in efforts to promote better relations between India and Pakistan. His experience of the Partition of 1947 shaped his interest in the relationship between the two countries, and he participated in peace initiatives including candlelight vigils at the Attari-Wagah border.

In 1990, Nayar served as India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He later entered parliamentary life as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, serving from 27 August 1997 to 26 August 2003. He was also part of India's delegation to the United Nations in 1996.

Nayar was a prolific author. His books include India After Nehru, Distant Neighbours: A Tale of the Subcontinent, The Judgment: Inside Story of the Emergency in India, Beyond the Lines, Wall at Wagah, India-Pakistan Relationship, Scoop, and Emergency Retold. His writings documented political developments, Partition, India-Pakistan relations, and his experiences as a journalist.

He received several honors during his career, including the Astor Award for Press Freedom in 2003, the Shaheed Niyogi Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2007, and the Ramnath Goenka Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. He was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2019.

Kuldip Nayar died in New Delhi on 23 August 2018 at the age of 95. His six-decade career left an extensive body of journalism, political commentary, and books dealing with modern South Asian history and public life.