When I heard the sad news of his passing away, I recalled the happy memories of meeting him, when he came to be the Chief Guest at the New Leader National Awards function many years ago. He must have been in his 70’s then, but nobody could guess his age, as he was so active and agile. What struck me was the utter simplicity and humility of the eminent journalist, writer, editor, High Commissioner to the U.K. and a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Kuldip Nayar, 95, who died on 23 August 2018, was a stalwart of the Indian press, who stood up and spoke up for freedom and democracy, for human rights and secularism, till the end.
He was born in 1923 in Sialkot, Punjab, now in Pakistan. He studied English literature, journalism and law in Lahore, then a part of British India. Beginning his career as an Urdu reporter, he became the editor of the Delhi edition of The Statesman and later the head of the news agency called United News of India (UNI). Soon he became a much-admired writer, thanks to his commitment to human rights, democracy and peace. As an uncompromising, principled crusader for these values, he was widely respected and read. For a number of years his syndicated column, called Between the Lines, was published in about 80 newspapers in 14 languages.
Although the present situation in India is not very different from that period, the time of Emergency continues to be called the darkest hour for Indian journalism. Soon after Indira Gandhi declared Emergency in 1975, Kuldip Nayar was one of the few fearless journalists who reported and condemned the widespread violations of human rights and the attacks on freedom of expression. So, inevitably, he was one of the first journalists to be jailed and tortured.
The book he wrote after the Emergency was withdrawn and he was released from prison became a bestseller. It was called The Judgement. He wrote other books: Distant Neighbours: A Tale of the Subcontinent, India after Nehru, Wall at Wagah, India-Pakistan Relationship, The Martyr, etc. His autobiography, Beyond the Lines, reveals not merely his convictions and commitment, but also the vision he had for our country and South Asia. He could never digest the fact that India and Pakistan continue to see each other as enemies. He kept on urging the leaders of both countries to initiate talks to find solutions to the problems they faced. He did something symbolic to highlight this vision. From 2000, every year on 14 and 15 August, when Pakistan and India celebrate their Independence, Nayar led a group of peace activists to light candles at the India-Pakistan border at Attari-Wagah near Amritsar.
He had a friend in Pakistan who, in spite of being a politician, was a peace activist too – Jaleel Ahmed Khan. As one who migrated to Pakistan in 1947 and was a witness to the mass murders caused by communal hatred, Khan understood the value of peace and joined Nayar in several peace initiatives in both countries. Recognition of his merits and values led to his being made the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in 1990, a member of India’s delegation to the United Nations in 1996 and a member of Rajya Sabha in 1997.
We observe this year the 10th anniversary of the well-planned anti-Christian Kandhamal riots that killed hundreds of poor, tribal Catholics in Kandhamal district in Orissa. Anto Akkara, the courageous Catholic journalist from Kerala, who has risked a lot to unearth and publicize the shocking truths behind those massacres, has described, in a recent article, the inspiration and support he received from Nayar. In spite of his age and illness and many commitments, Kuldip Nayar was present for the release of his book, Who Killed Swami Laxmanananda?, and later wrote a foreword to its Hindi translation.
At a time when fake news and false propaganda are used to ignite hatred and win votes, Kuldip Nayar’s legacy as a journalist of integrity and a crusader of peace and harmony will always remain a benchmark for all who work in media.
