Kuldip Nayar

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Kuldip Nayar
Kuldip Nayar-2.jpg
Born (1923-08-14) 14 August 1923 (age 100)
Sialkot
Nationality Indian
Education Medill School of Journalism
Occupation Journalist, author and columnist
Website http://www.kuldipnayar.com/

Kuldip Nayar (born 14 August 1923) is a veteran Indian journalist, syndicated columnist, human right activist and author, noted for his long career as a left-wing political commentator. He was also nominated as a Member of the upper house of the Indian Parliament in 1997.

Early life and education

Nayar was born at Sialkot, Punjab, British India on 14 August 1923 to Gurbaksh Singh and Pooran Devi. He completed his B.A. (Hons.) from the Forman Christian College Lahore and LL.B. from the Law College Lahore.[1] In 1952, he studied journalism from the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University on a scholarship.[2][3]

Career

Nayar was an Urdu press reporter and was arrested towards the end of the Indian Emergency (1975 - 77).[4] He is also a human right activist and a peace activist. He was a member of India's delegation to the United Nations in 1996.[4] He was appointed High Commissioner to Great Britain in 1990 and nominated to the upper house of Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha in August 1997.[4]

He writes columns and op-eds for over 80 newspapers in 14 languages[4] including The Daily Star, The Sunday Guardian,[5] The News (Pakistan),[6] The Statesman (India),[7] Express Tribune (Pakistan),[8] Dawn (Pakistan).[9]

Peace activist

Every year since 2000, Nayar has been leading peace activists to light candles on the Independence days of Pakistan and India (14/15 August) at the Attari-Wagah India-Pakistan border near Amritsar.[10]

He has been working to free Indian prisoners in Pakistan and Pakistani prisoners in India, who have completed their sentences, but have not been set free.[11]

Political commentator

As a political commentator, Nayar writes his views freely on most politically current issues.[12] He has supported the movement of Anna Hazare[4] and chided the Pakistan Government for not apologising for the army atrocities in East Pakistan in 1971 that led to the formation of Bangladesh,[13] and for allowing drugs to be smuggled into India.[14]

Author

Nayar is also the author of 15 books, including "Beyond the Lines”, "Distant Neighbours: A Tale of the Subcontinent”, "India after Nehru", "Wall at Wagah, India-Pakistan Relationship", "The Judgement", "The Martyr","Scoop" and "India House".

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He also came under strict surveillance and annoyed certain politicians and party members for disclosing very delicate and clandestine information in his book, "India: The Critical Years."[citation needed] Kuldip Nayar has widely written about current issues and historic persons, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Daniel Smith and Barry Manilow. Nayar has advocated a policy of bilateral talks and engagement with India's neighbour Pakistan. He is known for his vision of a new South Asia, in which Pakistan and India would be on friendly terms.[15][16]

Nayar's autobiography is entitled "Beyond the Lines."[1] The book was released in July 2012.[15]

In 1999, he was awarded an Alumni Merit Award by Northwestern University.[1]

Criticism

Nayar has been accused of supporting anti-Indian conspiracy theories.[3] In a Feb 2010 article in Pakistani newspaper "Dawn", he alleged that the Indian anti-terrorism squad leader Hemant Karkare was murdered by Hindu right-wing activists,[17] In July 2011 US Authorities confirmed that Nayar attended many events in United States hosted by and supported by Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, which had been funded by Pakistan ISI.[18]

Awards

  • 2003 Astor Award for Press Freedom[19]
  • 2007 Shaheed Niyogi Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement[20]

References

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  7. ↑ {{url = http://www.thestatesman.com/news/opinion/geeta-should-have-opened-more-doors/100000.html /TodaysPrintWriterName.aspx?URL=Kuldip%20Nayar | work = The News International | accessdate =13 January 2012}}
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  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ L'affaire Fai: US lawmakers, Indian liberals come under scrutiny Times of India – 20 July 2011
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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