NEW DELHI – A seasoned journalist and human rights activist of India,Kuldeep Nayar, died at a hospital in Delhi, confirmed his family onThursday.

Nayar was under treatment at the Escorts Hospital where he took his lastbreath Wednesday night. His cremation will take place on Thursday afternoon.

Besides a syndicated columnist, he also authored several books. He was alsoappointed as High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom in 1990. In1997, he was also nominated as a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

Nayar wrote columns and op-eds for over 80 newspapers in 14 languages,including Deccan Herald (Bengaluru), The Daily Star, The Sunday Guardian,The News, The Statesman, The Express Tribune Pakistan, Dawn Pakistan andothers.

Kuldip Nayar was born in Punjab’s Sialkot in British India (now Pakistan)on 14 August, 1923 to Gurbaksh Singh and Pooran Devi.

He completed a BA from Forman Christian College in Lahore and LLB from theLaw College Lahore.

He started his career as a professional journalist from the Urdu press andlater he became the editor of The Statesman in New Delhi.

He was known as an editor who refused to bend during the Emergency imposedunder former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure.

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

He has been working to free Indian prisoners in Pakistan and Pakistaniprisoners in India, who have completed their sentences but have not beenset free.