Kuldip Nayar was an intellectual giant of our times. Frank and fearless in his views, his work spanned across many… https://t.co/iuWgcY2TIz — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 1534996075000

NEW DELHI: Veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar passed away on Wednesday night at a Delhi hospital. He was 95.Nayar had served as high commissioner of India to the UK . He was also nominated as a member of the Upper House of Parliament in 1997. The veteran journalist had started his career with an Urdu newspaper.Expressing his condolence on the death of Nayar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a man who was "frank and fearless" in his views. PM Modi said 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."Born on August 14, 1923, in Sialkot (Pakistan), Nayar was among the country's first syndicated columnists. Nayar started his journalistic career with the Urdu daily "Anjam" in 1948. He worked in the Press Information Bureau as a Press Officer to then home ministers Govind Ballabh Pant and Lal Bahadur Shastri.He was arrested during the Emergency.Nayar was also known for his efforts to improve frosty relationship between India and Pakistan, including leading peace activists to light candles on the Independence days of Pakistan and India at the Attari-Wagah border near Amritsar.Nayar is also the author of 15 books, including Beyond the Lines, Distant Neighbours: A Tale of the Subcontinent, India after Nehru, among others.He is survived by his wife and two sons.(With agency inputs)