When Kuldeep Nayar talk
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Kuldeep Nayar was not only the great ideal journalist of our time but also he was a great human being. He was a very inspirational personality. It was a great opportunity to interact with them. He had come to Pune for 6th Indian Student Parliament in 2016. That time I had met him as a student. That was a historical day for me. When I heard about the news of his death I feel like some elder of my own home is no more. He was 95. Mr. Nayar was admitted to Escorts Hospital five days ago. He had been suffering from pneumonia.
Mr. Nayar Born at Sialkot (Now in Pakistan) on 14 August 1923. He completed his bachelors from the Forman Christian college, Lahor and LL.B. from the Law College, Lahore. He studied journalism from the Medill School of Journalism from Northwestern University. He started his journalism as a reporter of Urdu news paper. He was an editor of Delhi edition of english news paper called 'The Statement'. In the time of emergency he was agents the policy of Indira Gandhi. He was a great human rights activist. He was appointed as a High Commissioner to Great Britain in 1990. He was also a member of India's delegation to the United Nations in 1996. He was nominated as a Member of the Rajya Sabha in 1997.
Mr. Nayar was veteran Indian journalist, great columnist, author of various books. He has written columns on more than 80 news papers in 14 languages. His autobiography 'Beyond the Lines' has published in 2012. In the medium of this book he cast a floodlight on the historical journey of Indian republic with holistic experience of his life.
On the 6th Indian student parliament in Pune he was awarded by the lifetime achievement award. As a student I was present for that program. That time he was a 92 years old man. But his inspirational personality enamour to all of us. I heard his great live speech for the first time. It was an important opportunity of my life to listen to his speech. In his lecture he spoke on contemporary democracy and the role of media. He said "we must understand the role of media for creating a real democratic nation."
After his lecture he had come to catch a flight going to Delhi. His flight was within one hour. But he spend his some valuable time with newcomer journalist like us. In that meeting there were only 7 or 8 journalist and manager of the program were present. Between the direction on that informal and unofficial meeting he saw me and asked my name. I was very happy. He was very curious about my reading also. After that small introduction I asked his opinion about the contemporary representation of marginalized community in mane streaming media. He very happily gave me answers to my questions. He told me "In indian caste, class based society there is no chance for representation of marginalized community. They must create there new media platforms for raise their voice." In that meeting I asked another question about application of media for good of common people and the crisis of monopoly. He said, "there is no question apportionment has no answer. New media is a great alternative platform for break the monopoly of some people. In the medium of social media we must create new path for our holistic development."
At the same time his car came. And he try stand to go back. But he was not able to stand because of his old age. He held my hand and walk till car. Some journalists and manager helped him to seat in the car. He showed his hand and said goodbye. Till his car passed we stood there for that valuable time.
