Kuldip Nayar

BETWEEN THE LINES

Veteran Indian journalist, syndicated columnist, human right activist and author. He was appointed High Commissioner to Great Britain in 1990 and nominated to the upper house of Indian Parliament in 1997. He is also the author of 15 books, including "Beyond the Lines” and "India after Nehru."

71 years on, frosty relations continue

It was August 12, 1947, three days before India became free. My father, a practicing doctor, summoned us, the three brothers, and asked what our plans were. I told him that I wanted to stay in Pakistan just as the Muslims would in India.

6y ago

Lynching to nowhere

More gruesome details about the Alwar lynching have come to light. Rakbar Khan, the victim, could have been saved if the police had acted in time. In fact, the force stopped for tea and wasted three and a half hours in reaching the victim to the hospital. He bled to death. If one were to put all the pieces together, one would come to the conclusion that the police delay was deliberate.

6y ago

Can Imran Khan be the man of the people?

The army in Pakistan seems to have devised a way where a particular person is elected even without a valid cause. Imran Khan is a product of such phenomena. Long before the latest elections, his name was tossed around.

6y ago

Dangers to secularism

I recall after the Independence, politician and diplomat Syed Shahabuddin articulated the Muslim point of view. He did not ask for separation but suggested a self-rule for Muslims within the country. Nobody took him seriously, not even the Muslims because the partition had brought misery to both the communities.

6y ago

Rift in India-US relations

An autocrat can really unhinge a democratic system. This is what President Donald Trump is doing. But he is also turning into an imperialist power.

6y ago

A modicum of truth

I feel honoured that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken notice of my criticism. Indeed, he praised me and said: “I respect veteran journalist Kuldip Nayar ji, he fought for freedom during emergency, he maybe a harsh critic of us but I salute him for this.” The prime minister and I are on the same page when it comes to the criticism of the emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, the then prime minister.

6y ago

An apology overdue

Certain dates are so important in a nation's history that they cannot be forgotten.

6y ago

A false step

Pranab Mukherjee is a man of all-political affiliations. He has occupied the highest position as a Congressman and has also floated a political party with a few of his associates in the Congress. But one can call him a self-made man in the political arena. He has accepted the invitation to visit the RSS headquarters at Nagpur to address the cadre.

6y ago
November 26, 2016
November 26, 2016

New Dawn in Pakistan

The Dawn example should give heart to the media in the rest of the subcontinent. The freedom of the press is inviolable in a democratic setup. It cannot be compromised in any circumstances.

November 18, 2016
November 18, 2016

Make names public

The debate over demonetisation of currency reveals that real estate dealers have transacted business only to the extent of five percent cash and 9 percent promise. The gap is huge but it reflects the honesty and understanding of both sides.

November 12, 2016
November 12, 2016

America turns right

Widespread anger at the federal government is another key factor that helps explain Trump's support. Trump generally receives a lot of support because he is an outsider who is not a politician.

November 5, 2016
November 5, 2016

Return to classrooms

Another school has been burnt down in the Valley. This is the 25th in the last two months. What it conveys is that those who are fighting for separation from India are not interested in education.

October 30, 2016
October 30, 2016

The curse of triple talaaq

The Radiance is a weekly journal of the Jamaat-e-Islamia, a fundamentalist organisation.

October 22, 2016
October 22, 2016

It's a Mandir again

It is a Mandir again. The controversy over it comes to life whenever there are elections. The Babri Masjid was demolished in December, 1992.

October 15, 2016
October 15, 2016

Misplaced blame game

PAKISTAN'S National Security Advisor Sartaj Aziz has said that there is no room for improvement in relations between India and

October 7, 2016
October 7, 2016

Relevance of surgical strikes

I was against surgical strikes because I thought they would escalate matters and probably go to a point of no return. But now that the strikes have been made, I back the government. I am reminded of George Bernard Shah, eminent literary personality, who said that he was the worst critic of the British government but since it was in the midst of war, he supported it.

September 30, 2016
September 30, 2016

No SAARC Summit this year: Is war imminent?

India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj may have appeared belligerent in her speech at the United Nations. But she represented India's

September 24, 2016
September 24, 2016

Uri is only a symptom

Baluchis-tan in Pakistan is like our Kashmir, an integral part but still rebellious after almost 70 years of Maharaja Hari Singh's