Kuldip Nayar, a doyen of Indian journalism and a fearless champion of media freedom, has been posthumously honoured with the Indian government's third highest civilian honour -- the Padma Bhushan.

The honour is a fitting tribute to Nayar, a regular columnist for The Daily Star for long, whose perceptive analysis and comments on a range of issues earned him respect amongst readers, especially after he was imprisoned during the Emergency imposed by the then government of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1976-77.

The honour was announced by the Indian government on Friday night, on the eve of India's Republic Day.

Nayar, also known for his uncompromising stand on secularism, human rights and liberty, died on August 23 last year at his Delhi house after a prolonged spell of age-related ailments. He was 95 at the time.

A former editor of The Indian Express newspaper, Nayar was a life-long votary of the robust India-Bangladesh relations and an ardent advocate of India's troubled ties with Pakistan.