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Mainstream, VOL LVI No 37 New Delhi September 1, 2018

Kuldip Nayar Will also be Remembered for his Contribution to Social Movements

Sunday 2 September 2018

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COMMUNICATION

Kuldip Nayar, the eminent journalist who breathed his last on August 23, will of course be remembered first and foremost for the remarkable continuity and extraordinary reach of his writings stretching over several decades but in addition he will be remembered also for his contribution to several social movements and causes. In fact several important events organised by important social movements were not considered complete without his blessings in recent years, and Kuldipji reciprocated this respect which social movements had for him by agreeing to come despite the difficulties created by age-related factors. His deep commitment to the unity and harmony of the people of various religious communities made his presence all the more helpful at these important events in these deeply disturbing times.

The RTI (Right to Information) movement was one such movement where he made an important contribution. Kuldip Nayar, Nikhil Chakravartty, Ajit Bhattacharjea and Prabhash Joshi were the four seniormost journalists who made a very important contribution to strengthening the RTI movement in its early critical phase. All the four gentlemen also shared another common commitment—all of them were particularly affectionate towards the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) and its leading activists—Aruna Roy, Nikhil Dey and Shankar Singh. Aruna Roy often recalls the generous hospitality of Kuldipji when he placed his entire house at the disposal of dozens of MKSS activists who had come to Delhi for some pressing work.

Kuldip Nayar was firmly committed to democratic freedoms and hence became involved with a lot of related causes and efforts as well as human rights initiatives. He was in a position, both because of his vast experience and contacts as well as the respect people in India and neighboring countries had for him, to play an important role in several initiatives of peace and democracy. His services for such work of lasting significance could have been better utilised.

Bharat Dogra

C-27, Raksha Kunj

Paschim Vihar

New Delhi - 110 063

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