NEW DELHI — Kuldip Nayar, India’s veteran journalist, author and human rights activist Nayar died on Wednesday night at a Delhi hospital at the age of 95.

He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Nayar was known for his efforts to improve relations between India and Pakistan. He led various peace initiatives including lighting candles on independence days of Pakistan and India at the Attari-Wagah border near Amritsar.

Born on Aug. 14, 1923, in Sialkot (Pakistan), Nayar was among the country’s first syndicated columnists and wrote several books.

Nayar spent his early childhood and youth in Pakistan. He graduated from Forman Christian College before pursuing law in Lahore. In 1952, he moved to Illinois, United States to study journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Nayar began his journalism career at Anjam — an Urdu newspaper. He went on to head various Indian newspapers including The Indian Express, The Statesman and contributed in over 80 newspapers in 14 languages including Deccan Herald, The Daily Star, The Sunday Guardian.

In 2015, he was awarded the Ramnath Goenka Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to journalism.

He authored 15 books including Beyond the Lines, India after Nehru and Emergency Retold.

Nayar, who was appointed high commissioner to the UK in 1990, was also a member of the Indian delegation to the United Nations in 1996. He was nominated as a member of the upper house of Indian parliament in 1997 too.

Senior journalist H.K. Dua, who knew Nayar for 54 years, described him as a “good friend”, a “great journalist” and said his death was a loss to the profession.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind were among the leaders who condoled Nayar's death.

Modi termed him an intellectual giant and recalled his role as a staunch opponent of the Emergency.

“Kuldip 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,” Modi said in a tweet.

Kovind described him as a determined champion of democracy. — Agencies