We pay our profound tribute to a reputed Indian journalist who passed away a few days ago. In S. Nihal Singh, we have lost a media personality whose dedication to the profession was defined not by a mere need to write reports and comments but also by a commitment to uphold truth at all times and in all circumstances. Singh's good fortune was that he served as editor or editor-in-chief at some of the most important newspapers in India and abroad. In his long career, he was associated with the Statesman and the Indian Express. Outside India, it was the Khaleej Times which had the benefit of his wisdom.
Not many journalists in our part of the world are there at whom we can point with pride and tell ourselves that we can and will emulate them. Emulation rests on the principles which the bold in the journalistic world are ready to demonstrate every time society comes face to face with danger.
And boldness was what characterized Nihal Singh's approach to journalism throughout his career. He was one of those editors, sadly a vanishing breed or perhaps a vanished breed, not afraid to exercise editorial responsibility through making it clear that management must not have any role in deciding the contents of a newspaper. Whenever he found such interference threatening his position, he simply put in his papers and walked away.
S. Nihal Singh was not one to compromise on journalistic principles. His contempt for the Emergency imposed in India in June 1975 was made obvious very early on when he let readers know, in print, that his newspaper was being brought out under censor regulations. In those dark days, when much of the media submitted to Emergency regulations, Singh courageously told off Information Minister V.C. Shukla when the latter tried to browbeat him into capitulation.
We will miss Nihal Singh. And we will hope that men like him, despite the mediocre times we inhabit, will arise in the media world to walk in his footsteps.
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