New Delhi, Feb 18 : Senior journalist Upendra Vajpeyi (86), who died on Sunday was cremated today at the Lodhi Road electric crematorium this morning.

A large number of friends and colleagues of Vajpeyi attended the ceremony. Wreaths were laid on behalf of the Government of Haryana, the Press Institute of India, the Delhi Union of Journalists, the National Media Centre and many journalist bodies

Vajpeyi, India’s senior parliamentary correspondent and columnist continued to serve his profession till the last day.

His writings both in Hindi and English received wide appreciation. Vajpeyi wrote a number of books and edited documents related to key areas of policy and development.

Vajpeyi, son of late Pandit Ambika Prasad Vajpeyi, a legendary Hindi Journalist, had undergone three-and-half- years imprisonment for participating in the Quit India movement in 1942.

He was elected President of the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) in 1980. He was closely associated with all India journalists movement and founded the UP press Club.

Vajpeyi also gave a humane touch to journalists’ welfare measures. He pioneered two habitats for mediapersons – Press Enclave at Saket in New Delhi and the National Media Centre in Gurgaon, Haryana.

The National Media Centre under his leadership had worked for freedom of the press in South Asia in coordination with journalist organisations of the region.

Vajpeyi had served in various newspapers such as Hindustan Times, Sainik, Swatantra Bharat and Aaj.

He is survived by his wife Aruna Patel Vajpeyi, brother Raghvendra and sister Pratibha. (ANI)