Ravish Kumar, senior executive editor of NDTV India, was awarded the inaugural Kuldip Nayar Journalism Award at New Delhi’s India International Centre on Sunday. The award, jointly instituted by journalist Kuldip Nayar and the Gandhi Peace Foundation, is to be given each year to a journalist of Indian languages who, through their work, promotes independent thinking, democratic values and civic rights.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Kumar commented on the current climate of fear and intimidation prevalent in the country. “Marna sirf shamshan ya kabristan me jalana ya dafna dena nahi hai. Marna wo darr bhi hai jo aapko bolne se, likhne se, kehne se, sunne se darata hai (One doesn’t die only when they are buried or cremated. Fear which forbids you to speak, write and hear what you want is also a form of death),” he said. He also warned against news anchors who behaved like “thandedaars (watchdogs)” and turned evenings into a “lock-up”.

Watch Kumar’s full speech below: