Veteran Journalist and India’s Lifelong Chronicler Mark Tully Passes Away at 90, Leaving Behind a Rich Legacy of Storytelling
Renowned journalist, author, and one of the most respected foreign correspondents to have ever reported from India, Mark Tully, passed away on Sunday at the age of 90 in New Delhi.
He breathed his last at a private hospital in Saket, where he had been undergoing treatment for over a week following a decline in his health.
Widely regarded as a bridge between India and the West, Tully spent decades chronicling the country’s political upheavals, social transformations, spiritual life, and everyday struggles with rare empathy and depth.
For millions of listeners and readers, his voice and writing became synonymous with nuanced reporting on South Asia.
Tully served as the BBC’s New Delhi Bureau Chief for over two decades, during which he covered some of the most defining moments in modern Indian history.
His journalistic journey took him to the heart of wars, riots, natural disasters, and political turning points — from the Emergency years and Operation Blue Star to the Bhopal gas tragedy and the demolition of the Babri Masjid.
Beyond India, his reporting extended across South Asia, including the birth of Bangladesh, periods of military rule in Pakistan, the conflict in Sri Lanka involving the Tamil Tigers, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
His work was never confined to official corridors of power — he made it a point to listen to farmers, shopkeepers, monks, politicians, and refugees alike.
Born in Calcutta on October 24, 1935, during British colonial rule, Tully had deep roots in the subcontinent.
His mother hailed from Bengal, and her family had long been associated with trade and administration in India.
Though he went to Britain as a child after World War II and studied history and theology at Cambridge University, India remained the emotional center of his life.
Originally considering a career in the clergy, Tully eventually found his true calling in journalism.
He arrived in India in 1965 with the BBC in an administrative role, but soon transitioned into reporting — a move that would define his life’s work.
Fluent in Hindi and deeply familiar with Indian culture, Tully stood apart from many foreign correspondents.
He was neither an outsider observing from a distance nor someone attempting to imitate Indian identity. Instead, he carved a unique space — a storyteller who respected India’s complexities and contradictions.
His association with India was not without turbulence. During the Emergency in 1975, he was abruptly expelled from the country, only to return nearly a year and a half later.
He would go on to live in Delhi for the rest of his life, firmly embedding himself in the nation he loved and reported on.
In the early 1990s, Tully publicly criticized changes within the BBC, accusing its leadership of fostering a culture of fear and bureaucracy that undermined journalism. He resigned in 1994, marking the end of an era at the broadcaster.
Post-BBC, he continued to shape public discourse through literature and radio. His books — including “No Full Stops in India,” “India in Slow Motion,” and “The Heart of India” — offered deep insights into Indian society, development, and democracy.
He also gained widespread acclaim as the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s “Something Understood,” a program exploring faith, philosophy, and spirituality.
India honored his contribution with two of its highest civilian awards — the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan — recognizing his extraordinary role in bringing India’s stories to the global stage.
Mark Tully’s passing marks the end of a remarkable chapter in journalism — one defined by courage, curiosity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to truth.
More than a reporter, he was a witness to history and a friend of India, whose voice helped the world better understand the country’s soul.
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