Veteran journalist Mark Tully passes away in Delhi at 90
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th January : Veteran journalist, author, and renowned chronicler of India, Mark Tully, passed away on Sunday at a private hospital in New Delhi. He was 90. Tully had been unwell for some time and was admitted to Max Hospital in Saket on January 21 under the care of the nephrology department, hospital sources confirmed.
The news of his death was confirmed by close friend and fellow journalist Satish Jacob, who said Tully passed away on Sunday afternoon. His demise marks the end of an era in foreign correspondence on India, particularly through his long association with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Born on October 24, 1935, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Mark Tully spent much of his professional life in India, developing a deep and nuanced understanding of the country’s social, political, and cultural fabric. He served as the BBC’s New Delhi bureau chief for 22 years, becoming one of the most respected foreign journalists reporting from India.
Tully was widely admired for his empathetic and ground-level reporting, often focusing on rural India, marginalized communities, and the complexities of Indian democracy. His journalism was marked by clarity, restraint, and an effort to let ordinary voices be heard amid larger national narratives.
Apart from his broadcast career, Tully was an acclaimed author, having written several influential books on India, including No Full Stops in India, India in Slow Motion, and The Heart of India. These works are regarded as essential reading for understanding post-Independence India and its evolving institutions.
He also presented the BBC Radio 4 programme “Something Understood” and was involved in numerous documentaries exploring subjects ranging from the British Raj and modern Indian politics to the Indian Railways and social change.
In recognition of his contributions, Tully was knighted in 2002 and later awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2005 by the Government of India for his outstanding service in the field of journalism.
Tributes poured in from journalists, authors, and readers who credited Tully for shaping international understanding of India with honesty and humility. He is remembered not just as a foreign correspondent, but as a storyteller who belonged to India as much as he reported on it.
