Veteran broadcaster and journalist Sir Mark Tully, long regarded as the BBC’s “voice of India”, has died at the age of 90. The award-winning journalist had been unwell for some time and was admitted to Max Hospital in Delhi’s Saket over the past week. The news of his passing was confirmed by veteran journalist and Tully’s close friend Satish Jacob.
For decades, Tully’s distinctive, warm voice was familiar to BBC audiences in Britain and across the world. As one of the corporation’s most respected foreign correspondents, he reported extensively from India, covering some of the country’s most defining moments. His reportage spanned several landmark events such as the Bhopal gas tragedy, Indian Army’s Operation Bluestar and Babri Masjid demolition to name a few.
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Career shaped in India
India was central to Tully’s life and work. He was born in 1935 in Calcutta, then part of British India, into a family closely connected with the subcontinent. His father was a businessman, while his mother was born in Bengal, with family roots in India stretching back generations through trade and administration during the British Raj.
Although educated in England, Tully developed a deep personal connection with India and went on to achieve fluency in Hindi, a rarity among foreign correspondents based in Delhi. This ability, combined with his evident affection for the country, earned him widespread respect and the affectionate title “Tully sahib” among Indians. According to the BBC, his warmth and curiosity helped him build trusted relationships with politicians, editors and social activists across the country.
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Tully beyond broadcasting
Tully was also an acclaimed author and radio presenter. He hosted the BBC Radio 4 programme Something Understood and wrote several influential books on India, including No Full Stops in India, India in Slow Motion and The Heart of India.
In recognition of his contribution to journalism, Tully was knighted in 2002. He was also awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2005. |
