Veteran Journalist Mark Tully Passes Away at 90, Leaving a Lasting Legacy in India-Focused Reporting

Mark Tully, Voice of India to the World, Passes Away at 90

Veteran journalist and celebrated author Mark Tully passed away on Sunday at the age of 90 in New Delhi, bringing to a close a remarkable chapter in international journalism focused on India. He died at Max Hospital, Saket , following multi-organ failure after suffering a stroke. His death was confirmed by his close friend and fellow journalist Satish Jacob .

Widely admired for his deep understanding of Indian society and politics, Tully was regarded as one of the most empathetic and credible foreign correspondents to report on post-Independence India.

A Life Deeply Connected With India

Born on October 24, 1935, in Kolkata , Mark Tully spent his early childhood in India before moving to the United Kingdom for higher education. His connection with India, however, remained strong. In 1964 , he returned as a correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) , beginning a lifelong professional and personal association with the country.

Over the decades, India became central to his identity, shaping both his journalistic approach and his worldview.

Defining Years at the BBC

Mark Tully served as the BBC’s New Delhi bureau chief for 22 years , a period during which he reported on some of the most defining moments in India’s modern history. His reportage covered events such as:

• The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

• The Emergency (1975–77)

• Operation Blue Star

• The assassinations of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi

• The Babri Masjid demolition in 1992

What set Tully apart was his ability to combine factual rigour with social context, offering nuanced perspectives rather than headline-driven narratives.

Author, Broadcaster, and Cultural Interpreter

Beyond news reporting, Tully was a prolific author who sought to explain India beyond politics. He wrote ten influential books , including No Full Stops in India , India in Slow Motion , and The Heart of India . These works examined religion, rural life, governance, and the moral dilemmas of modernisation.

He also hosted BBC Radio 4’s “Something Understood” and appeared in documentaries on Indian history, railways, and the legacy of the British Raj, acting as a cultural bridge between India and the West.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Mark Tully was BBC’s New Delhi bureau chief for 22 years

• He reported on the Emergency, Operation Blue Star, and Babri Masjid demolition

• He received the Padma Bhushan in 2005

• He was knighted by the British Crown in 2002