Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow at the death of Sir Mark Tully, a prominent figure in journalism. Modi highlighted Tully’s strong bond with India and its people, evident in his writings. The Prime Minister acknowledged Tully’s significant contributions to public discussions through his reporting and insights.
Mark Tully, a well-known voice in Indian journalism during the latter part of the 20th century, passed away at the age of 90. A former BBC journalist, Tully extensively covered India and South Asia and received recognition from both the Indian and British governments. He had been unwell for some time and breathed his last in a hospital in south Delhi.
Born in Tollygunge, Calcutta, in 1935, Tully hailed from a prosperous British family. After early education in India, including a stint at a boarding school in Darjeeling, he returned to the UK at nine. Despite studying theology at Cambridge with plans for a religious career, Tully shifted to journalism, commencing his tenure at the BBC in 1964.
Returning to India in 1965 as the BBC’s India Correspondent, Tully later assumed the role of the service’s chief of bureau in New Delhi. Over his 22-year tenure, he extensively covered major events in South Asia, including India-Pakistan conflicts, Operation Blue Star, the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, the Bhopal gas tragedy, the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, and the Babri Masjid demolition.
