Home / Arts and Entertainment / India's 'Voice' Sir Mark Tully Dies at 90
India's 'Voice' Sir Mark Tully Dies at 90
25 Jan
Summary
- Sir Mark Tully, known as BBC's 'voice of India,' has passed away.
- He covered significant Indian events from 1965 until his departure.
- Tully received two of India's top civilian honors for his work.
Veteran broadcaster and journalist Sir Mark Tully, widely recognized as the BBC's "voice of India," has died at the age of 90. For over two decades, he served as the BBC's bureau chief in Delhi, covering the entirety of South Asia. His reporting began in 1965, and he became a familiar voice to global audiences, reporting on major events including the Bhopal gas tragedy and the storming of the Sikh Golden Temple.
Born in Calcutta in 1935, Tully spent most of his life in India, developing fluency in Hindi and earning the respect of many as "Tully sahib." He famously witnessed the 1992 demolition of the Babri mosque, an event he later described as a grave setback to Indian secularism. Despite being expelled from India in 1975 during a state of emergency, he returned 18 months later and continued his extensive coverage.
After a public disagreement with the BBC's management, Tully resigned in 1994 but continued to engage with topics of faith and spirituality on radio programs. He was honored with India's Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards and was knighted by Britain in 2002. Tully remained a prolific writer, publishing books about India, and held both British nationality and Overseas Citizen of India status, reflecting his deep connection to both countries.
