Veteran journalist Mark Tully passes away at 90

A Life Dedicated to Reporting India's Story

Sir William Mark Tully, better known as Mark Tully, breathed his last on January 25, 2026, at the age of 90 in his New Delhi residence.

The veteran British journalist had been receiving treatment for a lingering illness in a Delhi health facility's nephrology ward.

Tully's death marks the end of an era for foreign correspondence on India, where he spent much of his life unraveling the nation's complexities with unmatched insight.

Born on October 24, 1935, Tully's early years in colonial India left an indelible mark, drawing him back to the country that would define his career.

He joined the BBC in 1964 and quickly became its India correspondent the following year, eventually serving as New Delhi bureau chief for over two decades.

Covering Turbulent Times in South Asia

Tully's reporting captured some of India's most defining moments, offering audiences a nuanced view beyond headlines.

He chronicled the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from 1975 to 1977, during which he was briefly barred from India amid media censorship.

His dispatches covered Operation Blue Star, the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the ensuing anti-Sikh riots, the Bhopal gas tragedy, the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, and the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.

During the Babri Masjid coverage, he faced direct threats from activists who locked him in a room, chanting against him; local officials eventually secured his release.

Tully often emphasized listening to ordinary people, especially in rural areas, to portray India's social changes and political upheavals authentically.

"India's greatest setback to secularism as an independent nation came with the demolition of the Babri Masjid, a moment that tested the country's pluralistic fabric in ways few events had before," Tully once reflected on the incident that shook him deeply.

Beyond the BBC: Books, Honors, and Legacy

In 1994, Tully resigned from the BBC after clashing with then-Director General John Birt, whom he criticized for fostering a culture of fear and turning the broadcaster into a secretive entity with declining standards.

He transitioned to freelance journalism, continuing to base himself in New Delhi, and presented programs like BBC Radio 4's Something Understood.

Tully authored several acclaimed books blending sharp reportage with storytelling, including Amritsar: Mrs Gandhi’s Last Battle, No Full Stops in India, India in Slow Motion, The Heart of India, and Upcountry Tales.

These works delved into rural life, social transformations, and the quirks of Indian society, earning him praise for his empathy and depth.

His contributions were recognized with a knighthood from the British Crown in 2002 and India's Padma Bhushan in 2005, alongside numerous journalism awards.

Tributes poured in, with BBC colleagues hailing him as the voice that opened India to the world, highlighting his calm curiosity and sensible approach.

Known as India's best-loved Englishman, Tully's legacy endures through his commitment to truthful, human-centered journalism.

Sir Mark Tully's passing closes a chapter on one of journalism's most respected figures, whose work illuminated India's vibrant diversity amid its challenges, from major crises to everyday tales, leaving an enduring imprint on global understanding of the subcontinent.