Mark Tully dead at 90: From Kolkata to BBC, remembering the man who defined Indian journalism!

He was 90.

Confirming his death, senior journalist and close friend Satish Jacob told mediapersons as quoted by India Today, “Mark passed away at Max Hospital Saket this afternoon.”

Tully was reportedly unwell for some time.

A hospital source told the news channel he was undergoing treatment under the nephrology department.

A familiar voice to Indian radio listeners, Tully was born on October 24, 1935, in Kolkata (then known as Calcutta), during the British regime.

He had served as the Bureau Chief of BBC, New Delhi, for more than 20 years.

He worked with the BBC for 30 years before resigning in July 1994.

Tully was known for presenting the BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Something Understood’.

In his illustrious career, he was knighted in 2002. He received the Padma Bhushan from the government of India in 2005.

He is known for writing several books including ‘No Full Stops in India’, ‘India in Slow Motion’, and ‘The Heart of India’.

Reacting to his death, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri wrote on X: "Deeply saddened by the demise of the celebrated journalist and author Mark Tully. For generations across our subcontinent, his calm and unmistakable voice was synonymous with news."