The ‘insider’ from the outside, Sir Mark Tully is a media legend in India. From dodging the bullets on the India-Pakistan border, to describing the poverty of Kolkata's street beggars or detailing the horrific aftermath of the Bhopal chemical disaster, he gave a unique insight into the life of the subcontinent. He was known to bring out a humane side to media coverage, and brought a people’s perspective to his reporting which resulted in a nation wide enthralled and loyal audience.
Education & Career
Although he was born in Calcutta, India, Sir Tully was educated at Marlborough College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge where he studied history and theology. After Cambridge he considered becoming a priest, but switched to a BBC journalist very shortly. In 1964 he became a correspondent to India and spent over 20 years of his career in India as Chief of Bureau, New Delhi, covering every event and catastrophe across the country.
Books
Tully has written several books about India, including India in Slow Motion (jointly with Gillian Wright), No Full Stops in India, The Heart of India, Divide and Quit, India – 50 years of Independence and his recent book India's Unending Journey. In the area of religion Sir Mark has authored The Lives of Jesus to accompany the BBC series and Four Faces: A Journey in Search of Jesus the Divine, the Jew, the Rebel, the Sage.
Media Appearances
Sir Tully recently presented a BBC TV series called The Lives of Jesus. He is also a regular presenter of the BBC Radio show called Something Understood, which has themes and music on religion, spirituality, and the human condition.
Awards
Recipient of the Padma Shree in 1992, Padma Bhushan in 2005, and was Knighted in the 2002 New Year Honors.