Veteran journalist, historian of India Mark Tully passes away in Delhi at the age of 90

Veteran journalist, historian of India and acclaimed author Mark Tully died following multi-organ failure at a private hospital here on Sunday, hospital officials said. He was 90 years old.

The award-winning journalist was ill for some time and was admitted to Max Hospital in south Delhi’s Saket under the head of the nephrology department on January 21, a hospital source told PTI.

“Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, with deep sorrow confirms that Mr. William Mark Tully passed away at 2:35 pm on January 25, 2026. The cause of death was multiple organ failure following stroke,” the hospital said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to his family, loved ones and everyone affected by his passing.” “Mark passed away this afternoon at Max Hospital Saket,” veteran journalist and Tuli’s close friend Satish Jacob told PTI. Born on October 24, 1935 in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Tuli was Bureau Chief of BBC, New Delhi for 22 years.

An acclaimed author, Tully was the presenter of the BBC Radio 4 program ‘Something Understood’.

He was also part of several documentaries on subjects ranging from India and the British Raj to Indian Railways.

Tully was knighted in 2002 and received the Padma Bhushan from the Government of India in 2005.

He wrote several books on India, including ‘No Full Stops in India’, ‘India in Slow Motion’ and ‘The Heart of India’.

Tully’s work with the BBC was highlighted by his coverage of some of the landmark episodes of post-independence Indian history.

Major events include the Bangladesh War of 1971, the Emergency of 1975–77, the hanging of former Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1979, Operation Blue Star, the assassination of Indira Gandhi and the anti-Sikh riots in 1984, the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992.

Operation Blue Star and the Punjab problem were the subject of Tully’s first book, ‘Amritsar: Mrs. Gandhi’s Last Battle’ (1985), co-written with Satish Jacob.