Veteran British journalist Sir Mark Tully, who is recognised for his authentic information on the atrocities during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, passed away at an Indian hospital today. He was 90.
Mark Tully was familiar to BBC audiences in Britain and around the world -- a much-admired foreign correspondent and commentator on India, reports BBC.
He covered war, famine, riots and assassinations, the Bhopal gas tragedy and the Indian army's storming of the Sikh Golden Temple.
In 2012, Bangladesh named him a "Foreign Friend of Bangladesh" for his role in highlighting the true face of the Liberation War to the world.
During the war of 1971, when news media controlled by the then Pakistani junta carried out government propaganda, Tully’s coverage on BBC radio was the people’s chief source of authentic information.
He extensively covered the war days for the BBC and had the opportunity to document them from close quarters.
The renowned journalist was born in Kolkata on October 24, 1935. He was the former bureau chief of BBC, New Delhi -- a position he held for 20 years. He worked with the BBC for a total of 30 years before resigning in July 1994.
BBC reported Tully was accorded two of India's top civilian honours: the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan. Britain too gave him recognition. He was knighted for services to broadcasting and journalism in the 2002 New Year's honours list.
He continued to write books about India -- essays, analyses, short stories too, sometimes in collaboration with his partner, Gillian Wright. He lived unostentatiously in south Delhi.
Tully never gave up his British nationality but was proud also to become late in life an Overseas Citizen of India.