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NEW DELHI, INDIA, April 21, 2001: Speaking from the heart, this article expounds on Mark Tully’s love of India. Tully worked most of his life for the BBC in India, and is widely respected. Born over sixty-five years ago in Kolkata, Tully’s early upbringing took place within the lavish British society with servants and tea. Moving back to wartime England was rather shocking to Tully. He was used to running barefoot and having many servants, not one insistent nanny. Studying history and theology at Cambridge after grade school sparked his interest in both Christianity and Hinduism. After graduation these studies landed him a job at the BBC, in the personnel department. At the age of 30, he sailed back to India as assistant reporter for the BBC and felt a real home-coming. Known internationally as the famed journalist from India, Tully’s career has covered the Bangladesh War, the Maha Kumbh Mela and the internal emergency declared by former prime minister Indira Gandhi, to name only a few major events. Winning awards such as the Order of the British Empire and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the BBC, Tully considers the covering of the Maha Kumbh Mela one of his greatest, magical and mystical stories. Retiring in the Indian capital, Tully’s love of India is evident in his home with motifs on the walls, murthis of Indian Gods in his living room and audiocassettes of Bollywood. He said he wants to be reborn as an Indian.

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