BBC broadcasting legend Sir Mark Tully has died aged 90.
The veteran journalist, who spent 30 years at the Beeb, was hailed as a “towering voice of journalism” by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Posting a tribute on X, the Indian PM said: “Saddened by the passing of Sir Mark Tully, a towering voice of journalism.
“His connect with India and the people of our nation was reflected in his works.
“His reporting and insights have left an enduring mark on public discourse. Condolences to his family, friends and many admirers.”
Sir Mark was born in India in 1935 and later moved to England at the age of nine.
After studying history and theology at Cambridge, he first started working for the BBC in the 1960s.
He returned to India in 1965 to work as an administrative assistant at the broadcaster, before taking on a reporting role.
Sir Mark went on to lead reporting for India and the whole South Asian region.
Some of his famous coverage included included military rule in Pakistan, Tamil Tigers’ rebellion in Sri Lanka and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Almost three decades later, in 1994, Sir Mark resigned from the BBC.
He later became the voice of BBC Radio 4 programme Something Understood, which explored religion and spirituality.
And he went on to slam the broadcaster for the decision to scrap it in 2019, accusing the company of “underestimating the asset”.
Mohit Bakaya, controller at BBC Radio 4 and director of BBC Speech audio, said Sir Mark “embodied the spirit” of the station.
He added: “He was known to the Radio 4 audience for his reflective, spiritually inspired essays on Something Understood.
“His broadcasts were never about certainty or instruction; they were about curiosity, compassion and making space for complexity.
“Sir Mark embodied the spirit of Radio 4 at its best; thoughtful, generous and searching.
“His voice will be greatly missed by colleagues and listeners alike.”
He was knighted in 2002 by King Charles III, then-Prince of Wales, at Buckingham Palace.
Jonathan Munro, interim chief executive of BBC News and current affairs, said Sir Mark was “a joy to speak with”.
In a statement, he said “We are sad to hear the passing of Sir Mark Tully.
“As one of the pioneers of foreign correspondents, Sir Mark opened India to the world through his reporting…
“…bringing the vibrancy and diversity of the country to audiences in the UK and around the world.
“His public service commitments and dedication to journalism saw him work as a bureau chief in Delhi, and report for outlets across the BBC.
“Widely respected in both India and the UK, he was a joy to speak with and will be greatly missed.”