Family, friends remember BBC journalist Mark Tully

Friends, family and admirers gathered at the India International Centre on Friday to celebrate the life of journalist, author and broadcaster Mark Tully who passed away on January 25 this year at the age of 90. The legendary broadcaster was the voice of the British Broadcasting Corporation in India and the sub continent.

The truly intimate memorial was anchored by Mark Tully's partner Gillian Wright, an eminent writer herself, with the late broadcaster's friends and associates paying rich tributes.

For the start there was a short film that captured Mark Tully in his element, traversing the vast swathes of India by road, often by rail and engaging people thoughtfully. This film had Tully describe himself as an "old Hindustani."

"I was born in Calcutta, my mother was from Bangladesh and my grandfather was born in Orissa. So I am an old Hindustani, not a new one," Tully is heard saying as powerful images of his ground reports including from the days of Punjab militancy and Babri Masjid demolition streamed in the background.

BBC Russia correspondent Steve Rosenberg's musical tribute to the late journalist came next. Following this, people, whose lives Tully touched, shared personal memoirs.

One of these was by former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

Read out by Sunit Tandon, it said, "Mark Tully was one of a kind teller of news in truths and truths in news. He did not have to sensationalise. He presented the news as it is, all about vishvas (trust) and no bakwas (trivia)."

Tributes were also offered by Yogendra Yadav of the Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, who said "In our home in Ganganagar, 8 PM was eating time and BBC time. There were no conversations for the duration of the broadcast."