Veteran journalist Mark Tully opens up on a wide range of issues in an interview to Orissa POST
Veteran BBC journalist and an expert on India, Sir William Mark Tully is a household name in Indian journalism. In a freewheeling chat on the sidelines of the Kalinga Lit Fest in the city, Tully talks on his time in Orissa, his views on Indian media and what is keeping him busy at the moment. Excerpts from an interview with Manish Kumar…
OP: You have travelled extensively in India. What impression you have of Orissa in your mind?
Tully: I visited Orissa for the first time in 1944, and found it to be rich in spirituality, culture and heritage. Later, I often visited Orissa during my time as a BBC journalist. I find Orissa very beautiful and before coming to the lit fest, I travelled to Puri to spend some time there.
OP:You have worked for a long time in India. How do you think it has changed over the years?
Tully: India is a dynamic and beautiful country. It has undergone many changes in the last few decades, especially since the abolishment of the licence raj. People’s aspirations have changed drastically and they are no longer satisfied with being where they were some years back, and that is a very positive sign. The government too needs to support such aspirations in order to develop as a nation.
OP: How was your experience of participating in the lit fest?
Tully: This is a new concept but a very innovative and welcome one. I enjoyed the lit fest here where we had a lot of fruitful discussions. I also got a chance to listen to several good speakers from diverse fields. However, lit fests should not be confined only to deliberations. Discussions and brainstorming sessions should yield
tangible outcomes.
OP: You have become fairly conversant in Hindi. Was it tough picking up the language?
Tully: It is all thanks to the wonderful people here. I learnt the basics of the language over the years by talking to people in Hindi. They made it easier for me.
OP :Do you think Public broadcasters in India express independent views?
Tully: In India, Public broadcasters are largely affected by whichever regime is in power. Broadcasters work according to their orders, and this is something that hampers the independency of news. I remember an incident when one of my friends working on a state broadcasting unit had to wait for government orders to broadcast the news of the assassination of former PM Indira Gandhi. However, there are still some
bright points.
OP: Do you think India has the potential to come up with a global channel like BBC?
Tully: It will be a Herculean task. It requires a lot of set-ups and infrastructure. India can come up with a BBC-like channel only if adequate support from authorities is garnered. It will require government support. But then how impartial and independent it will be is a question to ponder over.
OP What are your future plans?
Tully: I have already crossed 80 years, but my journey has not stopped. I am working on a new book. This would be a compilation of short fictional stories inspired from the lives of common people in India.
