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Mark Tully

Articles by Mark Tully

Brexit lessons: India should stick to its middle road

The nation should find a path between radical socialism and rampant capitalism and hold in balance the nationalism and globalisation tension

The shock on the face of the leading Conservative Brexiteer, former London mayor Boris Johnson, the day the results were known, his subsequent disappearance, and eventual withdrawal from the Conservative leadership contest indicate that at the very least he was thoroughly alarmed at the prospect of being responsible for cleaning up the mess his campaign had created(AFP)

analysis

Updated on Jul 09, 2016 09:50 PM IST

ByMark Tully

India has much to lose from a Brexit victory

If Britain exits the European Union, one of the casualties could be the unity of the United Kingdom

Boris Johnson, until very recently mayor of London, is leading the Brexit campaign(Getty Images)

columns

Published on Jun 11, 2016 11:15 PM IST

ByMark Tully

Education does not come only from universities

This obsession with university education leads to job-seekers being assessed by the number of their degrees

BJP president Amit Shah along with finance minister Arun Jaitley addresses a press conference at BJP office in New Delhi.(HT File Photo)

columns

Updated on May 15, 2016 12:46 AM IST

ByMark Tully

Religious studies can keep secularism alive in India

At this time of religious conflicts, there is an urgent need throughout the globe for a greater understanding of the phenomenon we call religion. There is perhaps no country where this is more important than India

Madarsa education can be upgraded to include various branches of Islamic theology(HT)

columns

Updated on Apr 24, 2016 11:21 AM IST

ByMark Tully

We need rules to rule out political interference

We can’t just blame the professionals for being spineless. We the people are spineless because we put up with governments abrogating power to themselves

The crises in JNU and the Hyderabad University (in pic) have been created by politicians trampling on the autonomy of institutions(PTI)

analysis

Updated on Mar 26, 2016 10:59 PM IST

ByMark Tully

The world at large knows what’s happening in India

Hatred is an inevitable outcome of political patriotism. Politicians create enemies to fuel the patriotism by providing someone to hate.

US president Obama prodded India to uphold the religious freedom guaranteed by its founding fathers during his visit in January 2015.(REUTERS)

columns

Updated on Feb 28, 2016 02:21 AM IST

ByMark Tully

Missing on Paris climate summit agenda: A return to nature

If technology succeeds, we may well think we can continue our present lifestyle with a clear conscience

To “rein in and renew our links with nature” is something we have missed on the agenda at Paris.(Reuters)

analysis

Updated on Dec 06, 2015 07:37 AM IST

ByMark Tully

Rumours can light fires, which then spread rapidly

The brutal lynching of Mohammed Ikhlaq and the severe injury caused to his son were instigated by a rumour, one of the most powerful weapons in the hands of those who want to provoke hatred between communities. A PM who has cultivated so assiduously the friendship of world leaders must be aware of the threat to his reputation that rumour-mongering poses.

Family members mourn over the death of Ikhlaq after he was killed on Monday by a mob over an allegation of cow slaughtering at Bisada village.(HT Photo)

analysis

Updated on Oct 10, 2015 10:11 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByMark Tully

A balance between public and private is required

Private versus public, should the private sector or the market provide services — that hoary debate emerged again last month in two sectors of the economy, health and education. These are crucial sectors if India is to correct its lop-sided growth and grow inclusively writes Mark Tully

US-based-economist-Arvind-Panagariya-will-be-the-vice-chairman-of-the-NITI-Aayog-the-body-which-will-replace-the-planning-commission-HT-photo

analysis

Updated on Jun 10, 2017 05:58 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByMark Tully

We act as if we’ve dominion over nature’s resources

The arguments in the run-up to the Paris conference indicate that once again the chance to use the climate crisis as an opportunity will be lost — an opportunity to get people to at least think that maybe they would be happier if their lifestyle did not consume so much of nature’s resources, if they became her friend rather than her enemy.

analysis

Updated on Aug 16, 2015 12:53 AM IST

None | ByMark Tully

Economic growth should not mean disdain for faith

Religion is still a powerful force in this country but secularisation is also becoming more and more influential. India needs economic growth but the more it follows the neo-liberal economic model to achieve growth, the greater is the danger of secularisation clashing with religion.

analysis

Updated on Jul 19, 2015 09:30 AM IST

ByMark Tully

Displaced tribals are adrift in an alien world

In all the heat being generated by the government’s amendments to the land acquisition law, the tribals are being left out in the cold.

Emphasis-on-protecting-the-rights-of-tribals-comes-in-the-backdrop-of-increasing-perception-of-the-government-being-pro-industry-HT-File-Photo

opinion

Updated on Jun 21, 2015 12:41 AM IST

ByMark Tully

The border deal can open many doors in South Asia

Because of its size India is feared in the neighbourhood. It must remove that fear if South Asia is to reap the rewards of regional cooperation because the burden of responsibility lies on its shoulders, writes Mark Tully.

opinion

Updated on May 23, 2015 10:07 PM IST

ByMark Tully

This is a barefoot fact, villages may wither away

With Delhi’s air being declared the most polluted in the world and one of the causes of that pollution being massive migration from the countryside, should we really agree with Ambedkar when, in reply to Gandhi’s assertion that India lives in its villages, he asked, “But must it continue to do so?” Most economists are on the side of Ambedkar because in their view urbanisation is essential for development.

opinion

Updated on Apr 25, 2015 10:40 PM IST

None | ByMark Tully

A ‘blame’ policy is worse than policy failure

The pictures this month of young men clinging like leeches to the wall of an examination centre in Bihar, feeding answers to examinees, symbolised a dilemma of Indian governance — the problem of matching plans and policies with ground realities. All was well on paper. The carefully planned schedule of exams took place, but the reality was that they were a fiasco.

Family-members-and-friends-climb-walls-to-make-answer-chits-available-to-those-appearing-for-their-Class-10-exams-at-a-centre-in-Vaishali-Bihar-HT-Photo

opinion

Updated on Mar 28, 2015 10:45 PM IST

ByMark Tully Mark Tully

Newspapers for readers, Parliament for voters

Events in Britain this February indicate that voters are not protesting sufficiently strongly against the role of big money in their democracy, and when it comes to the press, the old question ‘who will guard the guardians?’ has still to be answered.

opinion

Updated on Mar 01, 2015 10:29 AM IST

ByMark Tully

PM Modi knows the power of radio, let's enjoy it too

PM Narendra Modi has another feather in his turban. The management of the Obama visit was superb. Inevitably one or two questions were raised but they were comparatively minor matters, writes Mark Tully.

opinion

Updated on Feb 01, 2015 12:27 AM IST

ByMark Tully

Science is spectacular, but humanities matter

There is the danger that with all the emphasis on the usefulness of science, the value of humanities will be forgotten, writes Mark Tully.

opinion

Updated on Jan 04, 2015 02:05 AM IST

ByMark Tully

Politically, legally and litter-ally incorrect

When those self-styled moralists take the law into their own hands — burning books, threatening artists, attacking bars, and harassing young couples — they should be punished. Sadly all too often they are not — another example of the government seeing it as PC to disobey its own laws.

opinion

Updated on Dec 13, 2014 10:46 PM IST

ByMark Tully

Imagine a world with no religion, no partition and no 9/11

To win votes on a religious basis voters have to be convinced that their religion is threatened or they are being discriminated against because of their faith, whether they are the majority of an electorate or a minority, writes Mark Tully.

File-photo-showing-Delhi-the-nation-s-capital-became-a-funeral-pyre-for-three-days-from-October-31-to-November-3-in-1984

opinion

Updated on Nov 16, 2014 09:50 AM IST

ByMark Tully

Wasting the potential of our vast wastelands

Reclaimed wastelands could more than compensate for land lost to mining, industry and infrastructure. The pulses produced would go a long way in combating malnutrition, writes Mark Tully.

opinion

Updated on Oct 19, 2014 02:23 AM IST

ByMark Tully

PM Modi is not a listener; so be prepared for it

PM Narendra Modi has come to remind me of an old-fashioned headmaster. He reportedly treats his ministers as schoolchildren, telling them what to wear, who to meet, and what to say, writes Mark Tully.

opinion

Updated on Aug 31, 2014 07:52 PM IST

ByMark Tully

India’s look east window should not be jammed

Even if a middle road is followed India won’t make a success of looking East if it’s governance is not effective. Can Modi provide the strong government managing an Eastern economy requires asks Mark Tully.

opinion

Updated on Aug 03, 2014 01:26 AM IST

ByMark Tully

A pampered lot: why India gives NRIs special status

NRIs are a pampered lot. Even though they have taken up foreign citizenship, they have their own minister and many other privileges. But does this special status give them the right to interfere in Indian affairs? Mark Tully explores.

analysis

Updated on Jul 06, 2014 02:24 PM IST

ByMark Tully

Give them the fishing-rod and a bit of fish too

It is the elites who are the danger to Modi. Their influence is disproportionate to what should be their importance and they believe that what is good for them is good for the rest of India.

opinion

Updated on Jun 08, 2014 12:04 AM IST

ByMark Tully

A dream that may end in a quick wake-up call

When this long, long, election eventually comes to an end and the votes are counted we will know whether Indian voters have opted for the uncertainty of the promise of a bright new future, or the security of a tired past. Mark Tully writes.

opinion

Updated on May 10, 2014 10:02 PM IST

Hindustan Times | ByMark Tully

Manmohan Singh: A modest politician let down by his party

How will history see Manmohan Singh? History’s overall verdict on Manmohan singh’s tenure as prime minister is likely to be positive, writes Mark Tully.

opinion

Updated on Apr 19, 2014 11:46 PM IST

ByMark Tully

Election has been reduced to a beauty contest between two men

If a remarkable book written last year by Moises Naim, the former Venezuelan development minister, is right, whoever wins the election is likely to have even less power than earlier PMs. Mark Tully writes.

opinion

Updated on Mar 23, 2014 03:07 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByMark Tully

Ending corruption not enough for aam admi

The media's daily search for a new scam, has created the misleading belief that corruption is the root of all evil; eradicate it and India will become a model of good governance, writes Mark Tully.

india news

Updated on Dec 29, 2013 03:23 PM IST

ByMark Tully

Last of British priests in India passes away

Father Ian Weathrall, the last British member of the Church of North India’s Delhi Brotherhood died at the age of 91 on Tuesday. He joined the Brotherhood, a community of priests, in 1951 and lived in their Delhi house until his death after a long battle against cancer.

delhi news

Updated on May 02, 2013 12:42 AM IST

Hindustan Times | ByMark Tully, New Delhi

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Mark Tully

The nation should find a path between radical socialism and rampant capitalism and hold in balance the nationalism and globalisation tension

If Britain exits the European Union, one of the casualties could be the unity of the United Kingdom

This obsession with university education leads to job-seekers being assessed by the number of their degrees

At this time of religious conflicts, there is an urgent need throughout the globe for a greater understanding of the phenomenon we call religion. There is perhaps no country where this is more important than India

We can’t just blame the professionals for being spineless. We the people are spineless because we put up with governments abrogating power to themselves

Hatred is an inevitable outcome of political patriotism. Politicians create enemies to fuel the patriotism by providing someone to hate.

If technology succeeds, we may well think we can continue our present lifestyle with a clear conscience

Private versus public, should the private sector or the market provide services — that hoary debate emerged again last month in two sectors of the economy, health and education. These are crucial sectors if India is to correct its lop-sided growth and grow inclusively writes Mark Tully

Religion is still a powerful force in this country but secularisation is also becoming more and more influential. India needs economic growth but the more it follows the neo-liberal economic model to achieve growth, the greater is the danger of secularisation clashing with religion.

In all the heat being generated by the government’s amendments to the land acquisition law, the tribals are being left out in the cold.

Because of its size India is feared in the neighbourhood. It must remove that fear if South Asia is to reap the rewards of regional cooperation because the burden of responsibility lies on its shoulders, writes Mark Tully.

Events in Britain this February indicate that voters are not protesting sufficiently strongly against the role of big money in their democracy, and when it comes to the press, the old question ‘who will guard the guardians?’ has still to be answered.

PM Narendra Modi has another feather in his turban. The management of the Obama visit was superb. Inevitably one or two questions were raised but they were comparatively minor matters, writes Mark Tully.

There is the danger that with all the emphasis on the usefulness of science, the value of humanities will be forgotten, writes Mark Tully.

When those self-styled moralists take the law into their own hands — burning books, threatening artists, attacking bars, and harassing young couples — they should be punished. Sadly all too often they are not — another example of the government seeing it as PC to disobey its own laws.

To win votes on a religious basis voters have to be convinced that their religion is threatened or they are being discriminated against because of their faith, whether they are the majority of an electorate or a minority, writes Mark Tully.

Reclaimed wastelands could more than compensate for land lost to mining, industry and infrastructure. The pulses produced would go a long way in combating malnutrition, writes Mark Tully.

PM Narendra Modi has come to remind me of an old-fashioned headmaster. He reportedly treats his ministers as schoolchildren, telling them what to wear, who to meet, and what to say, writes Mark Tully.

Even if a middle road is followed India won’t make a success of looking East if it’s governance is not effective. Can Modi provide the strong government managing an Eastern economy requires asks Mark Tully.

NRIs are a pampered lot. Even though they have taken up foreign citizenship, they have their own minister and many other privileges. But does this special status give them the right to interfere in Indian affairs? Mark Tully explores.

It is the elites who are the danger to Modi. Their influence is disproportionate to what should be their importance and they believe that what is good for them is good for the rest of India.

When this long, long, election eventually comes to an end and the votes are counted we will know whether Indian voters have opted for the uncertainty of the promise of a bright new future, or the security of a tired past. Mark Tully writes.

How will history see Manmohan Singh? History’s overall verdict on Manmohan singh’s tenure as prime minister is likely to be positive, writes Mark Tully.

If a remarkable book written last year by Moises Naim, the former Venezuelan development minister, is right, whoever wins the election is likely to have even less power than earlier PMs. Mark Tully writes.

The media's daily search for a new scam, has created the misleading belief that corruption is the root of all evil; eradicate it and India will become a model of good governance, writes Mark Tully.

Father Ian Weathrall, the last British member of the Church of North India’s Delhi Brotherhood died at the age of 91 on Tuesday. He joined the Brotherhood, a community of priests, in 1951 and lived in their Delhi house until his death after a long battle against cancer.

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