Kolkata:
Veteran journalist and Padma Bhushan awardee Mark Tully, who was born in Kolkata in 1935, today received his birth certificate from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, 78 years after his birth.
Tully, who was born at Regent Park in the Tollygunj area in the southern part of the city (then in undivided 24-Parganas district) on October 24, 1935, needed the certificate to apply for the Overseas Citizen of India status and had written to KMC Mayor Sovan Chatterjee in this regard on August 5.
The birth was registered by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Alipore, on November 21, 1935. He was born of William Scarth Carlisle Tully and Patience Treby.
"I was a bit doubtful when I first wrote to the Mayor for the birth certificate. But today I am really overwhelmed by the response. I was born in Calcutta then I went to London and again came back to New Delhi for my job," Tully said.
"Though I am a British, today I feel like more Calcuttan than ever before," said Mr Tully.
Flanked by Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Mr Tully was handed over his birth certificate, in a small ceremony organised by the KMC.
Mr Tully, the second of six children, said that all his brothers and sisters were born in Kolkata.
Mr Tully was BBC's New Delhi bureau chief for 22 years since 1965 and covered major events, including the Indo-Pakistan conflicts, Bhopal gas tragedy, Operation Blue Star, assassinations of Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi, and demolition of the Babri Masjid.
His reportage won him honours like the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Order of the British Empire and Knighthood.
"My mother would be very happy if she were alive today," said Mr Tully.
Reminiscing about his deep connection with India, an emotional Mr Tully said, "I have a deep connection with India. One of my daughters-in-law is in India. Earlier this month she gave birth to a son named Aditya."