India’s Unending Journey: A review

Mark Tully is one of the most respected and well-known journalist in India. Probably because he was the voice of BBC, for almost 35 years in India, when the only alternative was DD and A.I.R., and people hardly believed the propaganda that came from the national broadcaster.

When he talks, most people listen, and in this, I am like them too. He has written this book, with a very specific aim in mind. He wants to show the world, what it can learn from India.

Now, Indology, as a subject, has a quite long history, and god alone knows how many forest trees have been pulled down, to make paper for books, with this aim. Yet, this book is different. And it is definitely recommended.

Sir Mark Tully makes many points in this book, and the main point, as I see it, deals with balance. The balance that is a very integral part of everything that India holds dear. Be it about talking about religion, economics, or politics.

We in India, use some words in ways, that the world at large, hardly recognizes. When we say secularism, we mean-to be equidistant from all religions- not ignoring all religions, as the world usually uses it. This is why when France bans the wearing of headscarves in schools or wearing pagdis by sikh children, we in India can not understand what they are talking about.

Tully, even explores why the Muslims in particular and others in general, are so antagonistic towards the western culture, as well as what the west could do to solve these issues.

Tully wanted to become a priest, and became a journalist by chance. It’s now wonder then, that faith plays an important role in his life. He covers his early education as well as why he almost lost his faith. He writes about things that most people will never even talk about, like humility, and the value of not being certain.

This is book that people like me should read. People who are Indian by principles and ethics, but Western by training and education. We are caught in a strange no mans land, and we need the services of a sensitive and articulate outsider, to show what we truly are.

We often find ourselves, at crossroads, where our feeling and thought are contradictory, and these contradictions arise from our dual upbringing. We would be well served if we look this book, because it serves as an excellent mirror; the image it shows, is one we have hidden, or tried to deny; A better Understanding of ourselves, will lead us to greater things, the things we were destined to do.