The lesson ‘India through the eyes of a foreigner’ is a short account by British – Indian Radio Journalist Mark Tully. Mark Tully was with the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) until he resigned in the year 1994. In this short account of his experiences in India, Mark Tully tells us why he likes India and Indians very much. He vividly gives as the imagery of India’s natural beauty and the beauty and diversity of India’s social religions and cultural activities.

After Mark Tully arrived in India he quickly realised that it was not difficult to get involved in India. From the very day he’ arrived he was surrounded by friends, who introduced him to the staff of All India Radio, Press club and his neighbours. He says that many are still good friends. These friends encouraged him to get involved in India. When anyone asks him why he did not go back to England he replies that it is because of his dear friends.

He discloses to us that it was not the only reason he decided to stay in India. The truth was he was drawn to the natural beauty of India. He describes how he explored the beauty of India. One week we was camping in the Great Himalayan National Park watching the snow clad mountains glitter in the sunset and next week he would be in Kerala, sitting in his swimming tranks watching the sunset over the Arabian sea.

He is nostalgic about the smells of seasons of India. He distinguishes the dry scent of early summer of Delhi, When the blue Jacarandas, the scarlet gulmohars flower to the sweet smell of queen-of-the-night flowers and the freshness of the pine trees in the foothills of Himalayas. He is impressed by the variety of folk songs and Indian classical music. He feels that the classical ragas start with austerity (simplicity) and end in ecstasy.

Mark Tully is amazed at the great epics and the love poetry of India. He tells as that one wall of his flat is covered by the art of the Pradhan tribe of Central India. He is awed by the colourful festivals of India and the Pujari, he is not dressed grandly like the church preachers, performing evening poojas in temples. He is swayed by the solemn dignity of the courtyards of Mosques where Muslims offer namaz. He tells us that he will never know a person was would be disappointed after seeing the Tajmahal or the forts of Rajasthan. He also likes Indian food like parathas a vegetarian thali.

He admits that all these things compelled him to stay in India. He is apologetic and admits that he is not a poet to give an apt description of India. Only a poet can describe what India means to him. Most foreigners like him believe that India and Indians are unique. He is grateful to India and Indians for being accepted as one of themselves.