Kolkata: Sir Mark Tully, the British journalist, who was born in Kolkata on October 24, 1935, is now finding it difficult to obtain a birth certificate from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Tully, who worked for the BBC for 30 years, has reported on all major incidents of the sub-continent, including major general elections, two Indo-Pakistan wars, Bhopal gas tragedy and then assassinations of Indira and her son Rajiv Gandhi. He won highest civilian honours including the Padma Shri in India and the Knighthood from the Queen of England.

As per the letter writing by Tully to the chairman of the municipality he introduced himself as a British journalist, who was born in the city and had spent all his working life in India. He has informed that as per records, his name is William Mark Tully; father’s name William Scarth Carlisle Tully and mother Patience Treby Tully.

He was born at 6 Regent Park, Tollygunge and his birth was registered by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Alipore, 24-Parganas on November 21, 1935.

Speaking to Gulf News, Tully said: “I am hopeful that I will receive the certificate soon. I need the birth certificate to apply for the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status that would enable him to visit India and stay in the country without the need for visa. I am eligible for OCI but need a birth certificate as part of the documentation.

“Since I have lived all my working life in India and love the country of my birth, I wish to continue staying here without worrying about visas,” the reporter clarified.

“Trinamool Congress member of parliament Derek O’Brian had spoken to me and has promised help. Hope this gets sorted at the earliest. Though I am yet to hear from the municipality officially,” he added.

However, municipal officials are finding it very difficult to oblige this renowned journalist.

According to member mayor-in-council (health) Atin Ghosh, “finding a record from that time itself is a herculean task. This is pre-independence time and nothing was computerised then.

“Also, the area he had mentioned as his birth place was not part of municipality at that time; we do not have any records. We cannot issue a birth certificate to him.

“But he can apply for it only after producing an affidavit from a first class magistrate after convincing him that he was born in Kolkata,” said Ghosh.