Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor: A Life of Politics, Literature, and Public Service
Full Name and Common Aliases
Shashi Tharoor's full name is Shyamalal Anthony Tharoor. He is commonly known as Shashi Tharoor.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on March 9, 1956, in London, England. Still alive.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Indian nationality, with a career spanning politics, literature, journalism, and public service. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, since 2009.
Early Life and Background
Tharoor was born to Padmanabhan Nair, an Indian diplomat, and Sushila Nayar, a Malayali woman. His family's diplomatic background meant he spent his early years moving between countries, including the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. This upbringing instilled in him a global perspective and fluency in multiple languages.
Growing up in an environment of intellectual curiosity and cultural exchange, Tharoor developed a passion for literature, history, and politics. He attended The Doon School in Dehradun, India, before pursuing higher education at St Stephen's College (Delhi) and later at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in History.
Major Accomplishments
Throughout his career, Tharoor has achieved numerous milestones:
He began his professional life as an editor with Penguin Books in London.
Tharoor then transitioned to a career in journalism, working as a correspondent for The Times of India and later as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information from 2002 to 2007.
In 2009, he entered politics, becoming an MP and serving on various parliamentary committees.
Tharoor has also been the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs and a member of the Joint Committee on National Security.
Notable Works or Actions
Tharoor is a prolific writer with numerous books to his credit. Some notable works include:
Riot: A Novel (2008) - a historical fiction novel set in 19th-century India.
Show Business: A Novel (2014) - a satirical comedy exploring the inner workings of Indian politics.
Pax Indica: India and the World of the 21st Century (2007) - a non-fiction work examining India's role in international relations.
As an MP, Tharoor has been an outspoken advocate for issues such as climate change, women's rights, and economic development. His contributions to public discourse have earned him recognition within and outside Parliament.
Impact and Legacy
Shashi Tharoor's impact extends far beyond his literary achievements or political career:
He has played a key role in shaping India's foreign policy, particularly during the UPA government.
Tharoor's commitment to promoting Indian culture and values on the global stage has inspired many young Indians to pursue careers in diplomacy and international relations.
As an MP, he continues to raise awareness about pressing national and international issues, making him a respected voice within India's political landscape.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Tharoor's reputation as a thoughtful, articulate, and engaging public figure has earned him widespread recognition:
His eloquence in both English and Hindi makes him a sought-after speaker at conferences, symposia, and other events.
Tharoor's expertise on international relations, history, and literature provides valuable insights for readers and listeners alike.
* As an advocate for progressive values and causes, he remains a respected voice within India's public sphere.
With his impressive record of accomplishments in politics, literature, and public service, Shashi Tharoor continues to inspire and influence generations to come. His commitment to promoting India's interests on the global stage has cemented his legacy as a dedicated servant of the nation and a shining example of intellectual curiosity and public engagement.
Quotes by Shashi Tharoor
Shashi Tharoor's insights on:
The principles he stood for and the way in which he asserted them were always easier to admire than to follow.
If ever the Empire comes to ruin, Heaslop, mark my words, the British publisher will be to blame.
India is my country, and in that sense my outrage is personal. But I seek nothing from history – only an account of itself.
She said my problem was that I saw things in people that they didn’t see in themselves.
In Indian culture, the woman of the house – the embodiment of the family’s honor – treasures her gold jewelry both as her soundest asset and as the symbol of her status.
Great discoveries, Ganapathi, are often the result of making the wrong mistake at the right time.
Nehru, speaking of his country’s dreams, said: ‘Those dreams are for India, but they are also for the world, for all the nations and peoples are too closely knit together today for any one of them to imagine that it can live apart. Peace has been said to be indivisible; so is freedom, so is prosperity now, and so also is disaster in this One World that can no longer be split into isolated fragments.’ It.
It was not just the maharajas who had to suffer: every Indian schoolchild must lament the influence of the British dress code on Indians – especially the tie as a permanent noose around the necks of millions of schoolchildren, in India’s sweltering heat, even today.
The obscurantist and atavistic state that Narendra Modi’s BJP wants to create would look nothing like the one that made India the scientific superpower of the ancient age. It is enough to make one shed a tear. One can only hope that there are no peahens around.
Muslim sociologists and anthropologists have argued that Islam in rural India is more Indian than Islamic, in the sense that the faith as practiced by the ordinary Muslim villagers reflects the considerable degree of cultural assimilation that has occurred between Hindus and Muslims in their daily lives.