On May 21, 2025, Shashi Tharoor remains a well-known name in India. He is a politician, writer, and former diplomat. His life is a story of hard work and talent. This article tells the complete biography of Shashi Tharoor in simple words. It covers his early life, education, career, and achievements. The sentences are short and easy to read. This is for Indian readers with basic English knowledge.
Early Life and Family
Shashi Tharoor was born on March 9, 1956. His birthplace was London, United Kingdom. His parents were from Kerala, India. His father’s name was Chandra Shekharan Nair, also called Chandran. His mother’s name was Sulekha Menon. They were a Malayali couple from Palakkad. Shashi has two younger sisters. Their names are Shobha and Smitha. His family moved to India when he was young. His father worked in many cities. These included London, Bombay, Calcutta, and Delhi. His father had a long career with *The Statesman* newspaper. He worked there for 25 years. Shashi’s paternal uncle, Parameshwaran Tharoor, started *Reader’s Digest* in India.
Shashi grew up in cities like Mumbai and Kolkata. As a child, he faced health problems. He had chronic asthma. This kept him in bed often. But Shashi loved reading. Books became his best friends. He read many books every day. One year, he set a goal to read 365 books. He finished this before Christmas. Reading shaped his love for words. It helped him build a strong vocabulary.
Education
Shashi was a bright student. He studied at Montfort School in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu. Later, he joined St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. He completed his bachelor’s degree in 1975. He studied history. After that, he went to the United States. He joined The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. There, he earned a master’s degree. He also completed his doctorate in 1978. His studies focused on international relations. At a young age, he achieved great academic success.
Shashi Tharoor Age, Wikipedia, Biography, UPSC Rank, Education, Wife, Children, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shashi Tharoor |
| Date of Birth | March 9, 1956 |
| Place of Birth | London, United Kingdom |
| Parents | Father: Chandra Shekharan Nair (Chandran) Mother: Sulekha Menon |
| Siblings | Two younger sisters: Shobha and Smitha |
| Family Background | Malayali family from Palakkad, Kerala Father worked with The Statesman for 25 years |
| Childhood | Grew up in Mumbai and Kolkata Had chronic asthma Loved reading books |
| Education | - Montfort School, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu - Bachelor’s in History, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi (1975) - Master’s & Doctorate in International Relations, The Fletcher School, Tufts University, USA (1978) |
| Early Career | - Joined United Nations in 1978 - Worked in Geneva, New York, Singapore - Handled refugee issues with UNHCR |
| UN Achievement | - India’s candidate for UN Secretary-General in 2006 - Came second to Ban Ki-moon |
| Political Career | - Joined Indian National Congress in 2009 - Won Lok Sabha seat from Thiruvananthapuram (2009, 2014, 2019) - Minister of State for External Affairs (2009–2010) - Minister of State for HRD (2012–2014) - Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs (2025) |
| Recent Diplomatic Role | Led Indian delegation to the US in May 2025 after Pahalgam terror attack |
| Writing Career | - Started writing in 1981 - Non-fiction: Reasons of State (1982), India: From Midnight to the Millennium (1997), Nehru: The Invention of India (2003), Pax Indica (2012), An Era of Darkness (2016), Why I Am a Hindu (2018), The Paradoxical Prime Minister (2018), Tharoorosaurus (2020), A Wonderland of Words (2024) - Fiction: The Great Indian Novel (1989), Show Business (1991), Riot (2001) |
| Awards for Writing | An Era of Darkness won Sahitya Akademi Award in 2019 |
| English Vocabulary | Famous for using rare words like “farrago,” “snollygoster,” “webaqoof” Book Tharoorosaurus explains 53 unique words |
| Public Speaking | Famous for Oxford Union speech (2015) on British reparations Got over 10 million views online |
| Personal Life | Married to Sunanda Pushkar (died in 2014) Faced legal case in 2018 for marital cruelty and abetment (denied charges) |
| Achievements | - Named “Global Leader of Tomorrow” by World Economic Forum (1990) - Founded All India Professionals Congress - Once most followed Indian on Twitter |
| Controversies | - Removed as Congress spokesperson in 2014 for praising Modi - Criticized for tweets in 2009 - Faced personal life controversy in 2018 |
| Legacy | Known as a diplomat, politician, and writer Inspires through books and speeches Serves Thiruvananthapuram and shapes India’s global image |
Career at the United Nations
Shashi Tharoor started his career as a diplomat. In 1978, he joined the United Nations. He worked in Geneva, New York, and Singapore. He handled important roles. One of his tasks was helping refugees. He worked with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. His work was respected. In 2006, India chose him as a candidate for UN Secretary-General. He was only 50 years old. If he had won, he would have been the second-youngest Secretary-General. He came second in the election. Ban Ki-moon from South Korea won. Shashi left the UN in 2007.
Entry into Politics
In 2009, Shashi Tharoor returned to India. He joined the Indian National Congress party. He decided to contest elections. He ran for the Lok Sabha from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He won the election. This was the start of his political career. From 2009 to 2010, he served as Minister of State for External Affairs. This was a junior role in the government. Later, from 2012 to 2014, he was Minister of State for Human Resource Development. He worked under the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.
In 2014, Shashi won re-election from Thiruvananthapuram. He defeated O. Rajagopal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His victory margin was about 15,700 votes. He became a member of the 16th Lok Sabha. He also served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. In 2025, he is the Chairman of the Committee on External Affairs. His experience as a diplomat helps him in this role.
Role in Diplomacy
In May 2025, Shashi led a major diplomatic mission. He was part of an Indian delegation to the United States. This was after the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam. India had responded with Operation Sindoor against terror camps in Pakistan. Shashi called this mission a “great honour” and a “matter of duty.” He said national interest comes first. His party, Congress, was not happy with his inclusion. But Shashi focused on serving India.
Writing Career
Shashi Tharoor is a famous author. He has written many books. His books cover history, politics, and culture. He started writing in 1981. His first book was *Reasons of State* (1982). It discussed India’s foreign policy under Indira Gandhi. Other notable non-fiction books include *India: From Midnight to the Millennium* (1997), *Nehru: The Invention of India* (2003), *Pax Indica* (2012), and *An Era of Darkness* (2016). *An Era of Darkness* won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2019. It talks about British rule in India. His fiction books include *The Great Indian Novel* (1989), *Show Business* (1991), and *Riot* (2001). *Show Business* was made into a film called *Bollywood* in 1994.
Shashi’s books are popular. They are easy to read yet deep. His writing shows his love for India. He writes about its history and future. His book *Why I Am a Hindu* (2018) explores Hinduism. It discusses its philosophy and diversity. Another book, *The Paradoxical Prime Minister* (2018), talks about Narendra Modi’s leadership. Shashi’s writing is witty and clear. His books are loved by readers worldwide.
Mastery of English
Shashi Tharoor is famous for his English. He uses big, rare words. This makes people reach for dictionaries. In 2017, he used the word “farrago” in a tweet. It means a confused mixture. The tweet went viral. Since then, he has shared many unique words. Examples include “snollygoster” (a dishonest politician), “webaqoof” (someone who believes everything online), and “quockerwodger” (a puppet politician). He even used “hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia,” which means fear of long words. His vocabulary surprises and educates people.
Shashi credits his vocabulary to reading. He says he does not study dictionaries. Instead, he reads a lot. As a child, he had few entertainment options. So, he turned to books. This habit made his English strong. He advises others to read more. His book *Tharoorosaurus* (2020) shares 53 unique words. Each word is from a different letter of the alphabet. His latest book, *A Wonderland of Words* (2024), explores language in a fun way.
Public Speaking
Shashi is a great speaker. His speeches are clear and powerful. In 2015, he spoke at the Oxford Union. He argued that Britain owes reparations to its former colonies. The speech got over 10 million views online. It was praised in India. His eloquence makes him stand out. He speaks with confidence and humor. This makes him popular on platforms like YouTube.
Personal Life
Shashi Tharoor’s personal life has faced challenges. He was married to Sunanda Pushkar. In 2014, Sunanda passed away. In 2018, Shashi was charged with marital cruelty and abetting her suicide. He denied these allegations. The case brought attention to his personal life. Despite this, he continued his work in politics and writing.
Achievements and Awards
Shashi has won many awards. In 1990, the World Economic Forum named him a “Global Leader of Tomorrow.” His book *An Era of Darkness* won the Sahitya Akademi Award. He was once the most followed Indian on Twitter. Now, Narendra Modi has more followers. Shashi also founded the All India Professionals Congress. This group encourages professionals to join politics.
Controversies
Shashi has faced controversies. In 2014, he was removed as Congress spokesperson. This was because he praised some actions of Prime Minister Modi. Some in his party did not like this. His use of social media has also caused issues. In 2009, his tweets led to criticism during his time as a minister. Despite these, he remains active in politics.
Legacy
Shashi Tharoor is a unique figure. He is a diplomat, politician, and writer. His love for words inspires many. He bridges India’s past and present through his books. His speeches motivate young people. He serves Thiruvananthapuram with dedication. In 2025, he continues to shape India’s global image. His work in diplomacy and politics is respected. His story shows how reading and hard work can lead to success.
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