Shashi Tharoor gives life lesson to a student who asked him to teach a new word
Whenever we think of Shashi Tharoor, we are immediately reminded of his exemplary speeches. The Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram has left us scratching our heads with his ‘not so regular’ exotic vocabulary and there is indeed lots to learn from this politician. Probably he reads dictionaries more often than we think, right? Well, if that is what you think, let me tell you what has led to this author of 18 books becoming the most sought after orator in the country.
It appears, the Congress MP was at a college event when a student asked him to give them a word of the day from his vocabulary, reports IE. The former diplomat was quick to respond to the pupil’s question. He took to social media to share his response and that’s a lesson all of us should learn.
My reply to a student who asked me to give him a new word in view of my reputation as a fount of exotic vocabulary: pic.twitter.com/I6mr9DOX6m
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 11, 2019
In the video Shashi says:
“I’ll give you a very simple and very old word. Read. That’s the only way I acquired my vocabulary. People think that I am some sort of nut case who studies the dictionary all day long. I have barely opened a dictionary in my life, but I have read extensively. And if you read widely, you read extensively and you come across the same word in their different contexts, in three different books, you will understand the meaning and the usage very quickly.”
He went on to say:
“The reason I was like that is, of course, I had some advantages over all of you. I have lived in an India without television, without computers, without Nintendo, without PlayStation, without mobile phones. And I was an asthmatic child so I was very often confined to bed unable to breathe.
All I had was books, books were my escape, books were my education. And because I read and I read above my age-level, anything I get my hands on. I developed the kind of mind that God has now blessed me with and I acquired the vocabulary that comes with it. So my only advice to all of you is read, read and read.”
“The more you read the better your vocabulary will be,” Tharoor adds.
Twitter was in awe of the MP's advice to the student and added that the younger generation should follow the advice and read more.
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Ramanagara (Karnataka), Apr 26: JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday alleged that cash and gift vouchers were distributed in Bengaluru Rural constituency, especially in Kanakapura Taluk, a charge rejected by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.
D K Suresh, brother of Shivakumar, is seeking re-election from the seat for the fourth time.
The NDA, of which JD(S) is a part, has fielded cardiologist Dr C N Manjunath -- brother-in-law of Kumaraswamy and son-in-law of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda -- who is contesting on BJP ticket.
As the elections were in progress in 14 constituencies in the state, Kumaraswamy alleged that some supporters of BJP and the JD(S), were attacked in Kanakapura Taluk and their shirts were torn off.
"Guarantee cards (gift vouchers) were distributed with which people can make purchases up to Rs 10,000. When our boys made a noise, they were attacked," he alleged.
Money was also distributed since Thursday night, he said, adding that in Kunigal Taluk, a man died by suicide after Congress workers "attacked, pestered and threatened him."
"Even after giving complaints to the Election Commission, no action was taken," Kumaraswamy said, and added sarcastically: "I want to tell the EC to allow people to openly allow distribution."
Dismissing the allegation, Shivakumar accused Kumaraswamy of specialising in blame shifting.
Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at his birthplace Dodda Aalahalli in Kanakapura Taluk in Ramanagara district, he said, "It is Kumaraswamy’s habit to shift blame to others after committing a crime. He distributes gift cards and money to voters but accuses the Congress of doing so."
Regarding the allegation that Congress is giving gift coupons worth Rs 10,000 in Lulu Mall, Shivakumar said, "Let him (Kumaraswamy) go and lodge a complaint with the Election Commission. It is easy to do hit-and-run without any proof."
