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Shashi Tharoor Biography



Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor

Full NameShashi Tharoor
ConstituencyThiruvananthapuram
Political PartyIndian National Congress
DOB :09/03/1956
Place of BirthLondon, United Kingdom
EducationB.A in history from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, M.A, M.A.L.D & Ph.D from Tufts University, USA.
Marital StatusMarried
Spouse nameTilottama Mukherji (divorced), Christa Giles (divorced), Sunanda Pushkar(died).
Children2 sons Ishaan & Kanishk.
Father's NameChandran Tharoor
Mother's NameLily Tharoor
Position HeldMember of Parliament, Lok Sabha (16 May 2009)

About Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor is a member of the Indian Parliament and also a columnist, author, human rights activist, and a former UN envoy. He served in the UN for 29 years. He is passionate about politics and has been writing for newspapers, like Washington Post, The Times of India, New York Times, The Hindu and many more. He has also written fiction and non fictions, which have also been translated into many languages. He is known as a compelling speaker and has won many awards.


Personal Life of Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor was born in 1956 in London. He is originally from Kerala as his parents, father Chandran Tharoor and mother Lily were from Kerala. His early education was completed in Montfort school in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu and Campion School in Mumbai. His high school was completed in St. Xavier’s Collegiate School in Kolkata. He earned his honours degree in History from St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. A bright student, he won a scholarship to Tuffs University in Boston. He earned his master’s degree in the US and also a Ph.D at Tuffs University in Diplomacy from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Shashi Tharoor’s first wife was Tilottama Mukherjee and they have two sons, Ishaan and Kanishk. However, they divorced and Tharoor married a Canadian national named Vhirsta Giles. After splitting from Giles, Tharoor married Sunanda Pushkar, who has a son from a previous marriage. However, she died mysteriously in a hotel room in Delhi. He is known to love theatre and has played the role of Antony in Cleopatra. He acted in various plays even in school and college days. Tharoor founded the Quiz Club in St. Stephen’s College. He was elected as the President of the college union.

Personal Life of Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor was born in 1956 in London. He is originally from Kerala as his parents, father Chandran Tharoor and mother Lily were from Kerala. His early education was completed in Montfort school in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu and Campion School in Mumbai. His high school was completed in St. Xavier’s Collegiate School in Kolkata. He earned his honours degree in History from St. Stephen’s College in Delhi. A bright student, he won a scholarship to Tuffs University in Boston. He earned his master’s degree in the US and also a Ph.D at Tuffs University in Diplomacy from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Shashi Tharoor’s first wife was Tilottama Mukherjee and they have two sons, Ishaan and Kanishk. However, they divorced and Tharoor married a Canadian national named Vhirsta Giles. After splitting from Giles, Tharoor married Sunanda Pushkar, who has a son from a previous marriage. However, she died mysteriously in a hotel room in Delhi. He is known to love theatre and has played the role of Antony in Cleopatra. He acted in various plays even in school and college days. Tharoor founded the Quiz Club in St. Stephen’s College. He was elected as the President of the college union.


Controversies surrounding Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor in his whole political career has been surrounded by various controversies. His remarks have irked his party members many times and he has been caught in a fix due to his statements. He was also attacked due to his participation and being a shareholder in the Kochi-IPL team. He was accused of having made financial gains to Sunanda Pushkar, who was not his wife then. The matter became serious as the income tax department asked him to pay income tax on sweat equity even after giving it up. All this made Shashi Tharoor to resign from the post of the Minister of State of External Affairs.

The death of Sunanda Pushkar also built up controversies. Her death mystery has not been solved yet and investigations are being carried out.

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Awards Won by Shashi Tharoor

  • He won the Gajika Kriplani Young Journalist award in 1976
  • He won the Federation of Indian Publishers award in 1990
  • His book was the Best Book of the Year called, The Great Indian Novel in 1991
  • He was awarded with Excelsior Award in 1998
  • He was awarded with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2004, but accepted it in 2007
  • He was awarded with Pride of India award in 2009
  • Awarded Digital Person of the year in 2010
  • He won the first Sree Narayan Guru Global Secular and Peace award in 2013
  • Person of the Year award from PETA in 2013


Last Updated on Sept 02, 2020