Jottings - Slice of life - 282 ( When an English word causes trouble- the case of Shashi Tharoor’s tweet)

Jottings - Slice of life - 282 ( When an english word causes trouble- the case of Shashi Tharoor’s tweet)

The elections in India are around the corner. It is hard to believe that five years have passed since Narendra Modi assumed the reigns of the country, and most Indians were applauding the inauguration of a new chapter in Independent India. Five years is a reasonably long time for a party in power, and if one looks back at these years, it is difficult to feel euphoric. At the same time, there is definitely a sense that something has subtly changed for the better in the fabric of Indian society. At the very least, there is a new found confidence in the identity of the nation, which was conspicuously missing or persistently eroded in the previous era. This optimism is largely due to the magic of the Man Narendra Modi, his authoritative presence in global forums, and the powerful rhetoric of his public discourses. Whether the next five years belong to him or not is dependent on the people’s perception of the party he represents, and not so much on Modi himself.

Elections can evoke strange reactions and paranoia in political parties. I was deeply amused by the reaction of the BJP and ruling party CPI in Kerala, to an absolutely inoffensive tweet by Shashi Tharoor, one of the few remaining intellectuals in the political landscape of the country. It is a known fact that Shashi Tharoor’s command of the English language, and his penchant to clothe even ordinary thoughts in the most flowery sentences, is a distinctive trait of the man. He can’t help it. Schooled as he is the best traditions of the language, and his innate love for the beauty of words compels him to express his thoughts in words, phrases and sentences that most others will find difficult to conceive, let alone articulate. On a recent visit to the state capital of Kerala, Mr. Tharoor tweeted, (after visiting the fish market there): “Found a lot of enthusiasm at the fish market, even for a squeamish, vegetarian MP”. Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong or derogatory about this tweet. While political opponents have attacked the tweet as derogatory and insulting to the Fishermen community; if I were Tharoor, I would have found the nearest wall to bang my head against, for having used a word that many cannot understand in context. Squeamish is an adjective, and if one cares to consult the dictionary, it means “ (of a person) easily made to feel sick, faint, or disgusted, especially by unpleasant images, such as the sight of blood”. Agreed, that the tonal quality of the word “Squeamish “ is little jarring to the ears and conveys a sense of irritation and disgust, but used in the context that Tharoor did, what he meant was “ The fishermen were enthusiastic around me, even though I don't eat fish or being anywhere near it”. Most vegetarians have this attitude. Nothing wrong with that. Mr. Tharoor is a strict vegetarian, he used the word “squeamish” to only emphasize his vegetarianism and to create the effect of a hyperbole. Now, what is a hyperbole? A Hyperbole in English is a sentence to exaggerate or amplify something. For instance, “His stomach is a bottomless pit”, or “She's as skinny as a toothpick.” The words “bottomless” and “toothpick” are not to be understood in its literal sense. They are meant to convey an exaggerated sense of what we mean. A “squeamish vegetarian”, as used by Tharoor, therefore indicates amplified sense of vegetarianism without any exception whatsoever. To infer that he abused or insulted the Fishermen is not only incorrect but comical.

Unfortunately, Tharoor found himself cornered. There is no way he could explain hyperboles to an audience who wouldn’t listen. Instead, he went on print and air offering reasons why he couldn’t have meant anything insulting, such as how everyone in his family ate fish except him, and that he had recommended the fishermen for a Nobel prize after their daring rescue efforts after the cyclone in 2017, etc. It is sad that Tharoor had to offer all these reasons and clarifications for having used a right word in the wrong context at a politically sensitive time, that was easily twisted by his opponents to score few political brownie points. However, some good can come of this too. It is a good lesson for intellectuals aspiring for political office in countries where English is not a mother tongue, to be careful about how they speak in public. Great orators and communicators keep their language simple and straight. Martin Luther King’s “ I have a dream..”, or Churchill’s “Blood, sweat and toil”, or Gandhi’s “Quit India” are simple sentences that evoke great significance. While the country needs men and women of the intellectual caliber of Shashi Tharoor, the reason they will never get an overwhelming mandate of the public is because of the barriers they erect for themselves, both in their language and the posturing. They have to be more grounded to make an impact.

This election promises more such distracting incidents. On one hand, we have the leader of the Congress, who revels in juvenile communication and incomplete facts; and he challenges Modi, who is one of the best communicators in the global political arena. And in between are the likes of Shashi Tharoor, whose good intentions and deep intellect are their own enemies.

God bless…

yours in mortality,

Bala