Shashi Tharoor

Why Is He Famous?
Shashi Tharoor is prolific writer and UN Diplomat. Shashi has been with the UN since 1978 when he joined the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva. Shashi Tharoor served the UN in various capacities before assuming the office of the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information of the United Nations in 2001. In this capacity, he is responsible for the communication strategy, enhancing the image and effectiveness of the UN. In 2003, the Secretary-General appointed him United Nations Coordinator for Multilingualism.

As a journalist, Tharoor has written many articles, short stories, literary reviews and commentaries. Shashi Tharoor has explored the diversity of the Indian culture. He is the winner of several journalism and literary awards, including Commonwealth Writers' prize. He was named the Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic forum in Davos. Mr. Tharoor is also the author of several books, including 'Reasons of State' (1982), 'The Great Indian Novel (1989)', 'The Five-Dollar Smile & Other Stories' (1990), 'Show Business' (1992) 'India: From Midnight to the Millennium' (1997), 'Riot. A Love Story'(2001) and 'Nehru, the Invention of India'.

Background
Shashi Tharoor, was born in London in 1956. His father was a newspaper executive and mother a housewife. His family has roots in Palakkad, Kerala, India. Tharoor had most oh his schooling and under graduation in Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata(Calcutta) and Delhi. He completed his honors degree in History from the prestigious St. Stephen's College, Delhi and won a scholarship to Tufts University, Boston. In the mid 1970's, Shashi went to the United States and acquired two master's degrees and a Ph.D. in Diplomacy from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University. When he completed his education he was just 22 years old! He was married to the journalist wife, Tillotma and has twin sons, Ishaan and Kanishk. It is remarkable that despite being out of India from such an early age, Tharoor retains a strong attachment to his Indian roots.