Shashi Tharoor

Why Is He Famous?
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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.

On June 15, the Government of India announced its backing for Tharoor's candidacy as Kofi Annan's successor for the post of UN Secretary General.

Tharoor came second (behind Ban Ki-moon) in each of the four straw polls conducted by the UN Security Council
Ban emerged as the only candidate with the support of all five permanent members, each of whom has the power to veto candidates. After the vote, Tharoor withdrew his candidacy, telling reporters he was “confident that Ban will win”.

Tharoor has written numerous books in English. Most of his literary creations are centered around Indian themes and they are markedly "Indo-nostalgic". Perhaps his most famous work is The Great Indian Novel
Tharoor's latest work, which commemorates the 50th anniversary of India's independence provides analysis of both India's past and future. In writing, Tharoor felt that a book was needed which explored what Independence really meant for India . Tharoor's themes include India's rich cultural heritage, India's contribution to the Western world, and the far-reaching role of past in present day problems. He explores these through a variety of issues such as affirmative action, the caste system, governmental corruption, and the strength of Indian democracy.

Tharoor's observations about India are extremely optimistic. Tharoor provides this assessment: "[India has] tremendous strengths...energy, dynamism, skills, and great will to work and to achieve, and astonishing capacity to save and invest, perhaps, above all, the freedom to express our views, change our leaders and determine our own fates"
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