Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth9 March 1956
Age69 Years
BirthplaceLondon, England
ProfessionDiplomat, Politician, Writer
NationalityIndian
Marital statusWidower
FamilyFather - Chandran Tharoor; Mother - Lily Tharoor; Sisters - Smita Tharoor, Shobha Tharoor-Srinivasan
Net worthRs. 35 Crore (as of 2019)
Shashi Tharoor Biography
Shashi Tharoor is an Indian politician, former United Nations diplomat and prolific author. Born in London and raised in a Malayali Nair family, he built a
Early life and backgroundShashi Tharoor was born on 9 March 1956 in London into a Malayali Nair family. He spent his formative years in India, attending schools including Montfort School in Yercaud and Campion School in Mumbai. He went on to study at St. Xavier's College, Calcutta, and St. Stephen's College, Delhi, before moving to the United States for further study at Tufts University. His academic credentials include a B.A. in History and advanced degrees culminating in a Ph.D.
Career
Tharoor began his international career at the United Nations in 1978 with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva. Early postings included leading the UNHCR office in Singapore from 1981 to 1984. Over the next two decades he rose through the UN system, serving as special assistant to the Under-Secretary-General for Special Political Affairs in New York beginning in 1989, and later taking senior communications and advisory roles.
In 1996 he became director of communications and special projects and served as executive assistant to Secretary-General Kofi Annan. By 2001 he was appointed Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information and headed the UN Department of Public Information.
The Government of India nominated him in 2006 for the post of UN Secretary-General; he finished second in that contest. Tharoor resigned his UN position in February 2007 and formally left the organization on 1 April 2007.
After returning to India he transitioned into electoral politics. Tharoor won the Thiruvananthapuram seat for the Indian National Congress in the 2009 general election by a margin of roughly 100,000 votes. He was sworn in as Minister of State for External Affairs in May 2009 with responsibility for regions including Africa, Latin America and the Gulf. He retained his Thiruvananthapuram seat in subsequent elections, winning again in 2014, 2019 and 2024, and served as chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs while his party sat in opposition.
Within party roles, Tharoor has also served as a Congress spokesperson, a position from which he was removed in October 2014. In October 2022 he contested the party presidency but was defeated by Mallikarjun Kharge. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections he retained his constituency, defeating the BJP candidate by 16,077 votes.
Writing and journalism
Alongside diplomacy and politics, Tharoor has an extensive body of work as an author and columnist. Since 1981 he has published fiction and non-fiction about India’s history, culture, politics and international relations. His bibliography includes novels and collections as well as books of contemporary analysis and commentary. He has contributed articles and columns to a number of international and Indian publications and has held regular newspaper columns at various times over his career.
Honours and recognition
Tharoor’s work has been recognised with a range of awards and honours spanning journalism, literature and public life. Early in his career he received an award for journalism under 30. His novel received regional recognition from the Commonwealth Writers' Prize. He has been named a Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum and received honorary doctorates and national and international honours, including India’s Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and, in August 2022, France’s Legion of Honour for his writing and public speaking.
Public profile
Physically, published records list Tharoor’s height at approximately 5'9" (175 cm) with salt-and-pepper hair and hazel green eyes. He is identified as Hindu by religion and Nair by caste. His family background includes his father Chandran Tharoor and his mother Lily Tharoor, and he has two sisters named Smita Tharoor and Shobha Tharoor-Srinivasan.
Tharoor has been a prominent and sometimes controversial public figure. Over the years he has been involved in disputes and public criticisms on topics ranging from travel and austerity to comments on political figures and national debates. Legal and investigative matters referenced in public records include the widely reported case connected to the death of his wife, in which a Delhi court discharged him of all charges in August 2021. More recently, in 2024 he faced a legal notice from a Union minister over remarks made on television, and a former aide was arrested by customs in May 2024; Tharoor described that person as a former staff member providing part-time airport facilitation assistance.
Latest updates
Tharoor continues to represent Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha following his 2024 election victory. He remains active as a writer and public speaker and retains a visible role in national politics through his parliamentary work and publishing activities.
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Recent Work
Defeated BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar by 16,077 votes.
2024Career Highlights
- Started UN career in 1978 with UNHCR in Geneva
- Headed UNHCR office in Singapore (1981–1984)
- Served as executive assistant to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan (1996)
- Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information (2001)
- Nominated by India for UN Secretary-General in 2006; finished second
- Elected Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram (2009, 2014, 2019, 2024)
Net Worth
Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Shashi Tharoor born?
Shashi Tharoor was born on 9 March 1956.
What is Shashi Tharoor known for?
Shashi Tharoor is known for diplomat, Politician, Writer.
What is Shashi Tharoor’s marital status?
Shashi Tharoor's marital status is listed as Widower.
What is Shashi Tharoor’s net worth?
Shashi Tharoor's net worth is commonly listed as Rs. 35 Crore (as of 2019), based on available public profile information.
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