“I was always a part time writer and with fiction you need not always want time, but a space in your head where you have to create things. The best motivation is to be self-driven.” said Shashi Tharoor in a talk session “Glockal” with journalist Varghese K George. The session also witnessed the release of Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh’s book “A Chequered Brilliance: The Many Lives of V.K. Krishna Menon”. Mathrubhumi Joint Managing Director MV Shreyams Kumar received the book from Shashi Tharoor and released the book.
I have always thought that my voters would return me to the world of literature. But now I can’t afford that to happen, because the needs of our political environment are quite threatening that they demand someone who pays attention to that, than someone who writes novels, Tharoor said.
Those who have read my books know that the singular thing about India is its quality to respect differences. India that honours and respects religions, caste, colour, creed, that’s what makes me a democrat, that's what makes me a pluralist, he said. One of my constant opposition to the BJP is that they are trying to destroy this, he added.
Speaking to the idea of pluralism, Tharoor said that his whole idea of pluralism and liberalism came from Hinduism. He said that Swami Vivekanandan has taught the world not just tolerance, but acceptance. Acceptance is, I believe I have the truth, you believe you have the truth, I will respect your truth, please respect my truth. And this is the soul of Hinduism according to me and that’s what I am following, said Tharoor.
