Dr. Shashi Tharoor is a highly sought-after speaker, gracing a wide array of events—be it TED Talks, literary discussions, international forums, youth meets, religious conventions, or even stand-up comedy. You name it, and he has a speech perfectly tailored for the occasion. Dr. Tharoor’s appearances frequently posted on social media garner a significant viewership, with new content shared almost daily.

I am reminded of his visit to S.B. College in 2009, when he was relatively unknown, had not yet entered politics, and was perhaps making his first visit to a college in Kerala. Dr. Shashi Tharoor was unfamiliar with the nuances of Kerala’s socio-cultural landscape at the time, making him a beginner who could aptly be described as a novice.

Allow me to share the experience of that visit, which remains vividly engraved in my memory.

Contact: During 2008–09, we were aware that Dr. Shashi Tharoor, who had served as the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and narrowly missed becoming the Secretary-General after Kofi Annan, was in Kerala. As we were organizing the Berchmans Best Teacher Award function in October, Dr. Ruble Raj, the teacher in charge of the event, approached me with Dr. Tharoor’s email ID and suggested inviting him as the guest of honor. I promptly sent an email invitation, which received a quick response. While his secretary informed us that he was unable to attend the function, there was an encouraging note: he expressed the possibility of participating in a future event at the college.

In January 2009, S.B. College hosted its prestigious Luminary Award presentation. The award recognized the best outgoing students from undergraduate and postgraduate programs, chosen through a rigorous selection process involving tests, interviews, group discussions, and a final stage performance. The recipients were conferred the title of ‘Luminary’—a tradition introduced in 2005 during the tenure of Rev. Fr. Tom Kunnumpuram as Principal. Over the years, distinguished guests have presented the award.

For the upcoming event, we decided on a date in January and sent an email invitation to Dr. Shashi Tharoor, requesting him to be the chief guest. To our delight, we received a reply confirming his availability on February 3 at 11:15 a.m. The message also included a request to arrange for a memento and lunch. Overjoyed by the confirmation, we set about making all the necessary arrangements with great enthusiasm.

Mr. Josy Joseph from the English Department gathered all the available information about Dr. Shashi Tharoor to help me prepare for the welcome speech. After returning from the United Nations following 30 years of service, Dr. Tharoor had taken on a new role as an entrepreneur, launching Afra Ventures based in Dubai, along with an institute in Technopark. At the time, there were widespread rumors about him being offered roles in films, and speculation about his potential entry into politics was gaining momentum.

The event: The students had gathered in the Archbishop Kavukattu Hall and as he entered the auditorium, he was greeted with a standing ovation. During my welcome address, I introduced Dr. Shashi Tharoor as a person exploring a “new avatar.” I remarked, “If he were to enter films, Shah Rukh Khan and Mammootty would have to run for their money!” This comment was met with loud cheers from the students.

Dr. Tharoor delivered a meticulously prepared speech on the topic of “Excellence,” which I suggested at his request. One idea that struck me and remains vivid in my memory was his assertion: “The opposite of excellence is not failure, but mediocrity.” His speech was transcribed by Mr. Josy Joseph and later published in the 2008-09 College Magazine. A link to the transcript is provided at the end.

What surprised me, however, was his comment to me upon returning to his seat after the speech. He said, “It seems the audience didn’t get me. They didn’t laugh at my jokes.” At that moment, I chose not to respond, but my reply would have been: “There are two reasons for their silence—your English is challenging to comprehend, and secondly, the Malayalee tendency to remain reserved during speeches and performances.”

A group photo with the Luminary Award winners also deserves special mention. Dr. Tharoor insisted on standing in the back row, giving the winners prominence. I also joined him in the second row.

We concluded his visit with lunch at the Contour Backwaters Resort, Changanacherry. I had circulated a notice inviting teachers from across departments to join us, but only about ten participated. Those present enjoyed a very informal and cordial time with Dr. Tharoor.

Tailpiece

Later, we learned that on 3 February 2009, the day of the college visit, Dr. Tharoor had scheduled the trip to Changanacherry, Nair Service Society headquarters in Perunna, to solicit their support for his political aspirations. He reached the college after the meeting at Perunna.

Just a month later, he officially joined the Congress Party and was fielded as their candidate for the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram constituency in the April-May 2009 Parliamentary elections. He emerged victorious and continued his winning streak in the 2014, 2019, and 2024 elections.