The controversy surrounding the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor’s tweet (comment on popular social networking site ‘twitter’) has left me wondering whether it was something which genuinely had the potential of “hurting” anyone’s sensibilities or was it simply just being read out of context/being misunderstood?
Tharoor ran into trouble for his tweet in which he said sarcastically in response to a query that he would travel ”cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows!”. Reacting to the controversy over his remarks the minister has now tweeted an apology saying he is ”sorry” for hurting sentiments and that his words had been misunderstood.
I agree with Tharoor when he says (in another tweet): “It’s a silly expression but means no disrespect to economy travellers, only to airlines for herding us in like cattle. Many have misunderstood”.
“Holy cows are not individuals but sacrosanct issues or principles that no one dares challenge. Wish critics would look it up.”
What worries me most is the Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan’s statement saying the phrase used by Tharoor in his tweet is ”unacceptable” and that perhaps he is not conscious of local sensitivities since he was new to Indian politics.
Do we as people and more importantly our politicians lack a sense of humour? Or is it simply a case of Tharoor’s comment being read out of context, misunderstood and “lost in translation”.
Comments, thoughts anyone?
Here’s the original tweet just for those interested in analysing it with a different perspective (is there any other?)
absolutely, in cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows!
September 19th, 2009 at 8:51 PM
My dear Devang
In the TOI dated Saturday, 19 Sept 2008, Tharoor is quoted as apologising, “I now realise I shouldn’t assume people will appreciate humour. And you shouldn’t give those who would wilfully distort your words (like Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan) an opportunity to do so.”
By the way, Tharoor IS NEW to Indian politics and Sonia/Rahul sycophants like Natarajan are trying to needle him. Tharoor is a fast learner.
Blog more often.
Peace and love,
- Joe.
September 19th, 2009 at 9:04 PM
Hi Joe,
Yes, he’s very new to Indian politics – there’s no debate on that… is there?
But, I find it extremely difficult to digest that in her statement Jayanti Natarajan actually said his tweet was ”unacceptable” and that he is not conscious of local sensitivities since he was new to Indian politics.
While he may have been misunderstood I don’t think it did anything to hurt anyone’s sensibilities and I don’t see any validation of this demonstrating that he is not conscious of local sensitivities.
Also, worth discussing if his twitter comments actually fall into public domain (and therefore be reason to cause any controversy)… in some ways it is his personal page and all comments there are not in his capacity as a minister. It’s his personal page on twitter, not the official website of the MEA!
Devang
September 24th, 2009 at 2:41 PM
look at the good that’s coming out of his tweets! http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/63084/LATEST%20NEWS/Tharoor%27s+made-easy+diplomacy+lessons+for+twitterati.html
now why don’t these politicians talk about that!
October 3rd, 2009 at 2:15 PM
After his tweet on holidays and Gandhi Jayanti, Tharoor is going to be hounded on Twitter.
Also, all tweets on Twitter are in the public domain, unless one restricts who may receive or follow one’s tweets. Since Tharoor is an MP and a Union Cabinet minister, ALL his tweets are in the public domain. Nothing he can do about it — except resign as a minister. Then, his tweets may be ignored, since he will descend to an ordinary MP.
I too share his views on not having a holiday on Gandhi Jayanti. But will I be quoted and my comments become a news-item?