To,
Dr. Shashi Tharoor,
97 Lodhi Estate,
New Delhi-03
Tel: 24644035
Fax: 24654158
Subject: – A letter asking for apology
Respected Sir,
Like a scale firmly settled on a pipe, refusing to budge, the image that I have conjured up of your alleged persona from the various newspaper co-eds and news channels, preceded your merit. To tell you the truth, regardless of your impressive stint at the U.N., I had had never held you in a high opinion. The controversy surrounding I.P.L. (one mustn’t bring out the skeleton from the closet, but alas…) was, unfortunately the only thing that I could relate to you. It of course was my own failing – not hearing the other side of the story; but then you weren’t as vociferous in your arguments as your critics were. Politicians have time and again taken a dig at you, and have attempted to tar your image with snide remarks.
And I have been gullible. That’s why I ask for your apology. I have for long fancied myself as an independent spirit, to me, my opinions seemed impregnable from the seepage of all possible color, but I discovered yet again that there exist a possibility of correction. I recently, on impulse picked up a copy of ‘Bookless in Baghdad‘ from the library. Just a single little statement was the clincher- ‘One year I kept a list of the volumes I’d finished (comics didn’t count), hoping to reach 365 before the calendar did. I made it before Christmas.’
To tell you the truth, I haven’t imagined you to be much of a writer. What I actually believed was that you might have written some longish, scholarly prose on GDP or quality of life (as you were from U.N.!) and that’s why following Vismay’s rule of thumb, more boring a book is, more rave reviews it receives. But I was delighted to discover that I wasn’t correct in my judgment. This present book was indeed an eclectic collection or what I would call ‘a quanta of creatively and cogently argued confabulations with a mute reader’. Though, I do not agree with your opinion on R.K. Narayan, I have indeed received the same joy, as you most certainly have, on reading P.G. Wodehouse. Your spirited defense of Salman Rushdie, your description of the various literary fests which I have vicariously visited through this book and all the other motley bunch of writers mentioned here – I indeed have had a good time along with your book. And why shouldn’t I have fun? After all, it concerned all things literary.
So as a parting note I would like to tell you, sir, that though I wouldn’t most certainly drool over your every adjective, but if I do catch phrases like, ‘That consensus is around the simple principle that in a democracy you don’t really need to agree – except on the ground rules of how will you disagree.’, ‘…if America is a melting pot, then to me India is a thali…’ or ‘…and imagined them hallowed by repetition rather than hollowed by regurgitation…’, you would be able to read my admiration in the smile that I would give. I once again apologize.
Yours Sincerely,
Vismay Harani
Alienman 