When Shashi Tharoor turned Dubai into ‘A Wonderland of Phrases’: Inside Indian politician’s session at Emirates Literature Pageant 2026 that the UAE viewers liked – The Instances of India – Worldwide Dispatch

Dubai’s Literary Crowd Was Spellbound as Shashi Tharoor Talked Phrases, Wit and Knowledge at Emirates Literature Pageant 2026

Dubai’s vibrant literary scene was abuzz lately as Shashi Tharoor, Indian politician, creator and former diplomat, delivered a memorable session on the Emirates Literature Pageant, one of many Center East’s premier cultural occasions celebrating books, concepts and international literary voices. Held yearly beneath the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and organised by the Emirates Literature Basis, the pageant attracts tons of of audio system and 1000’s of readers from all over the world.The 2026 version featured greater than 200 audio system from over 40 nations, bringing a mixture of fiction, non-fiction, Arabic literature, poetry, efficiency and dialogue to Dubai audiences.

A “Wonderland of Phrases”: Shahi Tharoor’s partaking session in Dubai

Tharoor’s session, titled A Wonderland of Phrases, additionally the identify of his newest e-book, rapidly turned a spotlight of the pageant. Not like typical lectures, his look blended humour, private anecdotes and linguistic perception in a chat that felt extra like an intimate dialog than a proper presentation.Moderated by British presenter Amandeep Bhangu, the session centered on how language shapes thought, tradition and connection, drawing laughter and reflection in equal measure. Tharoor described his e-book as a sequence of brief, reflective bursts fairly than dense arguments, “bite-sized chapters, ultimate for dipping out and in”, a format that felt like a quiet validation of recent studying habits.Nonetheless, the true attraction of the session lay in how effortlessly he braided the non-public with the general public, tracing his lifelong love of language again to his father, who taught himself English via persistence and curiosity fairly than polish. Arriving in London and recognising the bounds of his studying, his father started filling notebooks with quotations from Byron, Shakespeare and Dickens, to not impress however out of sheer enjoyment of phrases.He revealed that again house, language was handled like a sport: Scrabble earlier than it was modern, word-building challenges the place Tharoor admitted he “often received” and even a selfmade, pre-digital precursor to Wordle that allowed 20 guesses and provided no clues. But beneath the playfulness of his father was emotional precision, a person who wrote letters so shifting that individuals remembered them lengthy after his passing, whether or not for moments of grief, pleasure or setback.From him, Tharoor realized that phrases aren’t ornamental thrives however precise devices, a pleasure in themselves and highly effective due to what they will carry.

Shahi Tharoor’s tales behind phrases and language

Tharoor traced his fascination with language to his father’s passionate method to English, recalling how notebooks filled with quotations and impromptu wordplay video games formed his early years. “You don’t actually select a language, a language chooses you thru the circumstances of your life,” he instructed the viewers, capturing the non-public, virtually serendipitous nature of linguistic affinity.He additionally tackled the stereotype of his personal “tough vocabulary,” underscoring that phrases ought to serve readability and connection, not confusion. “I sadly have an undeserved fame for tough phrases. I exploit essentially the most acceptable phrases for what I’m making an attempt to convey. If I can’t convey my ideas to the viewers, I’m a poor communicator. I exploit language to get my message throughout, to not confuse or impress,” he mentioned to applause.Tharoor’s playful aspect surfaced in anecdotes about English eccentricities, like explanations of humorous linguistic phrases and the cultural quirks of borrowing phrases throughout languages. Dubai, a worldwide crossroads the place multilingual communication is a part of every day life, supplied a becoming backdrop for Tharoor’s reflections on language and id.His remarks on how English interacts with different languages and cultural contexts resonated with an viewers intimately accustomed to linguistic mixing throughout communities. Quoting Nelson Mandela’s well-known perception that talking in somebody’s language reaches the thoughts, whereas talking in their very own language reaches the guts, Tharoor highlighted the emotional energy embedded in phrases and communication.

Shahi Tharoor’s ideas on studying, youngsters and AI

In a Q&A section, Tharoor urged mother and father and readers to mannequin lifelong studying for youngsters, asking whether or not they learn themselves earlier than encouraging others to learn. He additionally warned in opposition to over-reliance on synthetic intelligence in writing, stressing that outsourcing thought can dilute individuality and artistic voice.Tharoor’s session exemplified the broader ethos of the Emirates Literature Pageant, a perception within the transformative energy of books and dialogue to spur curiosity, understanding and cross-cultural alternate. Every year, the pageant brings a mixture of authors, thinkers and artists to Dubai, providing every little thing from panels and workshops to performances and interactive discussions. Its inclusive programming has helped place the town as a significant cultural hub within the area.Tharoor’s look in Dubai was greater than a e-book speak; it was a reminder of language’s enduring affect in an period dominated by fast communication, digital media and international range. In mixing private narrative, linguistic curiosity and cultural remark, he provided the viewers each leisure and reflection. These are the qualities that make literature festivals greater than mere gatherings however platforms for collective creativeness and dialogue.