Full Breakdown
Shashi Tharoor’s Preposition Slip in a Birthday Greeting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi
By Drooid · · How we work
The Grammar Slip
On September 17, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor posted a birthday greeting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X (formerly Twitter). The message began, “Warm greetings to Prime Minister @narendramodi in his 76th birthday,” using the preposition “in” instead of the grammatically correct “on.” The error was quickly highlighted by other X users, prompting Tharoor to acknowledge the mistake the following day.
Background on Tharoor’s Linguistic Reputation
Tharoor, representing the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, is widely recognized for his erudite command of English and frequent use of elaborate vocabulary in public speeches and social-media posts. This reputation amplified the attention the slip received, as observers noted the contrast between his usual precision and the accidental preposition error.
Social-Media Reaction
Several X users pointed out the mistake, with one commenting that even a “fat finger” could cause such an error. The exchange underscored the platform’s role in policing public figures’ language, especially when the figure is celebrated for linguistic skill.
Official Response
His response was self-deprecating and framed the slip as a common typographical mishap rather than a substantive lapse.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Warm greetings to Prime Minister @narendramodi in his 76th birthday,” — Shashi Tharoor
- “Took off for Kathmandu yesterday, blissfully unaware of the drama that had taken place in the hills and caused such catastrophic damage.” — Shashi Tharoor
These excerpts capture both the original erroneous greeting and Tharoor’s earlier clarification of a separate linguistic controversy concerning his use of the word “drama” in a post about the Nepal floods.
