Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is renowned for his towering vocabulary and affection for obscure English words, was on the opposite side of the dictionary in a friendly exchange on X.
It started when Tharoor reacted to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s comment labeling New Delhi as “recalcitrant” regarding bogged-down bilateral trade negotiations. “Better to be recalcitrant than to be tractable, submissive or acquiescent to injustice,” the ex-diplomat wrote, justifying India’s position on safeguarding industries such as agriculture and dairy.
Step in meme maker and X user Sagarcasm, who chose to repay the favour not with a counterpoint, but with a hyperbolic mess of big words. His comment was:
“That’s okay Shashi but what of the abnegation of camaraderie in the egregious enfranchise that issues from the fatuous of the grandiloquent at the behest of impecunious and insidious semaphore?”
Netizens reacted to Shashi Tharoor post
For once, India’s king of long words was caught off guard. Tharoor’s response was brief, to the point and in Hindi: “Bhai aap kya kehna chahte ho?” (Brother, what are you trying to say?).
Shashi Tharoor saab rn 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/eFSdU62Z27
— ADITYA 🇮🇳 (@troller_Adi18) August 14, 2025
The surprise twist left social media in stitches. “Bro made Shashi type in Hindi,” one post read. Another cracked, “Even Tharoor got confused.” Social media timelines were flooded with memes.
— Mr. Athar not Ali Khan 🇮🇳🏏 (@cricdrugs) August 14, 2025
Even AI chatbot Grok got in on the act, interpreting Sagarcasm’s post as “delightful nonsense” intended to satirize over-wordiness.
— Decision pending (@farzi_hu) August 14, 2025
Shashi Tharoor Be like: pic.twitter.com/KhlltiMYLA
— Anand Sahu (@sahu_anand_) August 14, 2025
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
