Made for each other

They courted each other even as they courted controversies separately and together. All that perhaps brought perfect bonding between Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor and wife Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor.

In the City for a function, the couple never seemed to be tired of each other’s company. Shashi was dressed in a blue kurta complete with a grey overcoat, typical of any politician while Sunanda wore an off-white salwar suit.

It has been a little more than a year since their marriage, yet they cling to each other at the slightest excuse. “Our marriage has been a roller-coaster ride. The best part about being married to Shashi is that he’s more of a friend to me than a husband. I can be brutally open and honest to him. I am his biggest fan and perhaps his biggest critic as well,” Sunanda tells Metrolife.

Shashi is the more serious one of the two and he definitely doesn’t like to entertain too many light questions. How did he take all the controversy, the media focus on Sunanda and their marriage? “First of all, Sunanda was never a beautician as reported by a section of the press. I think reporters must do a thorough study and then write. We saw some mindless reportage,” observes Shashi. Sunanda quickly adds, “ I can’t tell you how shocked I was. I was such a cheerful person and all that came crashing down. This is how brutal the press can be in tarnishing one’s image.”

Shashi lent every conceivable support to his wife and stood by her like a rock. He says, “She has been through so much for no fault of hers. I stood by Sunanda and politely declined all public invitations for a long time just to be with her, until she bounced back.”

Sunanda accompanies her husband on most of his tours. She’s into the real estate business and is also doing her bit to get the young people of India to vote. “We can’t blame the politicians for not doing their bit. It is the people, including the young, who have voted these people to power. I am going to start a campaign to get the young across the country to vote efficiently,” she explains. She has been offered a TV show where she will work around the same theme. 

Shashi Tharoor is, however, happy that the corrupt are finally being nailed. He sees this – corrupt politicians being scanned and put behind bars – as a healthy trend. “Even when I was accused, I insisted that there be an inquiry and the truth be brought out. The investigations are on and I am eagerly waiting for the results. I want people to know the truth. Let the law take its course,” he avers. 

Things are looking up for Shashi and Sunanda at the moment. While Shashi is contemplating writing a book on India in a global setting, Sunanda will soon start hosting her own TV show.