Tharoor said he first learnt about the recognition through media reports while he was in Kerala. When asked locally about the announcement, he clarified that he had never been approached, briefed, or consulted about the award. Speaking to reporters, he stated simply, “I am not going,” before later elaborating on social media.
“In the absence of clarifications about the nature of the award, the organisation presenting it or any other contextual details, the question of my attending the event today or accepting the award does not arise,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP wrote.
The award was instituted by the NGO High Range Rural Development Society (HRDS), an organisation that said it intends to honour individuals and institutions contributing to national development, social reform, and humanitarian work. According to the announcement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was scheduled to inaugurate the ceremony at the NDMC Convention Hall in New Delhi.
The unexpected nomination had the potential to stir political debate within the Congress, where Tharoor’s past remarks on Savarkar have occasionally drawn internal scrutiny. However, his swift decision to decline the honour — citing procedural ambiguity rather than ideological objection — appeared aimed at preventing further controversy.
As the event proceeded without its intended first honouree, Tharoor’s withdrawal underscored the importance of transparent communication from award-granting bodies, especially when public figures and politically sensitive names are involved. The episode also highlighted how miscommunication can quickly escalate into political flashpoints in India’s highly charged public sphere.
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