Video shared by Sree Gururaja
Editor's Note: Shashi Tharoor was formerly USG for Communications and Public Information from 1978 to 2007.
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From Sree:
Here is a nice ditty read in India's Parliament on 24 March by Shashi Tharoor, Opposition member, during the budget debate. Please note following when watching: "viksit" means development which PM Modi keeps harping with his forefinger pointing upward. The Finance Minister, Nirmala Seetharaman, could be seen trying hard to suppress a smile. Sree
Here is text as reported in The Hindu
"Congress member Shashi Tharoor once again brought flair and poetic charm to the Lok Sabha on Monday, reciting a biting rhyme to highlight the Modi government’s taxation policies. With Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman present, Mr. Tharoor took a creative route to express concerns over rising taxes, surcharges, and GST complexities — a move that garnered attention both inside Parliament and across social media.
With a disclaimer, Mr. Tharoor said, “Since the Finance Minister has been kind enough to join us, let me capture the present situation in some light verse.” What followed was a scathing yet humorous critique:
Tax our petrol, tax our shirt,
Tax our footwear, tax our dirt,
Tax our mobile, tax our calls,
Tax our hovel’s crumbling walls.
Tax our salary, tax our ride,
Tax our mithaion the side,
Tax our sorrow, tax our cheer,
Tax our future, year by year.
GST, income tax forms pile high,
Cesses, surcharges, make us sigh.
Roads with potholes, trains that derail
“Where does it go?”Is it all a fail?
When we ask, “Is this all in vain?”
You smile and say, “It’s for the nation’s gain!”
And if we ask you to try and fix it,
You point and say, “you will be Viksit!”
Yet still we pay, with a patriotic heart,
Hoping our cash will play a small part,
In building a future, bright and fair,
For the nation we love, beyond compare!
"Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who listened intently during Mr. Tharoor’s poetic interlude, was seen smiling — a reaction that quickly went viral on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). The poem was met with applause from opposition benches, while BJP members largely refrained from direct responses.
Mr. Tharoor later shared the full poem on X, with users hailing his command of language and wit. Many noted how his verses bring a fresh tone to Parliamentary discourse while amplifying serious public concerns."
Here is text as reported in The Hindu
"Congress member Shashi Tharoor once again brought flair and poetic charm to the Lok Sabha on Monday, reciting a biting rhyme to highlight the Modi government’s taxation policies. With Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman present, Mr. Tharoor took a creative route to express concerns over rising taxes, surcharges, and GST complexities — a move that garnered attention both inside Parliament and across social media.
With a disclaimer, Mr. Tharoor said, “Since the Finance Minister has been kind enough to join us, let me capture the present situation in some light verse.” What followed was a scathing yet humorous critique:
Tax our petrol, tax our shirt,
Tax our footwear, tax our dirt,
Tax our mobile, tax our calls,
Tax our hovel’s crumbling walls.
Tax our salary, tax our ride,
Tax our mithaion the side,
Tax our sorrow, tax our cheer,
Tax our future, year by year.
GST, income tax forms pile high,
Cesses, surcharges, make us sigh.
Roads with potholes, trains that derail
“Where does it go?”Is it all a fail?
When we ask, “Is this all in vain?”
You smile and say, “It’s for the nation’s gain!”
And if we ask you to try and fix it,
You point and say, “you will be Viksit!”
Yet still we pay, with a patriotic heart,
Hoping our cash will play a small part,
In building a future, bright and fair,
For the nation we love, beyond compare!
"Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who listened intently during Mr. Tharoor’s poetic interlude, was seen smiling — a reaction that quickly went viral on platforms like X (formerly Twitter). The poem was met with applause from opposition benches, while BJP members largely refrained from direct responses.
Mr. Tharoor later shared the full poem on X, with users hailing his command of language and wit. Many noted how his verses bring a fresh tone to Parliamentary discourse while amplifying serious public concerns."
Thanks dear Sree, yes indeed,
ReplyDeleteI might have to cede,
To Shashi with this poetic feed,
Hope Modi et al Will heed,
Tharoor’s amusing lead,
Taxes and levies may be a need,
But he surely planted a seed,
Expecting it to grow into a weed.
Fouad
Ha ha!
DeleteI knew I was being cheeky
For Fouad you certainly are not meek
No challenge too daunting
Where others are faulting
Fouad comes out winning!!
I give you the first place
As none of us can dare
Attempt to win the ditty race!!
Sree
I love all three poems . Bilge
DeleteEchoing Bilge! Well done friends :)
ReplyDeleteMusic to my ears when hearing a Leader with culture! Brings hope for the future.
ReplyDeleteUmberto Cancellieri