Tharoor quotes Malayalam poet in his defence

Former minister Shashi Tharoor quoted lines from well-known Malayalam poet Vallathol Narayana Menon while making his defence in parliament Tuesday on the IPL Kochi franchise controversy.

Former minister Shashi Tharoor quoted lines from well-known Malayalam poet Vallathol Narayana Menon while making his defence in parliament Tuesday on the IPL Kochi franchise controversy.

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Tharoor, who quit as minister on Sunday, told the Lok Sabha that he had done nothing improper in "mentoring" the Kochi franchise. He quoted from the works of Vallathol, whose poems inspired the nationalist and independence movement in the state.

"When you hear the name of India, your heart must swell with pride. When you hear the name of Kerala, the blood must throb in your veins," the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said while reading out the English translation.

Tharoor praised Kerala's contribution in various fields including education.

Vallathol, popularly known as Mahakavi (1878-1958), was deaf. He had established the Kerala Kalamandalam, now a deemed university, and raised the traditional dance form of kathakali to a great art form.