Tharoorsaurus decoded: What Shashi Tharoor said in praise of Chetan Bhagat

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor recently praised author Chetan Bhagat's article in a national daily using the words "sesquipedalian", "rodomontade", "limpid" and "perspicacity".

Tharoorsaurus is the title of Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor's latest book that hit the market just a few days ago. Tharoor authored this book for those who admire his incredible vocabulary, a display of which was a recent Twitter exchange with author Chetan Bhagat that left netizens in awe and splits at the same time.

Tharoor used words such as "sesquipedalian", "rodomontade", "limpid" and "perspicacity" - not common with too many people. Before reading below for answers, check if you know what these "big words" mean.

It began with Thiruvananthapuram MP Tharoor praising an article written by Chetan Bhagat for a national daily. In his article, Chetan Bhagat said "the youth need to shut their phones and ask about the economy".

Shashi Tharoor wrote on Twitter, "Superb piece by Chetan Bhagat on all that ails our country and what we should do about it. Chetan's great virtue is the simplicity and directness of his writing. His message is clear and I hope his fans in the government act on it."

Chetan Bhagat was over the moon - evident from his response to Shashi Tharoor requesting him for more praise. He replied saying, "Ok I still can't get over this. The ShashiTharoor has praised Chetan Bhagat. I am floating. Just one request sir, next time can you use some big words to praise me, like ones that only you can do. Superb is nice but a big one would really make my day!"

The sport that he is, Shashi Tharoor obliged Chetan Bhagat with "some big words" in praise. He tweeted back, "Sure, @chetan_bhagat! It's clear you are not sesquipedalian nor given to rodomontade. Your ideas are unembellished with tortuous convolutions & expressed without ostentation. I appreciate the limpid perspicacity of today's column." (Emphasis added)

Now, let's decode Shashi Tharoor's message. Sesquipedalian refers to long polysyllabic words that are often difficult to pronounce and comprehend. The word, Rodomontade again refers to boastful words. Unembellished refers to something that is plain or simple to understand.

In literature, something is tortuous if it is very long and complicated, and the word, convolutions refers to a complex condition, generally leading to utter confusion.

Ostentation is showing off or bullying somebody with the intention to impress people. Limpid literally refers to something very clear and transparent. And, perspicacity is the state of being perceptive and is used as a synonym for insight.

Now check again, how many of these words from Tharoorsaurus you actually knew!

Indiatoday.in tried to break the cryptogram and here's what we have come up with. Shashi Tharoor praised Chetan Bhagat saying, "you are not difficult to comprehend nor given to boastful words. Your ideas are plain and straight and expressed without show-off. I appreciate the clear insight of today's column."