Shashi Tharoor, MP, on Monday provided the participants of the summer camp at the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare a glimpse of the ideals that drove him ahead in his political life.

During a conversation with the participants of the ‘Kilikoottam’ summer camp, Dr. Tharoor said that he had entered politics with an aim to bring meaningful changes in the lives of the people. Borrowing the crux of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru’s teaching that one should try to improve oneself, Dr. Tharoor said he believed that the nation must progress irrespective of the politics one practised.

To a question posed by camp participant Amala on whether he aspired to act in films, Dr. Tharoor reminisced his childhood days when he had performed in several plays.

To the surprise of many, he revealed that noted filmmaker Mira Nair had donned the role of Cleopatra in one of those plays that was based on Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra.

He also revealed that he had received opportunities to work in films including those scripted by M.T. Vasudevan Nair. His career, however, took a different turn owing to various reasons. In an interesting tidbit, Dr. Tharoor also had to turn down an offer to enact the role of the Union Minister for External Affairs, when he had been a Union Minister of State for External Affairs.

“But, I’ve now realised that even the Prime Minister of the nation has himself begun to act quite well,” he quipped.

Council general secretary S.P. Deepak presided over the meeting.

Singer Rajalakshmi, who composed the theme song, for the children’s international film festival, organised by the council, was also present on the occasion