Shashi Tharoor’s Birthday Wish for PM Modi Trips Over a Tiny Preposition

On September 17, Congress veteran Shashi Tharoor posted a warm birthday greeting for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was turning 76. The message was polite and heartfelt – a typical political courtesy – until a single preposition caught everyone’s eye.

Instead of the conventional “on his 76th birthday”, Tharoor’s tweet read “in his 76th birthday”. A tiny slip, perhaps, but on a platform like X (formerly Twitter) even a small error can become a talking point.

Users were quick to spot the odd phrasing. Some pointed out the difference between a typo and a grammatical error, while others joked that the neighboring keys “I” and “O” on a keyboard might have been to blame. One commentator quipped, “Shashi ji made a grammar mistake!!! even if it is a fat‑finger!” – a playful nudge at someone usually celebrated for his command of English.

What made the reaction especially noticeable was Tharoor’s reputation. He’s known for his erudite speeches and his often elaborate prose, so a simple preposition mishap felt almost ironic. Still, the social media crowd took it in stride, peppering the thread with memes and light‑hearted jokes about the fallibility of even the most eloquent politicians.

Rather than ignore the chatter, Tharoor replied to a user, acknowledging the mistake with a chuckle: “Yea ‘on’ his birthday became ‘in’. This happens all the time, alas.” His self‑deprecating response diffused any tension and turned the episode into a brief, good‑natured exchange.

In the end, the episode was a reminder that no one – not even a seasoned parliamentarian with a doctorate in international relations – is immune to a slip of the finger. It also highlighted how quickly online audiences can latch onto the smallest details, turning a routine birthday wish into a moment of viral chatter.