VERDICT FROM THE MILLENNIALS

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, India’s unoffi-cial English professor, entered a territory nopolitician had been to before. He was wel-comed by a thundering applause recentlyfrom the millennials waiting for his stand-up act in a recent web series. He took a

standing ovation in the end, while giving a chance tomany to Google a new volley of words, beginning withthe most-relatable ‘recalcitrance’.

SHASHI ‘THESAURUS’ “At times, we do crack a joke or two in the political fra-ternity, though humour is always a big risk in the politi-cal world. However, this live comedy act in particular isfun and rewarding in itself. It feels like being a driver whotakes his audience on a laughter journey whilst steeringan unfamiliar bus all on his own,” says Tharoor.

HippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobiaPronunciation:hip-popo-to-mon-stro-ses-qui-pe-dal-i-o-pho-bi-aMeaning: The fear of longwords.

FloccinaucinihilipilificationPronunciation:flocc-nauc-nihil-pil-ficationMeaning: The action or habitof estimating something asworthless.

LalocheziaPronunciation:la-lO-’chez-E-oMeaning: Emotional reliefgained by using indecent orinappropriate language

RodomontadePronunciation:ro·do·mon·tadeMeaning: Boastful or inflatedtalk or behaviour

KakistocracyPronunciation:kak·is·toc·ra·cyMeaning: Government by theleast suitable or competentcitizens of a state.

ScripturientPronunciation:skrip-'tur-e-entMeaning: Having a strongurge to write.

ParturientPronunciation: par·tu·ri·entMeaning: (of a woman orfemale mammal) about togive birth; in labour.

EsurientPronunciation: esu·ri·entMeaning: Hungry or greedy.

SnollygosterPronunciation:snol·ly·gos·terMeaning: A shrewd, unprincipled person, especially a politician.

WHY MILLENNIALS THOUGHT HEWAS A 'SNACK'

1 DEPRECATING HUMOUR: While taking digs at him-self, his illustrious vocabulary came naturally. Henarrated how, in his childhood days, he was asked

by his father to show off his English speaking skills.

2 'IRREVERENT' AIR: Taking digs at the ruling gov-ernment, he was like any other political stand upcomedian – fearless and 'not diplomatic'.

3 THE FIRST-TIME FACTOR: This is the first timeever that a politician has attempted to connectwith people directly, looking straight into their

eyes and making a connect with their hearts, without ateleprompter as used often in public speeches.

I have read extensively. If you read widely, and you come across the sameword in three different contexts in three different books, you will understandthe meaning and the usage very quickly. My only advice to all of you is read,read, read. The more you read, the better your vocabulary will also be.”

Politicians and screen time

On ‘Murphy Brown’, Hillary Clintonappeared in the season premiere: In the season opener, Hillary Clinton plays‘Hillary Clendon’ — a woman applying for a jobas Brown’s secretary.

Former Secretaries of State HillaryClinton, Madeleine Albright, and ColinPowell showed up on ‘MadamSecretary’: The show details the life of ex-CIAagent and Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord.

Michelle Obama was on an episodeof NCIS: Obama plays herself in the scene,which takes place in the White House, and shethanks Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon) for hiswork with Joining Forces.

Barack Obama at Hillary Clinton’sHalloween party in ‘SNL’ skit: In a 2007 episode of "Saturday Night Live,"then-Senator Barack Obama made a stop atBill and Hillary Clinton's Halloween party.

Hillary Clinton played herself on‘Broad City’: On Comedy Central's hit showabout two friends trying to ‘make it’ in NewYork on "Broad City," Hillary Clinton made amuch-talked-about cameo.

Michelle Obama on Nickelodeon's‘iCarly’: Then First Lady Michelle Obamastopped by the hit Nickelodeon teen show ‘iCarly’back in 2012 to promote the US Air Force.

And of course, Modi on Man vs Wild Sharing screen space with wildlife host BearGrylls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, donningcasual clothes and a sporty look, featured onthe special episode of the show ‘Man vs Wild’.Such was the curiosity around the show that#ManVsWild trended on top in India, andworldwide, it trended at num-ber 2. The #modiondiscoverytrended at no 2 in India.

STAR POLITICIAN WHO CONNECTS WITH US

HOW CAN POLITICIANS MAKE A CLOSER CONNECT WITH MILLENNIALS?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done a great jobin connecting with the millennials. He has oftenbeen used terms such as ‘PUBG’, ‘Avengers:

Endgame’ – that millennials are familiar with — and hasaccepted many times that he regularly enjoys memes.

HARSH KUMARAGARWAL, Class IX,National EnglishSchool, Kolkata

B NAMITHAVARSHINIClass IX, The Hindu Sr.Sec. School,Chennai

Millennials use social media to get a deeper insight onpoliticians’ thoughts, ideas and visions. While thereare many political leaders, Congress MP Shashi

Tharoor, with his comical tweets and wordplay, has earnedthe tag of most accessible and interactive politician.

AASHNAAMEHTA, ClassX, BK BirlaPublic School,Kalyan

PM Narendra Modi has created a great impact. Recently, he wenton an expedition with Bear Grylls in the Jim Corbett NationalPark. This showed his youthful and sportive spirit which again

displayed his ability to connect with the current generation. ShashiTharoor’s stand up act was also a unique effort to connect.

ANUPAMA SClass IX, VenkatInternationalPublic School,Bengaluru

Apolitician who has achieved this is former US prezBarack Obama, who with his dance moves andquirky sense of humour, has addressed

issues like cyber bullying, healthcare, gen-der inequality and discrimination.

RITIKA JYALAClass X, DAVPublic School,Nerul, NaviMumbai

That is exactly what late Sushma Swaraj managed todo and proved to be the ‘millennial minister’ of India.On Twitter, she struck an instant

chord with the youth and projectedherself as a troubleshooter.

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o: G

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HOW THAROOR BUILT UP HIS VOCABULARY

Connecting peoplethrough new-age plat-

forms is indeed praisewor-thy. It is heartening to see

politicians shedding their tra-ditional modes of interaction,and Tharoor has always been

good at this. Such acts do add tothe charm of the leader but

they are short-term... what welook forward to is to see

committed politiciansworking towards India’s

development.

VANSHIKA BHASKER,Class XII, DPS,

Ahmedabad

Politicians need to win our trust, and hence, need to connect better. A unique way to connect can be throughmemes like the Mumbai Police did, garnering much

appreciation from millennials. They used memes tospread social awareness.

Adecade ago, politicians were indifferent towards theyouth owing to their poor turnout during elections.Today, millennials are aware of who they want in power.

If politicians don’t find ways to connect with this demograph-ic, they will not be in power.

Communication should always be reflective of the medi-um the millennial best understands. Politicians canconnect with millennials using social media, to best

understand their needs and aspirations. There can also beinteractive sessions, making them accessible.

For a country, connection between its people and theleaders is vital for stability and progress. The millenni-als need to feel this connection even more because of

the generation gap. Politicians have to better express theirideas and policies, and through a medium that reaches them.

Politicians should understand the lifestyle and preferencesof the millennials and act and speak accordingly. We lookfor transparency, openness, wit, and there are innumer-

able ways to connect with us. Not just unviversities, but socialmedia and TV debates are a good forum to put ideas across.

06 The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.Socrates KNOWLEDGEPEDIA