NEW DELHI, Nov. 4 -- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday suggested an unusual addition to India's political vocabulary, offering the rarely used English word "quockerwodger" as an alternative to expressions such as "andhbhakts", "godi" and "paid followers" commonly used in political debates.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP, known for introducing obscure and difficult-to-pronounce English words to his social media followers, shared the term on X along with its definition, describing a quockerwodger as a political puppet controlled by another person and acting on their instructions.
"For those tired of describing people as 'andhbhakts', 'godi', 'paid followers' and the like, an acceptable alternative?" Tharoor wrote, inviting his followers to consider the expression as a substitute for familiar political labels.
The word, which dates back to the 19th century, originally referred to a wooden puppet whose movements were controlled by strings. It subsequently acquired a figurative political meaning, describing individuals who follow another person's directions rather than exercising independent judgment.
Tharoor's latest post appeared to be another instance of his characteristic political wordplay, through which he has frequently used uncommon English expressions to comment on contemporary political developments.
This is not the first time the Congress leader has brought the word into political discourse. In September this year, he described "quockerwodger" as the word of the era while taking an apparent swipe at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"Word of our era! I think our ruling party has spawned a few of these in the last dozen years," he had written in a social media post, suggesting that the expression was particularly relevant to the country's political environment.
Tharoor had also introduced the term to his followers in April 2022, when he shared its meaning and described it as a useful addition to India's political vocabulary.
The expressions mentioned in his latest post have frequently featured in political exchanges between supporters and critics of the government. The term "andhbhakts" is commonly used by critics to describe people they regard as unquestioning supporters of political leaders, particularly those associated with the BJP.
Similarly, "godi media" is a phrase used by government critics to refer to sections of the media that they accuse of promoting the ruling establishment's narrative. The term "paid followers" is generally used in allegations concerning individuals who promote political positions in exchange for financial or other benefits.
By suggesting "quockerwodger" as an alternative, Tharoor has once again combined his interest in language with political commentary, drawing attention to a relatively unfamiliar word through a contemporary reference.
The former Union minister and author has developed a reputation for introducing unusual English expressions into public discussion, often prompting social media users to consult dictionaries to understand their meanings.
Among the words he has previously highlighted is "allodoxaphobia", which refers to an irrational fear of opinions. Tharoor used the expression in 2021 while criticising the BJP government.
He has also popularised terms such as "farrago", meaning a confused mixture, and "troglodyte", which can refer to a person considered deliberately ignorant, old-fashioned or resistant to change.
His fascination with language has extended beyond social media. Tharoor has authored Tharoorosaurus, a book exploring unusual English words and their meanings.
Wednesday's post continued his practice of using vocabulary to make political observations, offering a fresh expression for describing individuals perceived to be acting under the influence or direction of others.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.