NEW DELHU: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday came to the defence of South Indian cuisine , particularly idli , responding to a critic who dismissed the dish as “steamed regret.”
In a post on X, Tharoor described a great idli as “a cloud, a whisper, a perfect dream of the perfectibility of human civilisation.” He likened enjoying idli with its traditional accompaniments to experiencing a " Beethoven symphony ", a " Tagore sangeet ", or a " Tendulkar century".
"Poor soul has clearly never had a good one. A truly great idli is a cloud, a whisper, a perfect dream of the perfectibility of human civilisation. It's a sublime creation, a delicate, weightless morsel of rice and lentil, steamed to an ethereal fluffiness that melts on the tongue," said Tharoor.
"With the right accompaniments, it is the culinary equivalent of a Beethoven symphony, a Tagore sangeet, a Husain painting, a Tendulkar century. To call such a thing "regret" is to have no soul, no palate, no appreciation for the finest achievements of South Indian culture. I can only feel pity," the Congress leader further added, tagging the people involved in critiquing the popular South Indian cuisine.
The post quickly went viral, with many users praising Tharoor’s poetic style and his celebration of South Indian culinary heritage.
Tharoor's defence earned praise from many active on the social media app. While many found the response amusing, some shared the own love for Idli. "Idly with Sambar and Chutney. If well made with softness and taste, nothing is there to beat the combo for the palate and health!" replied one social media user. Another said, "Idli - It's a sublime creation, a delicate, weightless morsel of rice and lentil, steamed to an ethereal fluffiness that melts on the tongue." Many other responses were recorded with mix of humour, including an edited image of Tharoor in South Indian attire, cooking their food, and genuine appreciation for the food item.
In a post on X, Tharoor described a great idli as “a cloud, a whisper, a perfect dream of the perfectibility of human civilisation.” He likened enjoying idli with its traditional accompaniments to experiencing a " Beethoven symphony ", a " Tagore sangeet ", or a " Tendulkar century".
"Poor soul has clearly never had a good one. A truly great idli is a cloud, a whisper, a perfect dream of the perfectibility of human civilisation. It's a sublime creation, a delicate, weightless morsel of rice and lentil, steamed to an ethereal fluffiness that melts on the tongue," said Tharoor.
"With the right accompaniments, it is the culinary equivalent of a Beethoven symphony, a Tagore sangeet, a Husain painting, a Tendulkar century. To call such a thing "regret" is to have no soul, no palate, no appreciation for the finest achievements of South Indian culture. I can only feel pity," the Congress leader further added, tagging the people involved in critiquing the popular South Indian cuisine.
Poor soul has clearly never had a good one. A truly great idli is a cloud, a whisper, a perfect dream of the perfectibility of human civilisation. It's a sublime creation, a delicate, weightless morsel of rice and lentil, steamed to an ethereal fluffiness that melts on the… https://t.co/J4NE2ddgua
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 27, 2025
The post quickly went viral, with many users praising Tharoor’s poetic style and his celebration of South Indian culinary heritage.
Tharoor's defence earned praise from many active on the social media app. While many found the response amusing, some shared the own love for Idli. "Idly with Sambar and Chutney. If well made with softness and taste, nothing is there to beat the combo for the palate and health!" replied one social media user. Another said, "Idli - It's a sublime creation, a delicate, weightless morsel of rice and lentil, steamed to an ethereal fluffiness that melts on the tongue." Many other responses were recorded with mix of humour, including an edited image of Tharoor in South Indian attire, cooking their food, and genuine appreciation for the food item.
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