Shashi Tharoor writes about a reformer unknown outside Kerala

Shashi Tharoor wrote a biography of Sree Narayana Guru, a 19th-century Indian spiritual leader and social reformer from Kerala, hoping to increase awareness of the Guru’s life and teachings beyond his home state.

Though revered locally, Narayana Guru remains largely unknown in other parts of India. Tharoor discovered the Guru while writing other short biographies, one on Nehru and another on Ambedkar, and was struck by the depth of reverence for him in Kerala.

Narayana Guru, born into a historically disadvantaged Ezhava caste, challenged the oppressive caste system by establishing temples open to all, founding schools, and advocating for the empowerment of lower castes. Tharoor believes the Guru’s message of equality and social justice remains relevant today, and he felt a need to counter attempts to narrowly define the Guru’s legacy for political gain.

The author notes that Narayana Guru largely remained within Kerala and neighboring regions, unlike figures like Vivekananda who travelled extensively and gained national recognition. He also points out that language barriers, the Guru spoke Sanskrit, Tamil, and Malayalam, may have limited his reach. Despite these factors, Tharoor argues that Narayana Guru’s emphasis on education, free enterprise, and interfaith harmony offers valuable lessons for modern India, and that a renewed focus on these principles could benefit the country.