The highest civilian honor in France, the Chevalier de la Legion d’honneur, was bestowed upon Shashi Tharoor, a prolific writer, former diplomat and a Congress MP, on Tuesday.
The renowned award was given to Tharoor, a Thiruvananthapuram Congress MP and author of multiple books, at the French Embassy by French Senate President Gerard Larcher. The former Union minister Tharoor received the award on Tuesday, although the French government had announced it in August 2022.

“The highest French civilian award came in recognition of Dr Tharoor’s tireless efforts to deepen Indo-French ties, commitment to international peace and cooperation, and as a long-standing friend of France,” a statement issued by the French Embassy said.

Conferring the honour on Tharoor, Chairman of the French Senate Larcher said, “Through his outstanding career as a diplomat, author and politician, Shashi Tharoor has embraced the world with a thirst for knowledge and an intelligence that has led him to live several lifetimes in one, and all of them in service to India and a better world.”

“As someone who admires France, its people, their refinement, their language, and their culture, especially their literature and cinema, I am deeply humbled to be conferred your country’s highest civilian honour.