Which of the following is a well known book written by Indian author and politician Shashi Tharoor?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: An Era of Darkness

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Shashi Tharoor is a prominent Indian author, diplomat and politician known for his articulate English prose and sharp historical analysis. One of his widely discussed books is "An Era of Darkness", which examines the impact of British colonial rule on India. This question tests whether candidates can correctly identify which title from a mixed list belongs to Shashi Tharoor, distinguishing his work from books written by other contemporary authors on politics and society.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The question asks which listed book is written by Shashi Tharoor.
  • The options are "It's Not About You", "Invisible People", "An Era of Darkness" and "Democrats and Dissenters".
  • We assume familiarity with modern Indian non fiction and authors who comment on history and politics.
  • Only one of the options needs to match Tharoor's authorship.


Concept / Approach:
The approach is direct factual recall about which works belong to Shashi Tharoor. "An Era of Darkness: The British Empire in India" is well known as his detailed critique of colonial rule and has been widely cited in public debates. The other titles are associated with different writers. Therefore, by recognizing themes and recalling book covers or reviews, a candidate can confidently select "An Era of Darkness" as the correct option. It also helps to remember that Tharoor's books often combine history with commentary on Indian identity and global affairs, which fits this title perfectly.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question is about authorship and focuses specifically on Shashi Tharoor. Step 2: Recall Tharoor's major works, such as "An Era of Darkness", "Inglorious Empire" (an alternate title in some markets), and other books on Indian politics and international relations. Step 3: Match these recollections with the options given and notice that "An Era of Darkness" is exactly one of his well publicized titles. Step 4: Review the other options and consider that they are not commonly listed as Shashi Tharoor's works in standard bibliographies. Step 5: Conclude that option C, "An Era of Darkness", is the only correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by visual memory of the book cover, which shows colonial imagery and carries Tharoor's name prominently. Many interviews, festival talks and online videos reference "An Era of Darkness" when discussing his views on the British Empire. By contrast, if you search your memory for Tharoor speaking about books named "Invisible People" or "Democrats and Dissenters", no strong association arises because those titles belong to other writers. This comparison confirms the correctness of option C.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"It's Not About You" is not one of Shashi Tharoor's famous works and appears in the list as a distractor, so option A is incorrect. "Invisible People" is associated with other authors focusing on social issues but not with Tharoor, making option B wrong. "Democrats and Dissenters" is a collection of essays by another well known Indian historian and commentator, not by Tharoor, so option D is incorrect. Only "An Era of Darkness" clearly belongs to him, which makes option C the correct choice.


Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes guess any serious sounding political title as belonging to Shashi Tharoor, especially when they recognize his public persona but have not studied his bibliography carefully. Another pitfall is to confuse his work with that of other Indian commentators who write on democracy and dissent. To avoid such mistakes, it is helpful to consciously remember a few signature titles for each major author, such as "An Era of Darkness" for Tharoor, and associate them with the authors' faces and roles seen in media. This strategy provides a reliable anchor during exams.


Final Answer:
An Era of Darkness

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