FROM ‘ANDHBHAKTS’ TO ‘QUOCKERWODGERS’: SHASHI THAROOR ADDS A NEW WORD TO INDIA’S POLITICAL LEXICON
November 4, 2026
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has introduced the rarely used English word ‘quockerwodger’ into the contemporary political vocabulary, describing it as an alternative expression for individuals who act as political puppets under the influence and instructions of others.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP, widely recognised for his extensive vocabulary and frequent use of uncommon English words on social media, shared the definition in a post on X on Wednesday. He suggested that the term could replace expressions such as ‘andhbhakts’, ‘godi’ and ‘paid followers’, which are frequently used in India's political discourse.
“Quockerwodger — A political puppet; a person who is controlled by someone else and acts on their instructions,” Tharoor wrote while sharing a screenshot explaining the word's meaning.
He added that the expression could serve as an acceptable alternative for those tired of repeatedly using the existing political labels.
This is not the first time Tharoor has drawn attention to the unusual word. In September, he described ‘quockerwodger’ as the word of the era and used it to take a political swipe at the ruling party, suggesting that the political establishment had produced several such figures over the preceding 12 years.
The word has also featured in Tharoor's social media vocabulary in April 2022, when he described it as a useful addition to India's political lexicon.
The term has its origins in the 19th-century English language and refers to a wooden puppet whose movements are controlled by strings. Its political usage describes a person who appears to act independently but is directed by another individual or authority.
Tharoor has developed a reputation for popularising obscure English expressions through his online posts, often prompting social media users to consult dictionaries to understand their meanings. Among the other words he has highlighted are ‘allodoxaphobia’, meaning an irrational fear of opinions, ‘farrago’, referring to a confused mixture, and ‘troglodyte’, describing someone regarded as deliberately ignorant or old-fashioned.
His latest linguistic intervention has once again brought an unusual English expression into India's political conversation, combining vocabulary, social media engagement and political commentary.
