‘Extraordinary experience’: Monkey hugs Tharoor, falls asleep on his lap

“Had an extraordinary experience today. While I was sitting in the garden, reading my morning newspapers, a monkey wandered in, headed straight for me, and parked himself on my lap. He hungrily ate a couple of bananas we offered him, hugged me, and proceeded to rest his head on my chest and dozed off,” the Congress leader shared on X. “I gently began to get up, and he leapt off and loped away,” Tharoor added.

One user on X, who seemed amused, commented, “Probably you got the blessings of Hanumaan ji. I zoomed all the pictures to find out which newspaper the best Member of Parliament was reading.”

Tharoor also mentioned that he was worried about the monkey biting him, but he stayed calm and composed.

“Reverence for wildlife is ingrained in us, so though I was a bit concerned about the risk of a monkey bite (which would have necessitated rabies shots), I stayed calm and welcomed his presence as non-threatening. I am gratified that my faith was borne out and our encounter was entirely peaceful and gentle,” he said.

Another user wrote, “What a beautiful encounter with nature! Moments like these remind us of the deep, unspoken connection we share with other beings. That monkey’s trust in you speaks volumes about your aura of kindness. Truly, experiences like these make us pause and appreciate the simplicity and warmth of life beyond words.”

(With inputs from PTI)