Shashi Tharoor, today took charge as minister of state for external affairs, a portfolio the former UN diplomat said he was very happy to be in charge of.

He said he was very happy to be in the ministry and he had had very good, constructive and positive dealings with it for many years. He said it was a privilege to a part of it.

The 53-year old ex-UN diplomat said that India occupied an important place in the world and that he would contribute in his own way to further strengthen that "honoured place".

He said that India's place in the world was of great importance and he would pursue India's case for a permanent membership in the UN security Council and added that the government had a very clear policy on the issue.

He said he hoped to be a good and faithful servant of the very clear policies of the government of India on these issues.

Tharoor said he needed to be briefed on the matter of attacks on Indian students in Australia in response to a question on the happenings Down Under.

He said that he had not had a chance to be briefed on anything and needed to learn before he spoke.
He said he was thankful to the voters of his constituency for the opportunity they had given him to represent them in the Lok Sabha.

He added that as far as his constituency was concerned he owed a great deal of gratitude to voters for sending him to Delhi. He said that he wanted to show them that their interests were not forgotten as he focused on the work in the ministry.

He said that there was a lot that needed to be done in Thiruvananathapuram as well and that would also be attended to.

On asked about his preferences regarding the Gulf or the African regions, Tharoor said the would work according to the directions of external affairs minister SM Krishna for whom he had great respect.

He added that he was looking forward to working with Krishna.

Tharoor was received at his office by foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon and other senior ministry officials.

Tharoor who failed in his bid to the post of UN chief secretary three years ago, won a huge mandate from his hometown,Thiruvananthpuram. During his 22-year career at the UN he served a stint as undersecretary general for communications and public information under Kofi Annan.

Tharoor holds a doctorate from Tuft University, US, and has authored several books including, ''India: From Midnight to Millen\nium'', ''Riot'', ''The Great Indian Novel'', and ''The Elephant, the Tiger and the Cellphone.''

Tharoor, with a doctorate from Tuft University, has authored several books including "India: From Midnight to Millennium", "Riot", "The Great Indian Novel", and "The Elephant, the Tiger and the Cellphone".