Greetings from well-wishers make him feel "74 years young", Congress leader P Chidambaram, in jail on charges of corruption, said through his family on his birthday on Monday, while his son told him "no 56!!! can stop you", in an apparent swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The former Union minister said that his thoughts on the day are on the economy and added "may God bless this country".
Birthday wishes for Chidambaram, who is in judicial custody in Tihar jail in connection with alleged corruption in clearances given to INX Media when he was finance minister, came from his party colleagues as well as his son Karti Chidambaram, who wrote a two-page letter to him.
The veteran Congress leader thanked everybody and said his spirits had lifted higher.
"I have asked my family to tweet on my behalf the following:
In his letter, Karti said, "You are turning 74 today, and no 56!!! can stop you. Although you have never been one for grand celebrations, and nowadays in the country, we seem to be making grand celebrations out of every little thing, your birthday is not the same without you with us."
"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional. I am sure that the vendetta politics can't defeat you. Happy Birthday to P Chidambaram."