The Tale Of 'Taimur'

The controversy over naming of Kareena and Saif’s son is an ideal occasion to remind oneself of the wonderful reasons why it is a blessing morally and spiritually to be born an Indian

- Harcharan Bains

This is the one subject on which I should never be writing. This is the one subject that should never be a subject anywhere, but more especially in a country like India which prides itself on the richness of its multi-splendored culture. In fact, I feel petty and embarrassed even bringing myself to announce the subject of this part of my column: controversy created over naming of Kareena and Saif Ali Khan’s son. This is not spectravision. This is spectrablindness.

But since the social media and a part of even the mainstream media has turned it into a major social and national event, and since even I found myself guilty initially of being sucked into this unhealthy debate, I guess it makes sense to use this event and even this controversy to transcend this event and this controversy. In the process, it provides also an opportunity to remind oneself of one’s cosmic ancestry.

Here is the ideal occasion to remind oneself and one’s compatriots of the wonderful reasons why it is a blessing morally and spiritually to be born an Indian — and an even greater blessing to know that one’s place of birth is a land which has been the theatre of life for the likes of Guru Nanak, Guru Tegh Bahadur — known as the protector of the honour of the nation (Hind di Chaadar) Guru Gobind Singh, the founder of the martial and chivalarous Khalsa, Bulle Shah, Sheikh Farid, Waris Shah — to name just a few. And for the same reason, it is an opportunity also to reflect on why we must not allow ourselves to be sucked into debates and disputes that dwarf us.