Daddy’s girl

The audience erupted in applause, as celebrated Indian author-politician Shashi Tharoor and his rising son Kanishk Tharoor ascended the stairs that led to the stage in Sharjah. The father-son duo was there to release their books from the same platform.

Everyone had one thought in mind – like father like son. For, they shared every aspect of their personality, their conduct, their passion, their knowledge on contemporary topics, from A to Z.

This was just one example of father-son pair among thousands of others in the world. Ask someone to prepare a list of such pairs, and it would take days to complete.

Former presidents of the United States John Adams and John Quincy Adams, singers Julio Iglesias and Enrique Iglesias, Hollywood actors Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas,  Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek. The list goes on...

On the other hand, most people would be lost if you ask them to prepare a list for all the possible instances of “like father, like daughter.” As a matter of fact, such a phrase is not even canon.

Agreed, there is equality between men and women in today’s world. A girl has the approval for education. A girl is independent. A girl has the freedom of speech.

There are many feminists in our society, who love to fight for women’s rights. I wish they would have fought with as much zeal for giving equal importance to “like father like daughter” expression. 

Why should the society always associate sons with fathers and daughters with their mothers?

It may not be a big issue for many, but it sure would make a girl happy.

A girl (myself included) grows up considering herself her father’s princess. She would be overwhelmed with happiness when her success is mentioned along with her father’s accomplishments.

Indeed, it would be gratifying if the phrase, “like father, like daughter,” becomes canon.

(Published in The Gulf Today on November 19, 2016)