Grateful parents christen children after saviours

It is said that it takes a moment of crisis to remind people of how thankful one should be. And going by recent instances, it seems parents of new-borns in India are taking this sense of gratitude to the next level – by naming their children after those who helped deliver them. Just about a week back, a New Delhi based couple, named their baby boy Uber, after the woman delivered the baby in the back of a taxi-cab operated by Uber. The driver of the couple, who were caught up in rush hour traffic, took care to ensure the woman had all the arrangements necessary for a safe delivery, having lined up towels and clothing to aid the process. Having expressed their gratitude to the driver Shahnawaz Khan, the couple Sanjay and Babli named their son Uber.

In namma Chennai, amidst the torrential rains, a heart-warming story brought hope to millions. Chitra and Mohan, an Urapakkam-based couple who were left stranded in last week’s floods, found a saviour in Mohamed Yunus, a young professional, who risked life and limb to get the couple aboard a boat, and subsequently to a hospital in Perungalathur, where Chitra went on to deliver a healthy baby girl. The indebted couple named their daughter Yunus. Yunus had in fact, comforted Chitra with a fable when their boat had almost toppled after hitting an uprooted tree. The lesson wasn’t lost on the husband Mohan who has now promised to donate a part of his salary to the poor and needy on a monthly basis.

The question of religion took a backseat in most of these cases as parents opted to name their children regardless of the faith they belonged to. The cycle of gratitude made its rounds in October too, when a Muslim couple in Mumbai, who were evicted from their taxi cab by the driver when he came to know that the woman was pregnant, found refuge at a Ganesha temple. A group of women sitting at the veranda of the temple spared no time in creating a makeshift delivery room outside the shrine and ensured a safe delivery for the woman. Lost for words, the couple named their son Ganesh, for having overcome all obstacles, thanks to the kindness of strangers.