As much a resident as any human

The good, certified citizens of the country may still be in splits - mixed with a dash of outrage - regarding the residence e-certificate given to Dog Babu issued by the Bihar government last week. But the fact that a resident of Patna's Masaurhi area is, according to his photo ID on the e-certificate, a golden retriever, should make us pause and reflect over a couple of aspects of what defines a resident, indeed, a citizen. One, the fact that Dog Babu, officially recognised as the son of Kutta Babu and Kutiya Devi, is, like all Golden Retrievers, of Scottish descent, hasn't bothered anyone - and shouldn't. The fact that an Indian resident of Scottish origin should share the same language as a Golden Retriever residing in Scotland hasn't brought about demands to deport him 'back', Trumpland-style, to, say, Dundee.

Two, it's apt that Dog Babu has been recognised as a bona fide residence in the same state where the ancient capital of the Mauryas, Pataliputra, once was. It was here that emperor Ashok implemented policies that guaranteed welfare and compassion to all living beings, giving them rights on a par with human citizenship. So, sure, while some poor blighter will be hauled up for falling for the trap of dodgy enumeration, Dog Babu and his ilk of fellow Indians will not just have their day, but - however symbolically - also their say.