India, Oct. 26 -- I am very happy to learn that today, October 22, is your 62nd birthday. Please accept my heartiest greetings on this happy occasion. May God grant you the wisdom, discernment and sense of responsibility required to discharge your duties as the Home Minister of this great nation.

Since you are a Jain, I presume you are familiar with the religious significance associated with the number 62. In Jain universal history, as narrated in the Mahapurana, this number is discussed in relation to the 63 illustrious personalities, comprising the 24 Tirthankaras, 12 Chakravartins, nine Balabhadras, nine Vasudevas and nine Prativasudevas.

I also understand that you identify more closely with Hinduism than with Jainism. Here, too, th...