‘Bush’ to guard ‘Saddam’ and ‘Gaddafi’ in Kerala

KOCHI: Bush is destined to guard Saddam and Gaddafi. AV Dasan, a 43-year-old fisherman who named his sons after the historical figures, has the name ready for the pet dog he plans to buy - Bush. The kennel would be promptly named White House and a board put up: Beware of Bush. “I will feed the dog on diesel. It should get excited at the smell of fuel like the American president does,” Dasan said.

Dasan’s shadow fight with the empire called United States is older than the preseidency of George Bush Sr. He named his elder son Saddam.

The boy was born on October 1, 1991, after Saddam Hussein’s Iraq was devastated by American bombers. His younger son was named Gaddafi, after the Libyan leader, who defied the empire. Now, he is so angry that he wants to name his dog Bush.

“I can’t stand America’s big brotherly attitude. What I liked in Saddam Hussein was the resolve to fight imperialism single-handedly. I think I am the first person here to name a child Saddam,” he said. “When the second son was born, I looked for a name to match Saddam. Then a friend told me about Muammar Gaddafi, who fought America like Saddam did,” he added.

Dasan’s wife Sheela wanted to give distinct names to her sons, but not this distinct. “I didn’t like the name at first, but now we are used to it. But we face some problems with these names. When the kids have to pronounce their names at the temple, the priest becomes suspicious. So we just say ‘Sadu’ when we offer puja. Otherwise they might fine us,” she said.

Saddam, a plus-two student, is a member of the under-17 state cricket team. Gaddafi is in fifth class and wants to become a music director.

He scores highest in his history exam. “I know Gaddafi is the president of Libya, though I haven’t seen him. I have seen Saddam. He was a good man in toto,” little Gaddafi said. He has to field a dozen questions from his classmates and teachers on his name.

Dasan was at the sea when the former Iraqi president was executed. “He came home in the evening and saw the news on TV. He was so depressed that he refused to eat. He didn’t go fishing the next day,” Sheela said. “Though the fate was sealed, I expected the world leaders to interfere and stop the execution,” Dasan added.

The man who criticises the US arbitrariness is a democrat at home. “I don’t compel my sons to do anything. They can study whatever they want, but they must also play,” Dasan said.

He says he is an atheist but lets his family worship god. The broad outlook of this matriculate is reflected on his elder son, who has attended catechism at a church and went to a madrasa on a vacation. Dasan says, “If I had a third son, I would have named him Laden. It’s not because I approve of his acts. But challenges America,” he said. Dasan is no blind fan of Saddam. He admits the cruel, dictatorial face of the former Iraqi president.