NEW DELHI, Feb. 17 -- There is a demand to rename Akbar Road in New Delhi. I used to take this road daily while commuting to and from the office. Given the alacrity with which the BJP-led Central and state governments replace Muslim names with Hindu ones, it would not be surprising if the change is implemented immediately.

I grew up studying history, which records Akbar only as Akbar the Great! How did he earn this honour?

Akbar was not very educated. In fact, he was illiterate and could neither read nor write. However, he respected his parents, especially his father, Humayun. He never claimed he was not born biologically. He accepted that he was the result of an accidental collision between a male and a female chromosome.

He did not s...