Idenity

I wanted to put forward the need for an Identity number. Well to start off with I’d like to share a conversation I had with a policeman while returning home late night which provoked me to write this article.

………”What’s your name? Vishnu Kumar Where are you coming from? Office, banjara hills....What do you do? I am a business analyst Where are you working? .Ivy. Show me your id….

This last question alarmed me. My identity? Vishnu Kumar. But there are many more Vishnu Kumar s. May be Vishnu working in Ivy? Oops I remember there is another person working in Ivy whose name is Vishnu – Vishnu Priya, cute girl. So, is Vishnu Kumar working in IVY my identification? There may be another Vishnu Kumar in Ivy -who knows?

Well the thought process went on. Does Vishnu, son of Pandurangan make me unique in the world. Well my friend, a statistician is already calculating the probability of another Pandurangan in the world naming his son Vishnu. But yes does he work in IVY, I questioned. ‘Son of Pandurangan working in Ivy’ Ah! my unique identity. Well he adjusted his spectacles and said “Well the probability of another isn’t a zero”

Back to square one. What is my identity? My company id and my license card helped me attain a green signal from the policeman who for obvious reasons would have no fun in standing in a cold night and interview me. But yes he has raised a thought in me – ‘my identity’.

By now you might have guessed what I wanted to convey. We everyone needs identity. Since alphabets are just 26, let’s go with numbers or alpha numeric identification numbers. What ever be it -- a unique identifier for a person. Not a license number or a pan number, as they have other causes to serve.

Now, the question is, with population growing at this pace, how would we do it? Well by any means we need to do it. Firstly, this thought has to reach the governing bodies of this great country. So, I request you to spread the idea/message if not the blog to all your friends. Initially we can set off with a voluntary act from the people to obtain these cards. Then may be we can have it compulsory and even club individuals information regarding – driving license, pan number, voting card, address proof...anything and everything using information technology. One fine day we will have identity cards – a social security number. Think about it.