In Hindu mythology, the first human couple were Manu and Shatarupa – Shatarupa being the daughter of Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe. They were created by the gods to populate the earth after a great flood. The Sanskrit terms manushya and manava, both meaning “of Manu” or “descendants of Manu”, trace humanity back to this divine pair. Shatarupa, whose name means “she of a hundred forms”, is revered as the mother of all humankind. With such divine origins, one might expect their descendants to be flawless. Yet history has revealed our many imperfections. Despite being the only species endowed with reasoning and the ability to choose, the gift of free will often led not to the inheritance of gain, but to loss – born from misguided choices. This, perhaps, is why Hindu philosophy speaks of the cycle of rebirth: to offer us repeated chances to correct our course, with the ultimate goal of attaining moksha – liberation from the cycle of life and death.

In Hinduism, past deeds are said to dictate your present. To be well-born presumes you have performed favourably in your previous avatar(s). This privilege comes with responsibility. The onus of maintaining a legacy is challenging...

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