What's in a name?

The definition of “NAME” as given in a reputed dictionary is as follows:

“A word or words by which an entity is designated and distinguished from others.”

The definition above just about communicates the meaning in a very matter of fact manner. It however fails to convey the emotions and the aura behind the word. Going forward I just want to jot down some thoughts on the issue in discussion.

If there is one thing we are extremely conscious about ourselves, our name would be a very tough contender for the position. The preparations that go on when a baby is born (I did not use the word new baby since you don’t have old babies coming out of the mother’s womb) or about to be born is quite elaborate. Irrespective of religion or background, giving the child a name is a very special kind of thing. Some fix names based on their parents, grand parents, locale, Gods, place of birth, family trees and a host of other reasons. Some of our names have meanings and for some there could be none. A whole lot of them could be traced back to mythology or religious characters that may or may not mean anything.

My name is a long one where my Mom had decided on Ravi (meaning Sun in Sanskrit). My father had thought about Shankar (Shiva the Hindu God is also known as Shankar). So to keep marital truce they joined it to make it Ravishankar and I grew up (I am a Bengali – to clarify read up one my earlier posts) with quite a unique identification only to realize that the same name is extremely common among the South based Indians!!! My last name/family name/sir name is Sarkar meaning “Government” in Prakrit – the spoken language of ancient times in India. Don’t even dare to ask me the reason behind the “Sarkar” background, as I fail to understand the link between the name and groups of people who once inhabited the riverside in the eastern part of now Bangladesh, earlier undivided India.

Now in India typically you would have a first name and a last name (family name) and your descendants would continue to use the family name till time immemorial. As much as I would like all this to be simple, in reality it isn’t. In the southern part of India especially in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala the convention is quite different. Lets say the name of the father is Tom Jones; assuming Tom’s the name while Jones is the last name/ family name. He has a son and his name say is Bill. In this situation the name of the son is Jones Bill, and that’s the way it’s going to go down the line. In case of women, while in the North we follow the same convention of taking up the husband’s last name (exceptions prove the rule) as do people from the Occident, in the South the father’s name is substituted by the husband’s.

Now I don’t want to delve in matriarchic societies and the rules but let me talk about something else.

The name is the most important possession I have since no matter what, that’s one thing you would not be able to take away from me unless I wish it to be so. Statistics show that in your lifetime, the maximum you would have written a word is nothing but your name. Then while you tried to evolve your signature, your consumption of ink and paper if added up could be a potential source of self-embarrassment.

The other funny one is how people address you. The Title of Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms notwithstanding, normally people would address me as Mr. Sarkar and when perhaps they know me slightly better - Ravi. Of course if the Occident influences you again you would straight get down to a first name basis. However some nitwits would insist calling me as Mr. Ravi and that’s when it really tickles my brain to send violent spasms to not only the mind but also my limbs. Why can’t people get this right? You better!!!! Sphere: Related Content