Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under R.N.I 53640/91
Vol. XXXI No. 1, April 16-30, 2021
a-Musing
– Ranjitha Ashok
Name that baby
How about 01010101 … with a name like that, he is bound to succeed in the computer field!
“This is precisely why fancy, odd-shaped gifts should be avoided.” I remarked, watching a friend struggle to wrap a gift, succeeding more at wrapping herself up instead. “Who’s this, for, anyway?”
“X and Y’s new baby.” She replied.
I read the card with the presumption of long friendship. “You’ve merely said: “To the little one.” Don’t you know the baby’s name?”
My friend looked away, biting her lips.
“I do know.” She mumbled.
“Then why haven’t you written it?”
“It’s bdmbdmbdm.”
“Eh?”
“Bdmbdmbdm.”
“What?”
“Oh, all right,” she exploded, “Its ‘Jagadwikshyat’ – and I don’t know how to spell it, or even pronounce it, okay? Don’t you dare laugh.”
She needn’t have worried. I wasn’t laughing. Just last week, a young NRI family member told us that she was calling her little one ‘Icchudhanva’. (It’s a good thing she informed us via e-mail). Incidentally, her older child is ‘Vikalinikamba’.
There seems to be a trend of late towards names that wear their cultural history a little heavily.
Sure, we have some of the most musical, meaningful names in the world. However, one should pause before imagination catches fire at their sheer beauty.
Remember – the name has to survive playgrounds, schools, teasing classmates, nicknames, perhaps future fame; it must be suitable for cooing, and more likely being yelled or screamed.
Note: Children rarely forgive their parents’ lapses – especially slightly over-enthusiastic ones.
Extract from the book: Chennai Latte, A Madras Brew.
