Name game

Waiting to board a return flight to home, I was going through the news item of National Register of Citizens and the happenings in West Bengal that have brought the limelight on the state. It was only a few days ago that I had gone through an arduous task of answering my 10-year old daughter’s query – When West Bengal is in east, then why it is called West Bengal? A valid query. Barely had I finished my explanation that the news broke that West Bengal is now proposed to be called Bangla. At least, that would save many a parent the effort of going into history!

A few months ago, i had attended a behavior assessment programme where the instructor had asked the participants to say a few words about their personality, linking these with their names. Many queries emerged – i was amongst the curious ones!

I asked that i have two names – Amit, as in documents, meaning immeasurable and the other by which my family members call me – Aman, meaning peace; which identity should i link with? It took me a while to explain to the faculty (non-Hindi speaking) that names were in vernacular language (Hindi, in this case). Before she could address my concern, another gentleman wanted to ask something, went to the board and wrote ‘HARSH’. An interesting conversation followed.

The puzzled instructor, “What is this?”

Harsh, “That’s my name.”

Totally baffled instructor, “WHAAAT !! Who named you HAARSH?”

Harsh, “Madam, that’s not HAARSH, that’s HURSH. My name written in Hindi would mean ‘happiness’ and written in English would mean ‘ruthless’. What do I do?”.

The amusement in the ice-breaking session had turned into amazement! The number of curious eyes had increased.

Utter confusion! Is Harsh happy or haarsh?

My memory fades in recalling the explanation that the faculty gave because I had migrated into the realm of my thoughts and started pondering at other recent realities.

I grew up in a God loving family, often chanting “Om Namo Shivaya” where Namo would mean an Indian greeting. My children, however, are growing up to a more informed environment where Namo would be interpreted as a travelling country head.

I grew up in a Music loving family, often listening to Indian classical music where Raga would mean a melodious composition whereas to my 10-year daughter who has recently started reading newspapers, Raga refers to a much talked about political scion.

What is in a name? Yet to find an answer; I threw my head back and heaved a sigh. “Hello” from a passenger-in-waiting brought me back to the real world. As we entered into a conversation, I asked him about his travel.

Pat came the reply “To me the time has not changed. My arrival in this city and arrival back into home town would happen same day though I spent a night here”

I returned a confused look. “Is it something to do with time machine?”, I asked.

He smiled and quoted a famous orator having said that in our language – Hindi – yesterday and tomorrow have been given the same name – KAL!

Lo! boarding was announced and we made a move, leaving me stranded at the cusp of many dilemmas wondering whether identities are linked with a name; whether nations define and discover their identities beneath a name; whether time and history blend and move harmonically – kal, aaj, kal….

Blending has been the key to many a successful drink (coffee and whisky alike) as it has been to famous music. Are we prepared to blend some identities or no?  

As i settled on my seat, this silent question continued to echo in my mind…..and it still does.