From Prakash To Peter

I have rather liked my name all these years. Mom tells me that it has a melodious ring to it. But the melody seems to have been lost in the US. I mean if the Americans can pronounce Famke, Kardashian, Joaquin, is my name that tough?

Well to make things easier for others & to blend in, I shortened my name from Nilanjana to Nila, but people started calling me “Nile-aa”. After failing my second driving test I was informed, “Nile-aa you did not make it”. Very gently I tried to correct the pronunciation, and once again to make life easy for others, I changed my name to Nina.

My husband said that this was a lack of self esteem, and he set the bar in being unfazed by people addressing him as: Manjo Paulino, Manho Ball, and mails being sent to Mango Ball. A friend of his, Arijit Chattopadhyay, has for years survived the ordeal of people calling him Arihit Hihi. I'm sure he too has given pain to many by refusing to shorten his name, and these days he only speaks to those cold callers who can pronounce his name.

But on the other side of the spectrum, there are cases where our dear friend Prakash became Peter, Shyamal turned into Sam, Aniruddha to Rudy, Shayantini to Tina and Nilabjo to Neil. Peter credits his success in the US to the prompt change of name. No wonder then, Archhismaan Chakraborty recently became Professor Archie to his students.

I wish I had my husband’s confidence, but I am truly happy with Nina.

So to the Ritwicks I say - go ahead, "Rick" is all yours to use; and to Madhuchhanda, hey Ann is a cute name. But to those confident few who insist on being addressed by their given names, the Abhimanyu-s and the Anindya-s, I sure am proud of you; at least you are easier on the tongue than our brethren from the Southern part of India: Harihara Murali Nemani Pattabhiramaiya....... and folks that is the name of just one person.

All hail to the Bengali names and cheers to the strength of those who wear them in the US!