What's in a Name?

Is name really so unimportant? If that is the case, why advertising firms and marketing gurus break their heads to come out innovative names for products. I feel name is very important. If your girlfriend’s name had been “Ramkali” or your boyfriend’s name “Banarsilal”, would it not make any difference? I guess it would.

My name is a little twisted for my colleagues in the office. All of them pronounce it in their own convenient way. Not to mention, none of them pronounce it correctly. Anyways, things were different in my first office. After having the same name for long 23 years, one fine day (or night would be appropriate), I had to change it for professional reasons. Why? I waz workin for a khall center, maeeeeeeeen (to be pronounced with a South American accent).

Radhika became Rachael, Sujata became Samantha, Imran became Ian, Murali became Martin and Satya was still confused. My trainer gave me a few names to choose from but all of them sounded cacophonic to my ears. I was given a day to think of a name.

First time in my life I was looking at the scrolling credits of movies in HBO, serials in Star World etc. that too with eyes popped out. I thought they were the right option and guess what, it worked; Nash was the name. From that day onwards till I disappeared from that company as I got into software, I was known as Nash, Nash Brooks (As in Bond, James Bond). In a moment of excitement, what I had forgotten was my real name, which placed together with my pseudo name made something that meant “disaster” in Hindi. Of course, I realized it later. But guys, I have got back my good old name long back, I am Satya now, as I was before.

I know a girl who we used to call “Bhens” (the short and thin buffalo I mean). After a certain point of time this name become so much hers that she’d call up and say “Hello Satya, Bhens here” and I’d reply “haan bhens , bol.” (I hope she isn’t reading this).

Some names are not names but misnames (As in mismatch. Oh sorry, it’s not there in English. Err… thodi der adjust karlo yaar.); the names of two bars near my house are Amrut and Vandana, for example. Names can sometimes be funny as well; the liquid soap in our office washroom is called “Dr No Washy Washy”, for example. I would go the former places even if they were called “Tharre ki Dukaan” but I wonder if I’d use the liquid soap with a smile as I do now had the name been “Germ Killer” or something in that line.

I guess Shakespeare needs to be given a second thought, what do ya say?