Name Game

November 3, 2006.

The morning newspaper adds flavour to the morning cup of tea. My thoughts are working out in my mind.
Why not start something relating to the word 'name'.

Smile crosses my lips. Simple word 'name'¦will it be that simple to write on this?
Let me try, what's the harm.

I have to justify my thought.
Mind says - look around, keep your eyes and ears open and you can¦

The Southern States of India are celebrating 50 years of their formation.
Yes¦I've got a lead.
The city of Bangalore will ¦.
Silly, what about a city its name.
Bangalore will now be known as Bengalooru. The south Indian flavour mingles with the sound of the name.
And Mysore is running the race with Bangalore.
Mysoreans, it will be easy for you to call your city Mysooru, but it will take some time for me to get used to the changed names.
Another 45 days and the new names will be formally notified.

Bombay is Mumbai, and, Madras is Chennai
From here where do I go?

Didn't Shakespeare say, "What's in a name.
I tap the right side of my forehead with the tip of my first finger.
Something interesting has crossed my mind. I want to share my thought.
Let me move on.

Here's a simple story relating to the name "Calcutta.
Is this an anecdote or a Bengali joke?
No answer.
I just want to relate.
I have challenged myself to write something about 'name'.
Forward march and¦

Those were the days when the English had landed in the Eastern part of India.
A Saheb (Englishman) was walking down the dusty village lane. It was dusk and he was in search of a resting place. He came upon an old woman sitting at the foot of a lamppost selling something green. On close examination he found she was sitting there with a huge bundle of grass.

At first he was taken back at seeing her selling grass. But little did he know the grass was cattle fodder.

Politely he asked, "What's the name of this place.
Promptly she said, "Kal kata Saheb.
He repeated, "Cal-cutta. After a polite "thank you, he walked away. The Saheb spread the name of this village among his friends. Soon this village and its neighbourhood grew into the city Calcutta. That's how Calcutta got its name. But now Calcutta is known universally as Kolkata.
A small misunderstanding gave birth to the name of a city.
"Kal kata, (kal means 'yesterday' and kata means 'cut') was an ignorant and innocent reply. The woman thought the Saheb wanted to know when she had cut the grass.
This anecdote is popular among the Bengalis.
Hey, I don't want to write about names anymore.
What's happening to my mind?
Don't tell me to ¦...
My name is my own, dear and precious to me.
Where do I go from here?
Sit down and work on some new idea.