"What's in a name?" Shakespeare queries and one may write endless dissertations on the thought, yet not be an ounce closer to a definite conclusion. However, in today's world, Shakespeare's nonchalant approach might prove to be a bit costly. With names come associations and with associations, assumptions. The human mind makes for a fascinating study, not only because of its capability to think for itself, but on others behalf as well! Perhaps, this tendency of ours, to conjure up values, beliefs, attitudes, behavioral patterns, cultural habitus etc, without crosschecking is what defines the 5th class moral science textbook motto - that 'man is a social animal'. We like to classify things into some sort of structure, but this fascination seems to be heightened with regard to people. Sorting people into groups, like the sorting hat of the Harry Potter series for inter-house competitions, or the more vicious form - sorting people on the basis of caste and creed, be it for positive discrimination (reservation of the OBCs) or to create vote banks. Names are an important tool of segregation. One may state that names are a vital source of identity and help an individual realise their purpose in life but I beg to differ. A man with more common sense and lesser intellectual black magic may claim that names, above all else, make it easier to remember people. Viable arguments, both of them, I must say. However, I'm not keen to jump on the bandwagon if the forerunners include averting an existential crisis and helping to cope with memory. No, we can do much better than that...
Names create divide. Think surnames and there is divide - caste, creed, inter-caste marriages, breaking tradition (or going against the tide), religion, cultural disparity. The British used the formula so efficiently - 'divide and rule' and it seems trivial at times that how much of a mockery this makes of the 'unity in diversity' motto of India. The truth is that there is a severe lack of unity in India, so much so, that at times, the motto 'unity in diversity' feels like a dream, much like the dream Martin Luther King Jr. had. Sure, there are odd glimpses that defy such a proclamation, but inside, an Indian has become so cynical that he is only too willing to criticize at the smallest of chances and has become blind to the wonders of the largest democracy in the world.
My purpose here is not to brew some concoction of magical patriotic fervour that will 'suddenly' make you a changed human being. Not in the least. Truth is, nothing in this world happens 'suddenly'. Everything follows to its logical conclusion. My only contention here is that others see you the way you see yourself. For other nations to respect India as their equal (and by 'other nations' I specifically mean developed countries) India has to learn to stand on its own two feet, respect and revel what it has and stop cribbing about what it doesn't. There will always be something that you won't have. That doesn't mean that you start throwing a tantrum! A bit childish that, don't you think? India needs that self belief as it enters the new era of changing global dynamics. See? 'Developed', 'developing’ and 'underdeveloped' nations. Names, names names...
Think Australia and the first images that come to mind are - kangaroos, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, beaches and of course, how can I forget, scantily clad women. I do not know much about Chetan Bhagat's literary achievements but I owe it to him for stereotyping Australia for the average Indian in The Three Mistakes of My Life. He really makes it sound like a virgin's paradise. Since I set foot in this country I have been bombarded with questions such as - "how many girlfriends do you have? When did you lose your virginity?" (The question of whether or notI had lost it did not even arise, for I was abroad, where the general consensus is that sex flows like water leaking from a tap and I too, musthave washed my hands in the pond). Some sensible ones did ask some fleeting questions about studies, but the bulk of the questions centered on the affirmation or denial of the legend of the virgin’s paradise. Who says that myths and legends existed only in ancient times? You just heard of one in the contemporary world.
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