What’s there in a name!

What’s there in a name!

The other day I was reading an interesting blog that was dedicated to the various names of Bengali families. The author mentioned how Bengali families painstakingly go through the rigmarole of finding the most difficult name so that their child stands out. It is true Bengali names by themselves are not only tongue twisters but are also teeth-breaking. But hilarious are the pet / nicknames.

The genesis of the endearing names cannot be ever found and also they are meaningless. But calling them the individual by their pet names can be quite embarrassing in public. Take for instance Byaga, Hadu, Chandu, Putul (DOLL) and too for a boy! Much to the chagrin of the individuals, their pet names become their identity. Maybe such weird and nonsensical names can be attributed to the dysfunctional family planning of yesteryears. On an average Bengali households (influential & well-to-do) had seven siblings. Add the same from the cousins and brothers living in a joint family, the number could add up to fifty / sixty in a family! How do you remember their names and what names to you give them? That’s when the likes of Bhuja, Jota, Khadu, Bocha, Nelu, Felu, Fendu, Nontu, Khogen etc. Mind you, they used to rhyme also.

The Bengali families of yesteryears were very broad-minded too! More often than not, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law used to share….no no no not the same man, but the same labour room. Imagine MIL delivering a child while DIL delivering to make MIL a grand mother. Hats off to you grand old ladies of fashionable Bengali households! A friend of mine, settled in London and working with a news agency, gave me a very useful insight about deliveries of yesteryears. In her words, “an aunt of mine was in the final month when, one day she had to rush to the toilet. She sat down and due to sheer pressure; the child came out and dropped in the pot”. That is the beauty of INDIAN STYLE toilets. Not only the husband was spared hospital costs (if there were any) but also named the child Hego. My friend has promised to introduce me to her “potty faced” cousin, when we meet in Calcutta this December. Just cannot wait to meet the person…must carry some good cologne with me. A note of caution to my 9th floor friend, don’t use India style toilets, you never know what the outcome might be.

Last night had a wonderful time at Flavor’s – the Italian restaurant. It was quite intriguing to find a friend of mine DRUNK after consuming a bottle (pint) of beer and noticing how another friend (a lady) had used lipstick…for a change. He went on to comment about her eye-liner before being offered to be kissed by her. I was waiting with baited breath but my male friend chickened out! Well, the closest he would have come to being pecked by a lady, but the moron that he is, coiled under the table in shame. Trait of a true, voyeuristic bangali!

I am planning to host dinner this Saturday. Please bring your poison, food and chairs to sit. And mind you, using of my toilet is a strict NO NO. I suggest you make arrangements for that also.