Saturday, November 28, 2009

Whats in a name?


If you would have asked me this question long time back, I probably would have said “nothing” very naively but no, it is not the case any more, in fact, now I think there is everything in a name. My name means ‘a good news’, I must have been for my parents and family as I was the first child arrived in that home after a long time. Still I had no say in deciding a name for myself, and in that age it was not possible as well, still I am thankful to my parents that they selected a reasonably good name for myself, otherwise it could have been Sardar or Dildar or Baidar, who could have stopped my elders naming me Barkhuddar? In fact no can stop parents and other family elders doing what they want with the new born. Do they think what they have brought in this world is their private property? I knew a friend of mine who has named his new born “Nasrulla Fakhar Omar Noman”. Don’t get frustrated it was just one baby boy born to him, he was not the first child and my friend had three children before, but this new arrival might be presumed the last, and hence all elders insisted that their respective and respected choice shall not be refused and hence it is Fakhar from father, Nasrulla  from paternal grandfather, Omar from maternal grandfather and Noman from maternal grandmother. Of course my friend thought it is the best option to name the boy that way instead of hard and passionate attempts to bring three more ‘boys’ so that the elders can fulfil their wishes and fantasies. I always feel confused whenever I try to call the baby by his name, and I am sure he too will be equally confused when he will grow up, especially as none of his siblings is honoured that way and they all have simple and single names. Real problem will arrive when they will try to attach the father’s name with this wish list.
It was embarrassing for me when I realised that my name actually is feminine and there are many from opposite sex who have equal pride in having the same name I have been honoured with. I tried to find the feminine characteristics in myself very seriously as I thought the name should have its impact but then I thought about Bahadur Khan who was always afraid of everything, and a Farmanbardar who was always angry with his parents, and then my friend Bilal Baig who was called “Laal baig (cockroach) Bilal Baig” and Shumael who was the only boy in eight siblings and we use to call him Hoor Shumael. And I started to thank God; but I still think that if someone find a feminine characteristics in myself which is a possibility, it should be attributed to my name, really!
People say name is not important; after all Laloo and Rabdi are one and same, but we can see name does makes a difference, especially if it is a surname, if this would not have been the case, Bilawal would have remained Zardari and Bhuttos would be a peaceful and thankful lot, but alas, name does play important role when it comes to image creation and public affection, or I should say it is not name but surname which is really important, otherwise Reema would not have been a Khan, but then why Yousuf became Dilip and what was the real name of MadhuBala? And statements by ManMohan while he was in United States really show how powerful the effect of name is. Useless to mention Zardari, as the name says it all; but Sharif is really confusing, in fact, amongst all the rich and famous Sharifs we know, none is a true image of the title.

And of course, you cannot call the temple a mosque and cannot say that mosque is a temple, it was tried with a Mosque once and we are still facing the consequences. Over nightly surname of a woman is changed from her father’s to her husband’s. This creates a doubt in mind if race and caste is really important? And why we cannot accommodate a temple and a mosque side by side? Why, what’s there in a name?

Friday, November 20, 2009

Two Articles from today's newspapers

Two good articles:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/columnists/kuldip-nayar-wheres-the-idea-of-india-019

Message is simple: Control Shiv Sena, its alike and ideology or risk India. Nevertheless policy should be constructive because violence and hatred can not being anything but more violence and more hatred. This article also sheds light on Nehru's vision of Indian unity and communal issues in India. He was of opinion that formation of states on the basis of language will create problems, as majority and minorities will be created and this formation of communities will start a war for economic means between them.

http://www.jang-group.com/jang/nov2009-daily/20-11-2009/col14.htm
I laughed while reading it, but issue highlighted here is certainly not meant for laughing. When you can not cry, you start laughing. Certainly this issue of the naive, unrealistic and non progressive believes in the Muslims of Pakistan is not highlighted here for the first time, but question remains same that how many of us can understand and react positively?

Friday, November 6, 2009

Back from Vacation

I was away on holidays for more than a month. It was both intentional and due to situation that I kept away from internet; and I enjoyed my time out very much. I will be back to posting new blogs in few days' time. Now a days trying to get adjusted back to normal :)