Nomenculture

Every society and community has its own naming conventions. Govt shouldn’t impose its view

All the Bablus out there, Wednesday wasn’t your day. You woke up to news that your name is “negative”, and “flawed”. At least in Rajasthan govt’s mind. All the Chhotus too – so called not because they’re short, but for being the youngest in their family. Bablu, Chhotu, did you know your names left you open to ridicule, and scarred you for life?

All those years, when gully cricket was incomplete without shouts of, “Run, Bablu!”, and, “Chhotu, catch!”, must have been traumatic. We’re sorry, but it was your parents’ fault.

That’s why Rajasthan govt is going where no Indian state has gone before. It’s made it its business to ensure no more Bablu, Chhotu, Kalu, Tinku, Shaitaan – list isn’t exhaustive – germinate on Rajasthan’s soil.

Parents will still have the right to name kids, of course. But the state will have a veto. Although, in the best traditions of democracy, it will be exercised indirectly. Like a bank manager telling you that you can’t open an account, unless you buy an insurance policy.

So, schoolteachers will nudge and influence parents to correct “inappropriate” names. There’s even a ready reckoner to make name changes a no-brainer. Open it at any page, and pick from 1,409 sanskari names for boys, and 1,541 for girls.

But, did we really need it? Yes, countries like Germany have naming laws; kids there can’t have “offensive” names. But who decides what’s offensive?

Is “Chhotu” offensive? Rajasthan should ask its neighbour Haryana, whose most famous reformer was Sir Chhotu Ram.

Major Shaitan Singh, PVC, was born in a village near Jodhpur. Is the state now embarrassed to acknowledge him? Surely, it has better things to do, like improving education.

And if it’s still bothered by uncool – but traditional in their context – names, it should make changing them easier for grown-ups. Only if they want to.

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