Naming Game

Thirty-thousand names at one place. Even the pickiest of young parents looking for whatto call their bundle of joy would say: “Here is God’s plenty.” Put togetherby veteran editor M.V. Kamath and educationist Kalindi Randeri, the book containsold-fashioned names like Arundhati, Lopamudra and Tryambak; modish ones like Aarushi andRabhya and Lasita, improbable ones like Aa (supposed to mean both Shiva and Lakshmi),Yujya (a masculine name meaning capable) and Tatama (one of many, masculine as well asfeminine). The book has all the makings of a popular wedding present.

Kamath and Randeri make a basic assumption—that most names in India are ofSanskrit origin. But the Sanskrit emphasis has led to the neglect of many authentic desiwords and names of Persian and Turkish origin. So you do not find Moti(lal), Jawahar(lal),Bahadur, Fateh or Hukam, Shabnam, Shefali or Shireen. Which is a pity because they are allhonest Indian names. After all, who could be more genuinely Indian than Lal Bahadur?

One chapter for which the authors claim special credit gives the names of ragas andraginis. Here, fortunately, the Persian taboo has been waived. But despite theauthors’ high commendations, it is unlikely that we shall be encountering aPuriyadhanashri Sinha or a Jhinjhoti Srivastava. Nor a Todi Singh.