I was the first child in my family. I heard from my maa that there were so many names suggested for me. Even after the final conclusion on my would be name, my parents continued to call me by their favourite names for couple of months. My name was given by my grandfather. After 7 years he passed
away still I see him in early morning dreams, among many faces in this world he
is the one I miss the most.
Satarupa
In Bengali , there are less ‘S’ and more ‘Sho’. There is no ‘Ta’, rather there is only “Taw’ or 'To'. So how
my name pronounces is Sho-to-ru-pa. Difficult aye?
I think when the parents or grandparents name a child in an Indian
family, less they think of the globalization of the pronunciation, rather
emphasize more of the meaning or the glory behind it . I though doubt that in current days, Bengali
kidos are getting ‘glo-bong’ names which sounds well and easier when a non-bengali tries
to pronounce it. Kids you are really blessed !
After moving far from the coast of Bay of Bengal, my name had
visited different mother tongues, different people in office from different
parts of India, different countries, different rooms in hostel- PG rooms, Naukri
– Monster and other call center services, thanks to my frequent India Tours
different hotels and cab –walas. The one name has got so many dimensions,
millions of pronunciations .
Sometime stuck at ‘almost pronounced’ state .
Sometime stumble upon ‘oh so difficult is your name’ state.
Sometime ‘sorry give me your surname please? ’ state.
Sometime at ‘I give
up, you only pronounce your name!’.
Satarupa has become – Sattu , Satrupa, Satapura /Saturpa (the
most common one, even in official mails), sometime people prefer only Rupa and
I hate it the most ( reminds me of a
brand if you understand it) :)
Thank God I am married to a Bengali and nowadays I use Mrs
Sengupta in most of the places or just his name.
Recently I was chatting with my school friends , found out the
fate of most Bengali names are almost like this. I realize that is the reason
why the famous Bengali legends of Bollywood and Music world had once had
changed their name to smaller, global, easier names. Who knows !
In recent years lots of movies have been released keeping Bengalis/ Kolkata in backdrop. And they have used the bengali name very cleverly. 'Pakhi', 'Lolita', Piku', 'Bidya' aka 'Vidya', Bob Biswas, though unfortunately Bomkesh has been modified as Byomkesh and Shatyoki as Satyaaki .
However nothing is as sweet as a Bengali name. May it be as tiny
as ‘Piku’ or else lengthy as ‘Byomkesh’.
Let me know your story.
