WHAT’S IN A NAME?

As I experience once again, what I frequently do- have my name distorted- some thoughts come to my mind.

 So Nirupama, that’s me, quite easily becomes Anupama. Without batting an eyelid, with complete confidence my potential client calls me so. My dilemma-should I correct him or not. What if he gets offended (actually it is me who should be offended), what if he isn’t listening, what if he has a weak memory, what if…

Having faced this so often, I’m overly conscious of getting names right. I sometimes repeatedly ask a person for his name, in case I am unable to pronounce it correctly. It is almost an obsession. Maybe I’m a bit on the defensive.

So I wonder if it’s ok to fumble with names. Is it ok to shorten someone’s name for one’s convenience- without seeking his/her permission, is it ok to get names wrong?

A long while ago, I had written an article on this for a newspaper. My observation: nothing has changed in all these years. I’m still called Anupama, Nirmala and Nirupam to enumerate a few names.

I wonder again, why does this happen? Guess it happens to many people. Is it lack of interest? Is the name really difficult? Or it doesn’t really matter. After all, what’s in name!