what's in just a name

       The parliament’s recent nod for the name alteration of Orissa to Odisha triggers interesting questions. What’s in just a name? what is its political implications and ramifications? Does it really bring about a sea of change in which certain factors like the ‘name’ are perceived in the society?

       Well the so called ‘name-alteration’ is not something that we are unfamiliar with. We have witnessed numerous name changes in our country in the form of states and cities. Bombay was christened as Mumbai, Madras as Chennai, Calcutta as Kolkata ,Bangalore as Bengaluru, Benaras as Varanasi and the list goes on. So what actually prompts the bosses of these cities to juggle the names? The entire scenario should be seen as nothing but a political tool used by the politicians to  bowl their people over and force them to be under their spin.

        What really makes me nonplussed is the fact that they not only pip for new names but also ensure that the older counterpart is tarnished and destroyed and same treatment is meted out to those who prefer it. It was evident a year back when Raj Thackerey’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena( MNS) lashed on the makers of the bollywood film ‘Paa’ alleging them of using ‘Bombay’ instead of ‘Mumbai’ and in a way affecting the sentiments of its people. My Goodness!!how will the old name affect the sentiments of a section of people when they are already ripped apart by the linguistic chauvinists.

       It is quite difficult to replace the name of a city with a newer one when the older had become a part of brands like the IIT-Bombay, IIT-Madras, Benaras Hindu University(BHU),  Madras Rubber Factory(MRF), Madras Talkies. In all these brands, settling with the original version is a wiser idea because of the fame in its name. Its absurd having the Chennai Rubber Factory(CRF) when MRF is dictating terms in the global rubber business. Of course many in the world don’t like the cooked up and crooked up ones and always prefer something raw. Be it names, food or even girl friends!!!!!!!!!

       So finally, I have run out of ideas thinking of what is actually there in just a name. Hopefully the readers might get some. But one thing is sure. These are just products of politics played by the linguistic chauvinists and the regional dictators to capture lakhs of votes.