What is in a name?

In days of yore, it was common in north Indian villages to name the first male child Mukhtar. It signified ‘Head’ and was someone who would assume authority. Following the custom, my eldest brother was named so. The other brothers had names signifying valour or bravery. When I, as the youngest of five brothers, was born, my father may have lost enthusiasm. My given name was spelt as Rejender throughout my school years. When we were filling up our forms for matriculation exams, my namesake teacher corrected the spellings to Rajendra since that is how he spelt his name.

After marriage, my wife shortened it to Raj. Though it evoked unpatriotic memories of the British rule, I gave in to the endearing demand of the spouse. I was posted as the Brigade Major in Palampur with a namesake Brigade Commander Rajindar. He called me Raj. But there was a slight confusion. His wife also called him Raj. So when we four were together, my wife called me Raj, Noor called her Brigadier husband Raj and he, in turn, called me Raj. Lamenting how common our name was, the Brigadier self-deprecatingly remarked that if one threw a stone into a crowd, the chances were high that it would hit a Raj.

On being posted to the battalion, I was third in seniority. Our 2 IC was Major Rajinder. This led to some hilarity when in the Mess the CO called this name and two of us responded with a ‘yes sir’.

Later, when I was posted for raising the National Security Guard, the General commanding the Manesar complex, called me Raj. But more often he would call me Beta. This endearment was so much on his tongue that in addition to calling most of us beta, he would also often address his wife similarly.

My shortened name Raj finally has stuck with me. This has not been without problem though. The TV channels where I sometimes appear send me remuneration through bank cheques made out in the name of Raj Kadyan. However, the name in the account is what was recorded in my matriculation certificate and consequently in the PAN card and later the Adhaar card.

Our Keralite daughter-in-law Gayathri is an avid history buff. Our grandson has been named Kush after the character in epic Ramayana. The boy, born abroad has studied in the US, Canada and UK. He gets teased in his class and complains of not being named a Joshua or a Jacob. He is still too young to understand the significance of native roots.