My name is Biresh

Let me repeat that. B I R E S H.

I am forced to do a "My name is Khan" declaration in this blog, not to prove I'm not a terrorist or a teary-eyed hero whose lower jaw comes vibratingly loose when saying anything 'emotional'; but just to declare very simple and emphatically - "My name is Biresh".

It isn't– Brijesh or Brajesh or anything else people usually dream up.

I'll tell you why I write this as well. Our "chalta hai' attitude dictates that we make do with most situations around us, more so when it doesn't really affect us too much. But when it comes to a personal thing like a mispronounced name, we make sure we correct those who've wronged us. Why then, would I not take offence when people blatantly mispronounce my name?

The plain fact is, it is downright disrespectful. A name, whatever the motivations behind it, is the first point of contact with people we meet. What chance does any interaction have thereafter, if the very first contact point is disrespectful?

And think about it. Would I not know what my own name is? Why then do people have to assume my name is not Biresh, instead something else? And the irritating bit is, depsite being a Bengali, my parents didn't give me a fancy unpronounceable first name like most of my country cousins do. Try prononoucing "Taumbooghno" and "Trombaugh", two brothers I studied with in Calcutta (not Kolkata for me thank you!) a billion years ago!!

Besides being disrespectful, the other fact is that we are lazy and couldn't be bothered. How then does one explain responses to e-mails coming back with the salutation "Dear Brijesh"?!!! It's not even that these people probably read and dismissed my e-mail signature and my e-mail address itself; it is that they are so utterly daft that they don't realise it doesn't reflect too well on them and the important positions they hold. "This chap runs a bureau; he can't even read a name!!"

In finality, this is an open request to people to stop being daft and disrespectful. My name is what it is. It's not very difficult, and it's pronounced as it's spelt. If friends from halfway across the world can pronounce my name correctly, it shouldn't be too hard for my countrymen and women to do the same.

After all, I'm neither of "Taumbooghno" or "Trombaugh"!