Vinayak and Me

I found this article written by Professor Chaturvedi to quite interesting because of the fact that despite the obvious cultural influences of his story, the idea of significance behind a name is in fact very universal. The idea of naming a child after his or her personality becomes apparent is an intriguing aspect of Indian culture; the grim fact that high infant mortality rates influenced this practice makes it all the more logical. In one sense, it seems reasonable to wait until a child develops to give him or her a befitting name; however, there may be psychological repercussions for a young child who goes through life without a true identity. On the other hand, Professor Chaturvedi wrote that the children were given "informal household name[s]" which might counter any fear of the child feeling anonymous. Cultural differences were also evident by the fact that one's surname divulged "caste, language, region and even class" (215) and an individual can be judged based entirely on his or her family name. Universality becomes apparent, however, if one thinks of popular culture and modern society. Many people believe that a name determines a child's future personality and potential. This belief is superstitious to a certain extent, much like the belief that one's astrological sign determines one's fortune, love interests, and personality. The prevalence of horoscopes in publications and baby naming books with tens of thousands of different names and meanings illustrates that the importance of naming is not limited to a specific culture. Professor Chaturvedi's interest in his name is not unique; I'm sure that most people have researched the history behind their name. (My name is of Middle English origin and is a Scottish flower.) The fact that the man who had named Professor Chaturvedi was a supporter of Vinayak Savarkar and a conspirator in the assassination of Gandhi might have been disheartening, seeing as Gandhi was a symbol of peace and goodness. However, I don't believe that even in Indian culture that Professor Chaturvedi should have been concerned about his naming because he was not named by his family, but rather by a stranger who was concerned with furthering his ideals.