Bengali men have to got through hard times

Indeed, Bengali boddyolak have a hard time...my brother just told me why...

To Chhoton, Bulbul, Khoka, Laltu, Gogol, Babu, Buro, Tutu, Bubu, Ghoton, Bhutan, Chhotka, Shanto, Bubai, Tubul . . . et al.
Here is an attempt to alert people to a great injustice that is being perpetrated upon the sons of Bengal.

When a son is born into a Bengali household, he is gifted with a resonant, sonorous name. Bengali names are wonderful things. They convey majesty and power.

A man with a name like Shushmito, Shamrat, Samudro, Rudro, Prokash, Indrojeet, Shurojit, Proshenjit,  Bishshodip, et cetera, is a man who will walk with his head held high, knowing that the world expects great deeds from him, which was why they bestowed the title that is his name upon him.

There are five rules for creating nicknames, which need to be followed. They are:
1.       Nicknames must have no connection to the real name. Orunabho cannot be called Orun. No, for that would be a logical, and such thing is anathema in the world of women. Instead he shall be called BHOMBOL. If possible, the nickname and real name must have no letters in common, but an ancient alphabet proves to be the constraining factor there.

2.       Nicknames must be humiliating to the power infinity.. If you are a tall strapping boy, with a flair for soccer, an easy charm and an endearing personality, then you shall be nicknamed - Khoka. And every time, you have set your sights on a girl, and are on the verge of having the aforementioned lass eat out of your hand - your mother will arrive and pronounce loudly - "Khokon, chalo". The ensuing sea of giggles will drown out whatever confidence you had earned from that last winning free-kick.

3.       A nickname must refer in some way to a suitably embarrassing incident in your childhood that you would give your arm and leg to forget. If it took you a little too long to shed your baby fat, then years of gymming will not rid you of the nomenclature Motka. If your face turned crimson when you cried as a toddler, you will be called Laltu. When you turn 40, your friends' children will call you Laltu Uncle. Even age will not earn you the right to be taken seriously thereafter.

4.       Different members of the family will make up different nicknames each more embarrassing than the preceding one. If one member of the family calls you Piklu, then another will call you Pocha, and another will call you Ghoton. The humiliation multiplies.

5.       You will always be introduced by your nickname until people forget you had a real name. Ranajoy might have taken on a gang of armed men single-handedly, but Tatai really didn't have a chance. After a point, Tatai will completely take over the beaten body of Ranajoy, weighed down by the pressure of a thousand taunts.

This strategy is surprisingly effective. Ask yourself - would you take Professor Boltu seriously? Or put much weight by the opinion of Dr Bubai? Or march into battle under the command of General Topa? The power of the nickname has scarred the psyche of Bengali men everywhere. It follows them like a monkey on their backs. That too, a monkey with a flair for slapstick, that was gifted to them by their own mothers, aunts and grandmothers.

8 comments:

Sowmya said...

Very funny. Enjoyed reading it LOL

Sowmya
http://www.gitaaonline.com/

RGB said...

Here for the first time. Loved your post. It can be really annoying when you grow up and the nickname doesn't.

Sh@s said...

Ha ha...my sympathies are with them. What bout the nicknames for gals? There isn't much of a variety for them or is there? coz mostly i have heard mamuni and a few more (unable to recall them) as their nicknames which are sweet n far more endearing. It will be nice if u can devote a post on it.

Unruly Rebel said...

ohh man...how bad it can be, i thot i have d worst nick name possible, but you made me smile, m better den most... :)


Namit,
My SSPACE- Wen i was a boy

Nalini Hebbar said...

Do read Namesake by Jhumpa Lahari...all about Gogoi...loved your post!

reetam said...

lol.
one of the nicknames mentioned there is one of mine. thankfully it has never proved a hindrance. lovely post anyhow...

Shruti said...

Hi, First time here :)
I have a lot of Bengali friends. Never knew these details about Bong nicknames!! Will make for an interesting conversation next time I'm with one of them!! :D

Unknown said...

lovely...real time lol...although not bengali, I have gone through similar humiliation with my familial nicknames cropping up at the wrong places and wrong times.