Slice of life
Good, bad and indifferent names
BY V. GANGADHAR
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What's in a name? Quite a lot actually...
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PHOTO: PTI
Controversial name: The restaurant in Mumbai.
DESPITE the saturation of the "Shivaji" name, the safest and most non-controversial name for a Mumbai restaurant is still Shivaji. Satish and Puneet Sabhlok of New Mumbai wanted to 'conquer' the world with the food in their new restaurants. They knew that Adolf Hitler had conquered the world with force. So, why not name their new restaurant Hitler's Cross?
More publicity than expected
The Sabhlok brothers obviously were not familiar with world history. Hitler did not conquer the world, but only parts of Europe. He came to a sticky end and was the most reviled dictator of our times. When Hitler's Cross advertised its existence, all hell broke loose and the brothers got much more publicity they had ever bargained for. The restaurant figured in front page news, editorials and was the lead in several television news bulletins. The Israeli Consul-General expressed his resentment, the German envoy was equally unhappy. Well, the Israelis were rumoured to have targeted the restaurant with some leftover Cluster bombs thoughtfully provided to them by Big Brother U.S. to be used against Lebanese people. That would have restored the prestige of the Israeli Prime Minister whose poll ratings had crashed following his "failure" to demolish Lebanon.
After hogging the front pages for a week or so, the Sabhlok brothers felt enough was enough and announced the restaurants would not be named after Hitler. There was jubilation among the anti-Hitler forces and the local Jews, while complimenting the owners, announced they would patronise the restaurants in large numbers. The happy ending led to one conclusion: there was much in a name whether it concerned a person or a restaurant.
In their lookout for modern, unique names, parents often thrust bizarre names on their sons and daughters who have to bear much ridicule in their later years. Yet, certain names were avoided. While sons continued to be named after the five Pandava brothers, names like Duryodhana, Durmukha, Dushassana and those of the other Kaurava brothers do not figure at all. Millions of Indian women are named Sita, but has anyone come across any Surpanakas, Taadakas or Hidumbis? Hardcore Dravidians in the past would not have minded naming their sons Ravana but then Kumbhakarna was out because of his reputation to sleep for long hours. Westerners did not mind using the name "Winkle" despite the fact that Rip Van Winkle slept for 20 years at a stretch and one of the Pickwickians, Nathaniel Winkle was all talk and no action.
Not beyond controversy
Many historical names can also lead to controversy. But Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi named (or gave him the name) his son "Stalin" and he is going places in politics. There are two views of the Soviet dictator. While Stalin is reviled for the alleged massacre of millions of dissenters, he has gone down in history for saving the Soviet Union from the Nazi menace. Not many takers are found for names like Chenghiz Khan, Rasputin the evil monk and so on. Attila Hun, who destroyed everything before him is also shunned though Aunt Dahlia in the P.G. Wodehouse novels occasionally calls her favourite nephew Bertie Wooster by this name for his tendency to destroy (temporarily) the peace and happiness of her family.
Incongruous names
On naming restaurants, there are quite a few incongruities. An eatery in the dirtiest possible surroundings can flaunt the name "Arogya (health) Bhavan". At quite a few "Ananda Bhavans", customers come out with glum faces after eating with no traces of any "anandam". The "military' hotels in Tamil Nadu entertain hundreds of customers who would run away at the mention of war. Quite a few restaurants in Mumbai bear fancy names like "Paris", "Colombo", "New York", "America" while serving pure desi stuff. But the safest bet are those which bear the names of our gods and goddesses. I had always been fascinated with the fare offered at Central Mumbai's "Ramanjaneya Restaurant".
But these days such traditional names are disappearing. We have a "Quick Bite" close to our flat while my daughter talks of "Tangy Tomato". "Tangy Tamarind", "Five Spice", "Papa Panjo", "Soul Fry" and so on. Obviously anything goes these days, but I found the name "Stomach" rather gross.
Lost allusions
Walking into "Sherlock Homes" restaurant (now closed) at Bandra with a friend, I wanted to find out how much the owner knew about Holmes. When the waiter came to take our orders. I asked for "Roast Speckled Band". He stared at me and shook his head. I insisted; he called the manager and I asked him how he can name his restaurant "Sherlock Homes" without serving speckled band. This did not register with the manager. I got up, told my friend, "Come on Watson, let's go" and walked out. The manager continued to stare at us.
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