“Name game” – on a lighter note!

Working in an organization with multi-lingual, multi-national people can be exciting. You get an opportunity to interact and sometimes meet people from around the world. 

However it can sometimes be intimidating as well, especially if people cannot pronounce your name!

Your first thought on reading this must be – 'WHAT? How can it be intimidating(scary) if people cannot pronounce your name?   Don’t we have better reasons to be worried about? '

Well…well. Let’s see if you still think the same, after reading through……

I as any other homo sapient , grew up thinking my parents have given me a simple name.

I mean, how difficult can it be to pronounce my name ‘Anindita Dutta’ - pronounced as “AA-NIN-DI-TA  DA’T-TA”. However, as easy as it may sound, looks like it is not so.  

Just the other day, There was crisis at work and I needed to join a bridge ASAP.

Click…click...Click… I dial the Conference no. and join in, by announcing my name - “Hi! This is Anindita speaking”. 

Serious discussion is on and suddenly one of the attendees has a question for me - ‘AANIDITADUTA’ can you please suggest what can be done for this issue?

Hey wait! Seriously….I gulp down my sudden bout of irritation and try to answer the question.

The meeting continues and finally it is time to say goodbye. Slyly though, before dropping from the call, I mention my name is “Anindita” and not “AANIDITADUTA’.

Suddenly, everyone starts talking at the same time - crisis all forgotten.... 

“Your name is really very DIFFICULT , you know..” (over emphasis on difficult) 

“You should use a SHORTER NAME, it would make our lives so easy”(Oh!Ok as if I care)

Suggestions for alternate name starts pouring in -  ‘Annie’ , ‘Ann’, 'Anin', ‘Andy’(OMG! I suddenly get a guy’s name) . The list is endless.

I disconnect the call, promising to use a shorter name next time.

With disdain, I go towards the pantry to have a glass of water and behold! One of my colleague’s of 6 years calls me out - ‘ANANDITA, What's up?'

Ahem, Ok! Atleast, this is the nearest one has gone to pronouncing my name correctly. This brings solace and a sense of optimism – not everything is over yet. We chit chat for some time and with new found hope I go back to my desk.

Alas! my happiness was very short lived. Suddenly, my cellphone rings and there is a Credit Card Agent on the other side - "Hello! Am I talking to Mr. ‘ANIDITI’. please? We have a new credit card offer for you".

I continue with the call, remembering Shakespeare’s famous quote from “Romeo and Juliet” -

“What's in a name? that which we call a rose

  By any other name would smell as sweet”

P.S :- If any of you have gone through similar experiences, you are more than welcome to share your thoughts/views.