A recent headline read: ‘New insect species found.’ As I read further, I came to know that it was a cuckoo wasp and had been named after the scientist who discovered it.
Now, I don’t know if I would be flattered at having an insect named after me. Would you?
Normally I keep my distance from such creatures and would never dream of going around hunting for one. Why look for trouble? In any case, some of them seem to have an unerring instinct and can sense my presence and home in on me, causing me to have a minor heart attack and jump ten feet in the air.
Documentaries on channels such as Animal Planet focus on some of these microscopic creatures. Seeing them life-size is more than I can stomach, but to view enlarged pictures is not my cup of tea. That’s when I switch channels. Show me elephants, tigers, hyena and even snakes and keep me glued to the TV.
However, lending your name to a street or a roundabout or a square is another matter altogether. I would consider that an honour. Of course, even here I have my preferences. Choose a quiet avenue rather than a bustling main road or a dirty alley, preferably one with flowering trees on either side where people exclaim in delight as they walk down the road.
I do realise that roads are named after famous people and my only brush with fame is walking down streets named after such figures. But even this is exciting. You can hardly believe you are actually parading down this promenade which you’ve only read about in books or seen in films. It is an awesome feeling.
Quirky sense of humour
Icons such as Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr have been immortalised in many cities in their homeland. In my hometown of Secunderabad in India, we have a Sir Ronald Ross Road in the heart of the city. Yes, he’s the one who discovered that the malarial parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes and was awarded the Nobel Prize for his efforts. But of late, many names streets christened after British figures have been renamed. So, I am not sure if the name of this road has been changed too.
Speaking of names, there are some shops that seem to have the strangest monikers. Whenever I come across these, I wonder what inspired the christening because these don’t reflect what lies inside. Perhaps the person who came up with the name had a quirky sense of humour. Or perhaps he or she didn’t know any better. For example, there’s a grocery near my house back home called Ding Dong. Was the original owner a fan of the nursery rhyme which starts with the words ‘Ding dong bell’? Ownership of the shop in question has changed hands a few times, but the name has stuck. Since its business is thriving, I can only conclude that the name is considered a good-luck charm.
In Hyderabad, the twin city of Secunderabad, there is a Moosarambagh, which originated from Monsieur Raymond, a French mercenary who had served in the Nizam’s army two centuries ago. Moosaram is the interpretation of Monsieur Raymond while ‘Bagh’ is the word for garden. At least here we can trace the origin of the name, which is certainly intriguing.
Then there are some names which you don’t quite expect to see on an unpretentious looking shop facade such as Bordeaux or Riviera. Looking at the employees or even the proprietor, you just know that they have absolutely no idea such a place exists in reality. Come to think of it, there’s a pest control company with the second name!
If ever I gain fame, I hereby grant permission to lend my name to anything you like except for creatures that crawl or pests that bite.