Not Just A Name

(Written for “You’ve Been TAGGED!" )

I went through a phase, as a kid, when I wished my name was anything but Rachana. I remember once, as a little kid, saying to my dad, ‘It is a stupid name. I don’t know anybody with that name. Others don’t have it ‘coz it is not nice.’ He simply said, ‘Come and tell me this again a couple of years later and I will change it.’ He was so confident that I was going to grow up to like, appreciate and love my name. My paternal grandfather was a writer. He used to write articles, short stories and poems. That is why my dad named me Rachana.

Rachana in Sanskrit means ‘creation/literature.’ At a later age I used to get very excited to hear people on the radio say ‘rachana’ before playing every song (meaning lyrics by so and so). My family calls me Rachu and friends gave me various versions like Raach, Rac, Raccha and Channa. My name for any kind or form of correspondence was, is and will always be Rachana. And I like the feel of Vinay(my husband’s name) and the sound of Radhakrishnan( his last name) next to it. Hence Rachana Vinay Radhakrishnan. Its more than just a name. It reminds me of what I carry along as I go. It's my identity.

I believe that the name is a very important part of a person. It can affect the personality of the person to a large extent. A name is more than just a word or words by which someone or something is known. They make an impression the moment you introduce yourself, and, first impressions count. I want to give my kid(s) beautiful names (when I have them). I personally like them simple and short names.

Ps: I haven’t met another ‘Rachana’ till date.