Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
A mom takes a stand on how her child should be named, convincing the establishment in her small way - and that this should be the norm everywhere.
A mom takes a stand on how her child should be named, convincing the establishment in her small way – and that this should be the norm everywhere.
A lot of her classmates ask my daughter why she has two initials for her middle name. She says to them “one is for my father.” And the other? “Why of course, my mum. Who else?”
On one hot and sweaty afternoon, I found myself standing in Kiara’s school office lining up to verify her details in her school register. The clerk asked me “what’s your child’s mother tongue?”
“It’s Marathi.” I answered.
“But isn’t Karir a North Indian surname?” She enquired.
“Oh yes it is. Her father is a Punjabi.” I replied.
“But you said her mother tongue is Marathi.” continued the inquisitive clerk.
“You asked me for her mother tongue, didn’t you? Or was it father tongue?” I was getting irritated partly because of her audacity and mostly because of the heat.
The poor clerk was a bit perplexed. Moving on to the next column she asked me my daughter’s complete name.
“Kiara Anand Sunila Karir,” I helpfully offered.
But I have place for only the first name, middle name and last name. What sort of a name is this?”
“You asked me her complete name. And that’s what it is. Anand is her father and Sunila is her mother. Make space in your form for both or neither.”
“But I have to write a middle name.”
I glared at her and perhaps that did the job faster. She quickly made space for two middle names. Ever since, she has been Kiara A. S. Karir. And that’s what she is… on her certificates and forms. It’s a name she is proud of because it has her daddy.. .as well as her mummy.
Satisfied with the rest of the details, I turned around to leave the room as the next parent took her place.
“What’s your child’s name?” She asked the lady. “Karan Manish Sunanda Rawat”. The woman proudly replied. As I overheard this, I turned around and looked towards her. I saw her looking back at me with a big grin on her face as the clerk shook her head in amusement. There were three other mothers, who were waiting for their turn.
All equally in tandem with what had happened, I’m guessing. I’m sure the clerk noted that from next year, they would have to make an extra column on the form.
A small step for these moms and me, and hopefully, a big step for mothers everywhere.
Published here earlier.
Image source: Flickr, for representational purposes only
I write because I love to express myself through words. And I am a communicator. I run an advertising agency where we combine creative expression and try to add a sheen to the brands we read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Being a writer, Nivedita Louis recognises the struggles of a first-time woman writer and helps many articulate their voice with development, content edits as a publisher.
“I usually write during night”, says author Nivedita Louis during our conversation. Chuckling she continues,” It’s easier then to focus solely on writing. Nivedita Louis is a writer, with varied interests and one of the founders of Her Stories, a feminist publishing house, based in Chennai.
In a candid conversation she shared her journey from small-town Tamil Nadu to becoming a history buff, an award-winning author and now a publisher.
Nivedita was born and raised in a small town in Tamil Nadu. It was for schooling that she first arrived in Chennai. Then known as Madras, she recalls being awed by the city. Her love-story with the city, its people and thus began which continues till date. She credits her perseverance and passion to make a difference to her days as a vocational student among the elite sections of Madras.
Please enter your email address