Tyranny of the Tamil Name

A man’s name was changed from Pradeep to Madhivaanan before his wedding by a chief minister whose son is called Stalin.

In Chennai, a pure Tamil name can win your new-born baby a beautiful gold ring from the city corporation. Nurses at the maternity ward oblige by helping you find the best possible name from a long list comprising Tamilarasi, Tamil Selvan, Tamil Mani, Tamil Venthan, Ambazhakan, Palani Swamy, Murukan, Vadivelu, Sundara Pandyan, Kaviyarasu and Durai. Wise parents don’t go behind Sanskritised names like Sachin, Rahul, Rohit, Sanjana, Akshay, Abhishek, Diya, Avantika and Sidhartha. For then, not only do the children lose the gold ring, but they might also have to change their names when they least expect to.

Look at the case of Pradeep, grandson of late Dravidian leader Dharmalingam. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi presided over his marriage ceremony during the second week of January. But once at the venue, it occurred to Karunanidhi that the bridegroom’s name was revoltingly Aryan. The decision was taken in a instant: Pradeep’s name had to be changed.

The Chief Minister announced to the gathering, “He resembles his grandfather so much. But carrying the mere look is not enough. He must exhibit the same Dravidian feelings.  Here I am taking the liberty to change his name because I am also a grandfather to him. From now onwards, Pradeep will be known as Madhivaanan. Long live Madhivaanan.”

Karunanidhi has been using public platforms to exhort Tamils to avoid Hindi, Sanskrit and Western names. There is, however, a little glitch to this illustrious programme—the names of those in his own family. For example, his younger son and Deputy Chief Minister is called MK Stalin, after the now historically infamous Russian communist leader. It would take some breadth of imagination to imagine that as a Tamil name. Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran, Karunanidhi’s close relative, has a Sanskrit name, while the ‘giri’ in the name of elder son and Union Minister MK Azhagiri is Sanskrit.
Karunanidhi’s arch rival Jayalalithaa, too, is a proponent of regional names and both the leaders use election campaigns to give pure Tamil names to new-born babies.

Jayalalithaa names most babies Ramachandran, after her mentor and charismatic former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran. Karunanidhi names babies either Periyar or Annadurai, after the founders of the Dravidian movement.

But the man who takes the cake in the naming business is Thol Thirumavalavan, MP, Viduathalai Chiruthaigal Katchi party. A couple of years ago, he outdid all other Tamil politicians by changing none other than his father’s name from the Sanskritised Ramaswamy to Tholkappiyan. That perhaps was the first time a son named his father. He deserves at least a gold chain.

About The Author

KA Shaji