Names’ Matter

Why is Barack Obama called Obama?

Name is not merely a name. It’s not only used for identification and identity. Name, however, truly shows the personalities and attributes of a person. The name means a lot. I would like to recall those typical names.

There was Nagchung (Sharchop: black), whom I met in class seven, who had a black face and black heart.

There is Zangmo(good), who does all good things for her own benefits… eh…to others.

And there is Gunda Raj(goonda king) from India, who does all goonda things

And Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth), who always talk all ills about good Queen Elizabeth

There is Phenchung (helper), who speaks about others and fills his own pocket.

And Dangpo and Mottay(fat) are really fatty dangpos.

And you know Towpai (cow’s name) face looks like the shape of a cow’s face.

Samzang is the person of good heart and full of religious conduct. One of my characters in the book is also Samzang who is beguiled by Ratu, the Tatu(naughty) in the book.

All these bad –sounding names are not named now. Many people like to have westernized names, for Bhutanese, there is Sonam David Backhang or popestar Jackson Dorji or Sara Chokiss. Nowadays, many Bhutanese names are a combination of rich celebrities around the world… for example, Jigdrel Uwang Cheks (JUC), a bit difficult to pronounce to a typical Bhutanese people. One name or three names, a person still remains as who she/he is, OR does it have some force in these powerful sounding names. Well…It has for those modern-likable people.