My Autobiography: Of naming streets, roads & nagars
When I was young, I was fascinated by so many things. One of my favorite activity was to observe the different names of streets, roads and nagars and wonder, ‘Oh, this is Valluvar street. So, they have named this street after the famous Tamil poet; Oh, this is MG Road. So, they have named the road after Mahatma Gandhi; Oh, this is Anna Nagar. So, they have named this area after Annadurai, the famous (yesteryear) political personality of Tamil Nadu’, etc.
Of course, I was not able to identify the people/reasons behind many street/nagar names. And I was too lazy to find out or even ask. I’ll just wonder about it, and leave it at that. Ah, those blissful childhood years!
After sometime, I thought why not get a street, road or nagar named after me? WOW!! The very idea fascinated me and possessed me like no other thing did (for a few weeks). On this, I asked someone and they told me that I need to become very popular or I should have done some great public-service to have a chance of getting something named after me.
This concept didn’t appeal to me. I mean, I work all my life for some public good and after all that if they don’t name anything after me, then all is waste, right? And besides, I find it so difficult to work for myself. So, working for public-good is quite impractical, in my case.
What are the other options? I may have to become a politician, film-star or an industrialist. Even in that young age (when film stars used to become politicians or industrialists before the wheel stops rotating in their cycle {in movies}), I very well knew that the probability of me becoming any of those was remote. Very remote.
So, I left it at that. But more recently, this thought reoccurred to me. I mean, I have a (slightly) better understanding on the worldly-ways, now, right? With this knowledge, if I wanted to get a road or street or nagar named after me, would that be impossible?
Not exactly. I mean, I can always write a ‘How to name streets/roads/nagars’ eBook targeted at Govt. officials in-charge of naming them and add a free eBook, ‘1001 practical street/road/nagar names for your instant reference’ (with my name inserted at various places 😉 ) and sell it on the net.
Or better, I can offer both the above eBooks for free provided they just accept to name one street/road/nagar anywhere in India, after me. But then, taking such a short-cut will hurt my pride, I know.
So, I have decided to do it the straight-forward way. My target is to become popular within the next 30 years. Somehow. I know it’s difficult, but not impossible. With some luck on my side, I might not even need 30 years. Once I become popular, it’s relatively simple to ‘influence’ the naming, you know.
But, what if I don’t become popular at all? I need to give some weightage to this 99.99% probability situation, right? That might still leave me with the eBook option. But, what if the Govt. officials find out about eBook scams within the next thirty years? That would be a real disaster.
That’s why I am writing this post. I intend to show this post after 30 years as a ‘heritage article written in a heritage(?) blog’ and get the naming done in a ‘heritage quota for heritage reasons’. Officially. 😀
I did not tell you about my other fascination, did I? About having my Golden DI logo embossed on every currency note printed in India (and if possible, even on dollars)? Well, the Golden DI logo is ready. Now, I just need to come up with a slightly better master-plan.
Any ideas? 🙂
Destination Infinity
While reading this post, I had this smile on my face… 🙂
What wonderful fascinations you have! Well, when you become successful and a road/nagar is named after you, the second dream is very much within reach too!! A Golden DI seal for the golden and noble works done by DI!! Damn impressive. Amen to your plans! 🙂
I like your confidence on my second dream. You beat me in positiveness 😛
Destination Infinity
My best wishes Rajesh, Nagar 🙂 Brilliant ideas.
No comma between Rajesh and Nagar. It’s just Rajesh Nagar. WOW 😀
Destination Infinity
Nice one. Hope both your fascinations come true very soon.
On the subject of naming streets. roads, and nagars, i always wondered this. How come every town in South India has a street, road and/or nagar named after Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Indira, Rajiv, and many other North Indians. But never come across a South Indian leader’s name in any town in North India. May be there are a few. I don’t know.
In TN I find many South Indian names, along with North Indian names. Most of the national leaders are North Indian, maybe because of that many of our major areas are named after them.
I would like to add that I am a South Indian and hence I wish to get preferential quota, while naming streets/areas in South India 🙂
Destination Infinity
I beg to disagree. Can’t they find a single freedom fighter in South India. For Example: Rajaji, Kamaraj, Subramania Bharathiar, Mathai Manjooran, P. J. Sebastian, Vanchinathan, Tirupur Kumaran, Satyamoorthy.
There is a Rajaji Road in Delhi and also a Subramanya Bharati road.
Thanks for the info. Saved by Delhi.
AMEEN…..
Just wish that I may get a chance to pass by that road someday and say proudly “look i know this gentlemen personally, after whose name this road is popular”……… 🙂
Best wishes,
irfan.
You just need to wait for 30 years for that. Even then, it is not assured. Once, I thought of sticking a sticker on an existing street name-board and take a photo standing next to it. After sometime, I myself found the idea extremely silly! 🙂
Destination Infinity
Your name can be on School,Collages,Airports,bus stations and railway stations too DI. All the very best keep trying one day you will succeed in becoming famous and i will show my grand children the rupee and dollar with your golden DI logo on it.
btw in India the person names appear only after they die if i am not wrong.Where as in Gulf countries the roads,buildings,airports,bus stations are named after the ruler when he is still alive.You should try your luck in gulf too,maybe one day you will become a ruler and we can see Sheikh Rajesh road/Sheikh Rajesh international airport,Burj Rakesh etc….
Well, I am trying to place one brick but you want me to build a whole house!! 🙂 I wonder why I left schools, colleges, etc. I will add them to my list now.
What’s the fun in naming something after a person, after they die? I mean, the person who is dead won’t be happy and the people who are living don’t care. I want my case to be an exception. In this regard, I find the example set by Dubai, very inspiring. India should shortly start following it 🙂
Destination Infinity
You can have your dream come true if Rajesh Khanna gets a road named after him. All you need to do it to stand next to the sign covering the second half of the name with your body and hey presto, you have a road named after you!!
Even Rajesh Khanna doesn’t have a road named after him, yet? Then strike off the movie star in the above article 🙂
Destination Infinity
🙂
DI, who says you cannot have this come true? The answer lies in liberating India from its evils, in delivering its people from strife, in providing solutions for great healthcare and education and housing and so much more!
And then will come a time, when DI will be worshipped! 🙂
Great ideas… best wishes
thanks
The idea/dream of having your logo in our currency is achievable! Become a Reserve bank governor! The logo looks good.
But for naming a street after you, you have to become a politician than a film star. Only Shivaji and MGR have nagars so far. It is not easy to reach their level.
Zephyr’s idea is interesting!
Dreams might become a reality one day…it has happened to many people. Dream more, D.I.
you reminded me of Munnabhai’s dreams in the movie Munnabhai MBBS . have u seen it?