Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Old Bill Shakespeare was quite right in posing the question: 8220;What8217;s in a name?8221; Parents devote a lot of time and thought in conjuring up original and exciting names for their offspring but one goes through most of one8217;s life known more by one8217;s connections and what one does than by the name itself.
This is even more true in one8217;s younger and older days. As a kid, I was roundly introduced as my grandfather8217;s grandson or my mother8217;s son. At present, I am known as my children8217;s father. Will I live long enough to be introduced as my grandchildren8217;s grandfather!
On getting into the Navy, we were addressed rather formally by the rank and the surname. This really amounted to nothing as, for example, there could be dozens of Lieutenant Sharmas! On becoming more senior, the surname was often dropped and only the rank or appointment would be used. So we have Captains, Fleet Commanders, Commanders-in-chief and finally the Naval Chief. After retirement, each becomes a former so-and so till he fades away.
All this is fine by me and I have been very comfortable with it. But there was one time when I thought things went a bit too far. As a bachelor, I used to have a dog called Lucky. It was a cute, little Pomeranian which as a pup had jumped off a bed and broken one of its forelegs. The fracture was set right but the dog developed a peculiar, prancing gait which made it extremely attractive. It was fascinating to watch Lucky as it approached you pirouetting along, wagging its tail and looking at you with soulful eyes, just waiting to be petted.
Needless to say, Lucky was enormously popular, especially with all my friends8217; kids who only knew me as Lucky Uncle!
