Daak Naams and the Bengali relationship titles (such as Naw Da or Ful Mama) can be bewildering indeed. Their mastery is a guarantee to be considered a Jedi Master of Bong culture!
One of my aunts has a daak naam of "Kuli". Her daughter, i.e. my cousin used to tease her saying that when her Mom goes to Howrah Station, nobody will be able to call out to her by her daak naam because it might be mistaken to be a call for a porter (coolie).
Of course, this family joke is over a quarter century old. The last time I went to Howrah Station was in the previous century. I don't even know if the old porter system exists any more (nostalgic sigh...).
Daak Naam is the most endearing piece of Bengali culture. Sit at a 'Para Adda' and absorb the bouquet of Daak Naam that is served during the conversation. It is so unrelated to the REAL name that one could be talking about Martians :) The good part is that only those in the inner circle are allowed to enter the hallowed space of using Daak Naam....thank Lord for small mercies....
Daak Naams and the Bengali relationship titles (such as Naw Da or Ful Mama) can be bewildering indeed. Their mastery is a guarantee to be considered a Jedi Master of Bong culture!
One of my aunts has a daak naam of "Kuli". Her daughter, i.e. my cousin used to tease her saying that when her Mom goes to Howrah Station, nobody will be able to call out to her by her daak naam because it might be mistaken to be a call for a porter (coolie).
Of course, this family joke is over a quarter century old. The last time I went to Howrah Station was in the previous century. I don't even know if the old porter system exists any more (nostalgic sigh...).
Daak Naam is the most endearing piece of Bengali culture. Sit at a 'Para Adda' and absorb the bouquet of Daak Naam that is served during the conversation. It is so unrelated to the REAL name that one could be talking about Martians :) The good part is that only those in the inner circle are allowed to enter the hallowed space of using Daak Naam....thank Lord for small mercies....
Most difficult Daak names I have encountered are Tamil names. The complex name I remember is Saravanabhavanandan
Aren't unwritten rules same as of Culture?