The renowned lines 'What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet' are extracted from William Shakespeare’s timeless play, Romeo and Juliet. These lines suggest that the name of a thing or a person may not carry significant weight. However, I find myself in disagreement with this revered playwright and poet.
My name is कन्यका / Kanyaka, a Sanskrit term signifying a maiden, associated with Goddess Durga, and daughterhood. Despite the challenges that arose from having a distinctive name, with teachers occasionally referring to me by my last name and others often mispronouncing it, these experiences shaped me into an individual who, at times, wished for a simpler name—one that wouldn't necessitate corrections.
Yet, as I matured, a realization dawned upon me: I would predominantly be the sole Kanyaka in any given room. I was fortunate to possess an identity that set me apart. My name was not borrowed from someone else or plucked from a book; it was uniquely mine. A name connecting me to my roots and culture.
'WHAT’S IN A NAME' is a personal project celebrating my identity, culture and the script it originated from, Devanagari.