Naming Customs of Nicobar

Whats in a
name?
And
oxymoronically,
almost
everyone
familiar
with
this
phrase knows that it
was
said
by
Shakespeare. Name,
a random but socially
acceptable
combination
of
letters
not
just
identifies a person
but defines him as
well. Growing up in a
small town, as a child
my
knowledge
of
names and surnames was limited to a very small set. The portals of college
introduced me not just to the wide world outside but its nomenclatural trends of
human beings as well. The amazement at coming across new names was a never
ending process as I moved ahead in life and started working first with an MNC and
then for the government. India is a land of diversity and nothing underscores this
statement better than the diversity of names and surnames of Indians.
After doing my term in Delhi, I moved to my next karmkshetra Andaman &
Nicobar Islands. These scenic and mysterious islands are spread out in form of a
convex arc in the Bay of Bengal and form Indian frontier in the Indian Ocean. My
journey didnt stop at Port Blair, capital of A&N Islands, but it took me further down
south to Car Nicobar where I was posted as Chief of District Police. Nicobar, is
altogether a different world, so far removed from the mainland not just physically
but culturally as well. Every single day, which I have spent in Nicobar, has brought
new fascinating discoveries to me. Nicobari people are the most amazing people
Ive ever met; they dont just live their life, they celebrate it. They are explorers and
their inventive and exploratory faculties are quite evident in their names.
To begin with, my PSO is named as Faithful and there are people named as
Grateful, Greatheart etc as well. Faithful has named his son as Anshul Roberto
Carlos, a combination of names of one of former SPs son and Faithfuls favourite
footballer(Faithful has played football at national level).I was surprised to my core
when I found that one Martin Luthar has his son named as Boris Baker. I have met
at least two persons named as Plus Minus.And I have heard that theres one lady
with really interesting name- Yes Please. Where in India youd come across people
taking such liberties in naming themselves. If someone loves a name hell pick it
even if it doesnt conform to the norms; which are ultimately a collective expression
of a societys choices. Earlier, almost all names used to be in English but the

predominant Christian religion hasnt stopped the Nicobari people from giving their
children Hindu names such as Shyam Lal, Priyanka, Rahul, Sanjay, etc. Nicobar has
a small proportion of Muslims as well who keep Muslim names and surnames. So,
names wise we see such a huge diversity of people at such a small place.
I hope that the prevailing naming customs will continue and Nicobari people
will continue to display freedom and imagination in naming their children, as they
do it now.