‘Here’s your id ‘Mr. Mad-han Go-plan’ – the security at the gate politely told me and gave my driving license and ID to enter the building.
‘It is Madhan Gopalan. But, please call me Maddy’ I replied, smiled at her and went into the 47-story edifice.
This was not the first time. And, I am certain that this is not going to be the last. I am used to my name being called incorrectly (sometimes even deliberately as banter) several times. Be it at the Security Gate or the corporate boardroom. Be it in New York or even back home in India. Strangely, I never get offended by this when people do it inadvertently. And somehow, I find it an excellent conversation starter. Especially, with perfect strangers.
And, I know a lot of Indians ‘manage’ to change their names, particularly after they move to a foreign land. Perhaps, they had similar issues at the security gate. I have known Lakshmi Narayanans as ‘John’ Laxmi, Ananda Padmanabhan's as Andy, and Krishnamurthy's as ‘Chris’. I even know a family that named their kids after the most common American names. Everyone wants to blend in. Let alone being called incorrectly.
Coming back to my name: though I don’t mind being called incorrectly, I get irked when people spell it incorrectly. Particularly, in emails. Not because my name is spelt incorrectly. But because I feel that whoever wrote that email was not only careless, but also pays scant respect. I make it a point to correct them. And I always get the apologies stating ‘inadvertent mistake’ made in a hurry. My question to them is, ‘Would you misspell your boss or your client or your loved one?’ I am willing to bet a month’s wager, if they say ‘Yes’.
