'What's in a name?' asked Shakespeare and then went on to give a fitting reply to his own question by his ever famous quote that a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet'. I am no rose and have no inkling of my sweet smelling elements but for the entire 57 years of my life I have been known by a name which identifies me as a particular person whom some people on the face of this earth happen to know. My name though ordinary and very common is unique to who I am and has remained just that for a better part of my life. A name, an identification, a label - call it what you may. It has never ever given me trouble and being simple and easy to pronounce has always been hassle free except in the last few years or rather from the time I have moved to Ahmedabad.
The minute I introduce myself to a person or on a forum I evoke responses bordering on the incongruous - ah don't bluff - you can't be her! to the ludicrous.- you look so different in your pictures. Some people exude an effusiveness bordering on euphoria which of course wanes immediately on knowing I am not the celeb they thought I was. This either embarrasses me - I disappoint yet another person who was hoping to meet THE illustrious Ms. Kiranbir Sethi and has the misfortune of meeting me instead or puts me on an explanatory mode - you know there are two of us with the same name, in the same profession, blah! blah!
Then there are also those who make me feel like an usurper. These may be friends or colleagues who know her well and I become a victim of their reproachful, accusing looks suggesting that nobody else can have a name they so look up to. It is amusing and irritating at the same time. I don't think my namesake Ms. Kiranbir Sethi has ever had to face such awkward moments given that she is the celeb and I am the hoi polloi but for the people out there - just a few facts - I did a Facebook search for my name and found an endless list of Kiran Sethis and since the entire world is not on Facebook I am sure there are many more that we don't know of. I am not peeved but yes it would definitely be pleasant next time to meet someone who would wait to complete introductions before making casual, flippant remarks. For the sake of good manners if nothing else!
