Another Name for Tara!

There's something to be said for being half-Bengali (as Tara is).
You NEED to have two distinct names.
One is the 'bhalo naam' - or 'good name' to be used in all official documents, and in society in general. The other is the 'daak naam', or a 'home name', to be used 'unofficially' by family, friends and close people. (Now you understand what they mean when people ask you, "What is your good name, please? Bhalo naam ta ki?")

It is only befitting Bengali tradition that you will be burdened with a rather strange 'home name' that will embarass you till you are red in the face - especially when you turn 30 and god forbid, your name is either 'Baby' or 'Buri'. (We 30-year olds are a little sensitive on such matters.)Potol, Poltu, Bantu, Gogol, Dheblu... I believe the list borders on ludicrous. Those raised in Kolkata can enlighten you further. Or visit JNU and listen to the chatter around canteen tables, catch the names flying around fast and furious. The vegetable you order could well be the 'daak naam' of the person sitting at the next table.

Of course, you could also get lucky. I struck gold and was fortunate to be spared of the indignation of a Potol/ Gogol type name, and blessed with a beautiful 'daak naam', almost a full fledged 'bhalo naam'. If you don't know what it is... it doesn't matter!
Right now, the hunt is on for one for Tara.

The name "Tara" in itself was met with unsure responses. Tara? That's it? Nain-tara, perhaps? Or An-tara? Even Si-tara? But just 'Tara'? Yes. Just Tara. It is a bone of contention as to who came up with the name - S or I - but I think it was me. (I would.) Borne of a visit to the Kali Bari near Malai Mandir with Ma and Baba during my pregnancy, when after the delicious din of the dhak had died down, and the air still smelt of the smoky coal of an evening 'arati', a cry of 'Jai Ma Tara' rented the air. On inquiring after the name, I discovered it had various merits.

To begin with it was both local and global - deeply rooted in Indian culture and mythology (another name of the goddess Kali the receptor of a different kind of shakti - female energy, one of the five 'panchakanyas' who were strong women in mythology - Ahilya, Kunti, Draupadi, Tara, Mandodari, and of course meaning 'star', I have even discovered a deep connection to Buddhism), yet at the same time imbued with a simplicity and international (pronounce-able) appeal. It was also pronounced the same in Hindi and Bengali (and almost English), both the languages that are hers to own and discover at her own time and pace. It was, to us, perfect!

But still a real 'daak naam' eluded us. Jhunjhuni was the musical name used by aunts and uncles in CR park. S found that calling her Tingoo and Dingu amused her. Bui picked new names every day - matar ka dana, gulab ka patta, gol matol... Dada Dadi went with variations of chappu, tappu, chaanu... Hmm. Not working. It seemed that Tara would end up with many names-in-transit! But I still wanted another name for her, that meant something to me (who else do you have complete authority to name whatever you want??) - EVEN if I was going to be the only person calling her that! I waited patiently for some inspiration to come to me...