A NAME BY ANY OTHER NAME
(Genre:Realistic Fiction)
By Neel Anil Panicker
She’s the antithesis of a politician.
Well read, articulate, with an accent to boot.
Quiet__it’s the modifier that best describes her.
That ways Atishi, her first name, is a total mismatch.
My pigdin reservoir of Hindi (or is that Urdu?) tells me its English equivalent’s fireworks.
That’s another universe away.
A name mismatch if there ever was one.
Why then, did she drop the Marlena, I wonder.
Her answer’s in poetic form:
Mirror mirror on the wall,
who’s the cruelest of them all
The ones demanding that I drop my name?
Or, the ones questioning why I dropped my name?
#neelanilpanicker #fridayfictioneers #india #politics #AAP #name calling #name dropping
REF NOTE: 
AAP leader Atishi Marlena drops last name, party denies forcing her to do so
While Atishi’s Twitter handle has changed from @Atishimarlena to @AtishiAAP, her name has also been amended on the AAP website.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/atishi-marlena-surname-aap-5329052/
neelwritesblog 
Dear Neel,
This one sort of sales over my head, knowing nothing about India or her politicians. I suppose it’s time I learn, eh? As always your writing is well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No, don;t be sorry at all, In fact i should be the one apologising for burdening my dear blogger friends with a realistic flash that is India centric.
Thanks a lot for the appreciation Rochelle.
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Loved the first 2 lines – very true in today’s world.
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Thanks a lot, Kelly
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Intriguing story
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Thanks a lot, Hardy
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An intriguing and light-hearted look at the power of names to influence others. Great take on the prompt!
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Thanks a lot, Penny
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I guess what she does is her choice, and has a right to do so without being questioned about it.
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so I wonder why she dropped her last name?
and then the demanding vs wondering left us a thinking….
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When you give a thing a name, you acquire power over it. Interesting story, Neel
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Thanks Neil
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Intriguing story, Neel. Well done.
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Thanks Sandra
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I’m sure there is a lot more behind this than I know or understand. Well written, as always.
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So well written, Neel.
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What an interesting tale.
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I really liked this and learned something new from it.
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Had to google her, so she was named by her parents after Marx and Lenin. And I see the complexity of the issue, the last two lines say it all.
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Also coming from a place of ignorance, here. But so interesting, that this mirror prompt caused both you and Rochelle to focus on identity issues, and more specifically on changing your name under pressure!
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