Nicknames

I generally despise my name, but I'm starting to love it in India. Maybe it's because I no longer go by "Lip-Pee." Nor do I go by the name some of my family members incorrectly call me "Lee-Pee."

My name should be pronounced as follows: "Lip-Ee" I know, small distinction. As soon as I explain that my name is Lippi, as in the Sanskrit word for script, font, cursive, or writing, people find my name to be very "classic" and "refined." Whatever, it may be, it was the root of a lot of 5-year old trauma as a kid. L - I - PEE PEE -I!! PEE-PEE!!!

Anyways, most people, including Indians, think it's a nickname. For what atrocious name, I have no idea. Lipinder?? Lipika?? Haha. As a nickname, it's surprisingly normal. This is probably because of the names of the group of people I hang out with. I don't think anyone actually goes by their birth name in Delhi. I've come to know a Sully, Bunny, Sunny, Sonny, Honey, Vinny, Maddy, Anshu, Noni, Dilu, Binny, Chima, Adi, Dee, Yadu, Chuug, Apu, Sodhi, and Sandy to name a few. I think nicknames are a sign of modernity here. My Sikh friend one time listed off he and all his cousins' names. They sounded like the seven dwarves from Snow White.

Apparently, to be a true "Sardh" (a term Sikh men call themselves) a given nickname is necessary along with your birth name. No one told me this when I was at GWU and was surrounded by incredibly muscular and manly Punjabi Sikh guys with innocent, cute cartoon nicknames. I think Guidos (this is becoming a very politically incorrect blog) share this cultural phenomenon. Think of a particularly famous jacked-up one that is named "Ronnie," for example. ;)

Here are a few of the bunch playing Jenga on a low key Saturday night at one of our friend's houses. (This house is the party house in the neighborhood as the guy who owns it specially designed his living room to be sound proof from the rest of his home. All the friends gather here before a night out or just to hang out.)

So yea, Lippi fits in just fine.