My name is Sudhanshoo Maroo

Well, this may not be the best or rather the most interesting way to start writing on my blog. However, I thought I should share with you all (is anyone listening?) some of the names I have heard for myself. I still do not understand why most people can’t pronounce my name correct at the first attempt. When I say “most people”, I do mean to say that approximately 7 out of 10 people pronounce it wrong initially, 5 out of 10 the second time and 3 out of 10 always (of course I did not record the numbers but these are also not so wild guesses) . Let me share some of the most popular wrong names (it is surprising to see some of the common wrong ones):

Shubhanshoo: I fail to appreciate the fact that people can not distinguish between “bh” (if you are an Indian then this is one of the alphabets in the devnagari script) and “dh” (and this one too), even if I try my level best to speak clearly. Either they assume that “Shubh” (favorable) is followed by “anshoo” (probably a take on parts) or they simply choose to ignore me so that they do not have to make an effort in such a no-value task. Whatever the reason, it kind of sucks!!

Subhash: Whenever I try to book a journey ticket on phone, I see this name finally on the ticket paper. Is it because person on the other side finds my name to be too long (thus ignoring “hoo” since he is busier than me and does not have time to digest all of my name) and also repeating a similar mistake (as the above kind of fellas by hearing “bh” over “dh”)? This one sucks too and badly as it does not even rhyme!!

Foo Dhaan Foo: This one’s quite interesting. When in Lehman Brothers, I had been to Chennai to conduct a derivatives workshop at IIT. Again, I was the one who had telephoned the hotel manager (yes, we stayed in expensive 5 star properties!!) and told him, “Please send a car to the airport to receive Sudhanshoo and company”. On my arrival at the airport, I obviously could not locate our driver since I saw no one with a placard with my name and he was quite right in assuming that a Korean (I certainly do not look like one) is due to arrive. Thankfully, “Lehman Brothers” (It was written – Foo Dhaan Foo and company of Lehman Brothers) and some good nursery rhymes saved our day.

Before it becomes too long, the other versions that are quite common are Sudhendu, Suddoo (Of course that is not a mis-interpretation), Sudhansh (some people are just too lazy!), Sudha (I am sure these kind of people are not lazy but some primary school type kids who love jokes), etc.

BTW, my name is Sudhanshoo Maroo, yes with the double “o” coming twice, once in Sudhansh”oo” and then in Mar”oo”. I chose “oo” in Sudhanshoo over “u” because my mom made a spelling mistake when I was admitted in the school and everyone being lazy never bothered to correct it. One theory that I share is that if you google my name with “oo”, it is more likely to find me than anyone else (as if Larry Page and Sergey Brin were my childhood friends!). Sudhanshoo means “the moon”. May be my mom thought there is a double “o” in moon:) (will check with her).