My parents decided in my childhood that I shall have no surname (or lastname, as the Americans call it). Little did they know how, in a flat world, it will make my life a constant struggle.
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Having lived with a last name for over a year in
Facebookville, an inescapable appendage in this two-name world, I have finally
recovered my pristine identity of Firstname Nolastname variety. Since facebook
and several other faceless websites just wouldn't let you progress to the next
"field" without filling up a last name, I had no option to assume
one, my father's of course.
But after several people commented and asked
whether it was the same me (!) I finally decided to challenge Lord Zuckerburg
himself. That I did it when his chips (literally the stock of his company) are
down and quoting below $20 is no coincidence. Rather than angering a valuable
member, on whose shoulders he sell everything ranging from women's perfumes to
luxury yachts, paper-clips to cat-food, he quickly succumbed and agreed to let
me drop my surname. That I submitted a scanned copy of my passport, signed by a
mere section officer of the passport office helped too. Imagine Zuckerburg vs
the Section Officer; and who wins? The mighty Babu of the supermighty
Government of India.
So friends, here I am, at your service again. The
same "Shubhranshu" that you knew all along and not a stranger
"Shubhranshu Verma". It is springtime once again!
