Shailaja Venkatsubramanyan: Teaching America To Say My Name

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When I moved to this country, one of the first discoveries I made

was that locals not of Indian origin could not say my name.

My name is Shaila Javeen.

Venkatesh Subramanian. 25 letters and 9 syllables. I heard many versions of this name being said,

always emphasizing the wrong syllable. In grad school during roll call, when the professor

frowned and hesitated to say her name, I would say here. At doctor's offices, if a nurse walked

out with a chart and stared at the name, I would raise my hand and say, that's me. When I used my

credit card at any store, I was prepared for the usual conversation. How do you say your name? Oh,

wow.

not say it in a million years. I smiled along but was growing weary inside. In grad school,

I introduced myself as Shai Venkat to the world. If my name is anyway being butchered, I might as

well butcher it the way I want. All was well until the day I got my PhD degree. Unfortunately,

the person calling out names had to use my full name. I heard my name being completely massacred.

My parents were in the audience. My heart broke. That re-energized me.

to strive to teach others to pronounce my name correctly. On becoming a professor, I jokingly

told my students I would give extra credit to anyone who could say my name correctly.

At the next class, students demonstrated how well they could say my name. I was overjoyed.

Fast forward a few years, my brother went to a local bar. The bouncer at the door checked his ID

and pronounced Venkata Subramanian like an Indian. My brother was taken aback and asked him how he

did it. The bouncers reply, I once had a professor by that name. America is a melting pot of people

from across the world, and people can embrace and respect cultural differences with the right

encouragement. With a perspective, I'm Shailaja Venkatesh Subramanian.

Support for Perspectives comes from Leifke Brazer Hyman & Bernstein,

seeking justice for the injured, victims of fraud, whistleblowers, employees, and investors in the

Bay Area and national.

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