What is in the name?

“What’s in a name? That which we call a Rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

One of the famous quotes by “Shakespeare”. I don’t think that it would have been an immortal dialogue if it had been said by some Tom, Dick, or Harry.

Recently, during the lockdown period, we had “Ramayana” verses at home. And while reading it, I understood the importance of the name Raam. And I also discovered the importance of the name as described by Swami Tulsidasji.

In the above “Doha” (Verses) Swami Tulsidaji want to convey that, for many of his devotees, Lord Raam took the human body, and made everyone happy. BUT all devotees (Even in this era when he is physically not available) feel happiness only by chanting Raam with love.

Lord Raam helped one saint Ahilya, BUT his name helped billions of people to overcome sadness in their lives. For Saint Vishwamitra he killed Tadaka, her son, and the force BUT Raam's name kills all mistakes, sorrows, bad hopes just like The Sun kills the night. Lord Raam broke the great Shiv Dhanush, but his name breaks all the fears in the world.

Many people, who do not know the Ramayan, may not understand the above sayings. For them, I would like to translate it as Jesus / Allah or any other god may have helped directly when they were on the earth for short period. BUT their names are still helping people in many ways and still giving hope to everyone on the earth.

In this way, the name has a huge importance.

Now, after reading it, being a marketing professional, I also understood the importance of the brand. I would like to throw some light on it and try to explain the importance of Name (Brand) in my words.

It is said that Rose would smell sweet even if we change its name to Lily. Agreed. BUT once the name is given, many times it may happen that, people would forget the sweet smell and keep it saying as Rose Smell. Just as we rarely ask for mineral water bottles. We always ask for “Bislerie” and accept even if any other brand is served. The same is the case with “Nirma”. We never ask for washing powder but for Nirma and accept Surf Excel or Ariel or any other brand.

The brand name has so much importance that, if we add a TATA name ahead of a poison, many Indians would trust it and swallow it. Of course, it doesn’t happen overnight and meanwhile, you can change the name of TATA to anything. BUT once the name has given, it overtakes the physical (Sagun) and Virtual (Nirgun) aspects of the thing or human. Today the trust which TATA’s have earned makes them so powerful that anyone who allies with them gets the benefit.

You can also understand the importance of brand name from Parle’s campaign. Recently, they had to do a campaign to let people know that many products are under the Parley brand. Many of the poets/artists forget their original name and are known by their artistic name only which they use as their Nick Name.

In my startup Diwaly.com, the name played a good role. “Y” in the spelling makes it catchy for people and comment that it should be “I”. BUT because of that, they remembered it. Slowly in my small group, I was known by “Diwaly.com”.

I don’t think that all the punishments were given by only Hitler to Jews. Many people had taken the advantage of his name and did the things.

If you see, it’s the NAME on which the whole world is running. We do not know what Volkswagen is or Bosch is in India. BUT we have heard their names and just believing it we have accepted it and working in those companies. We would not work in any company whose name is “ “ (Nothing).

Name is a distinguishing factor at many times. The brand is a distinguishing factor while buying anything or taking any service. The cost is also related to the same. We have seen, just putting a label of any brand on a product decides its rate. And if all the features of any product are the same in 2 models, the brand makes a difference.

So it makes it important to give a nice name. Because it is the one which will be immortal and which will be spoken or heard billion and billions of times. No one would like to chant a name that depicts negativity or doesn’t sound good to ears. That’s why many people name their kids in God’s name.

Once the name is given, 50% trust begins as it would be identical to the original names of people or things. Just like Bajaj Pulsar. I do not think that the first Pulsar model and the latest Pulsar model have any technically strong similarities rather than the Name. In my opinion, Pulsar had got a better brand image than Bajaj itself. So, for every new model, they are using the same name.

If we talk a little spiritually, we feel freedom if we give the name to our fear, shame, or anything. If we can’t name it, we do not get the solution to overcome the same. But once we name it, answers start flowing in.

Any name, both in the physical and virtual worlds, is immortal. After we leave this world, the name is the thing that will last.

You know, people use names to get attention in their speeches. Mahatma Gandhi had said… or Bill Clinton had said… and accordingly, the impact is observed. All terrorism and other wrongdoings are happening under God’s name only.

So, in conclusion, we need to Earn a Name to have our own identity. And to Earn a Name, first, we must have a Name.

I have made a small attempt to showcase the importance of Name. I hope you like it and find it useful.