A village name that embarrasses its residents on indo-pak border--zero line

A village name that embarrasses its residents
Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service

Nanga (Samba), June 14
What’s in the name? A lot. And it can be embarrassing as well. Residents of this ‘vulgarly’ named village, situated dangerously close to the zero line on the Indo-Pak border in Samba district, would like to tell William Shakespeare.

The name of the village, which has a connotation of people without clothes, is causing much trouble to the residents over the years, making them desperate to get it changed.

“The name was actually Naga. The village was once inhabited by Naga Sadhus (nude saints). The name was derived from them. Those sadhus had saved the village from a famine by locating underground water and digging up dozens of wells. But over the years, the actual usage has been distorted to Nanga. Now, everyone asks us if we are poor and without clothes, whenever we mention the place we belong to,” revealed Janak Singh, the village nambardar.

“We want to change the name. We have asked the government. We have raised the issue at many platforms, including political rallies, but our wish is yet to be realised,” said Kulwant Singh another village resident.

Their hopes actually grew stronger about two years ago when the name of “Giddar Galian” village, near RS Pura, meaning village of jackals or cowards, was changed to Sherpur - village of lions.

“If the name of that village can be changed after residents made persistent requests, why can’t ours?” asks Janak Singh.

Residents believe that Naga sadhus’ blessings have so far ensured no damage from the shelling by Pakistan in any of the wars. “But we have suffered more from the distorted name,” sighed Janak Singh.

The villagers have made a stopgap arrangement. They have combined the village with a neighbouring village - Majra. “We insist the village to be called Nanga Majran. But this doesn’t change the milestones and the revenue records which was done in the case of the Sherpur village,” said Daler Singh, an aged village resident.

“I want to see the change in the name in my life time. I am embarrassed to mention the name of the village during the conversations, or on a phone call when I have to tell from where I am calling from. I become a laughing stock as people ask me what happened to my clothes?” he said.