Names and me

My parents gave me two names - Vishwanath for the world and Tutu, an endearing term which they would use at home. These two names have in a way created two identities for me. In fact, the two mes inhabit two different worlds. I have two different sets of friends and acquaintances- those who know me as Tutu and those who know me as Vishwanath. Of course, there are those who know me as both.

I have always, in my mind, differentiated between the people who call me Tutu and those who call me Vishwanath. I think that the friends that I made at home, from my leikai and those whom I met while I was being "Tutu" have a different perception about me than those whom I met at school, college and the work place and who know me as Vishwanath. Sometimes, I feel the two perceptions are very different and at times, even contradictory.

The truth is - I think the Tutu part of me is a little sheltered, sometimes childish, often immature and always naive. The other me - on the other hand - has grown over the years. He is wiser, worldly, practical, rational, introspective with a zeal to better himself and likes to think of himself as a hard working professional.

I wish the two mes can learn to coexist and learn from each other.