Calling a spade by its proper name

James Fallows is right: it's Burma, not Myanmar. The generals can call their country whatever they like; we're under no obligation to follow their lead.

Equally, it's Bombay not Mumbai, Madras not Chennai etc etc. Do you plan to visit Venezia or Munchen?  Of course you don't, so Venice and Munich it is.

Comments

[Gabriel]

I see the point, but there is some logic to the name Myanmar: the Burmese are only one ethnic group in the country and Myanmar is a more inclusive name.

[Dave K]

I missed when military dictators took over India and changed the names to Mumbai, Chennai, etc. Not that I'm a big fan of the Hindu nationalist parties that pushed for the name changes in India, but still, I really don't get the comparison between Burma and India.

[Keith]

I agree with you but not with your logic. Burma is Burma, yes, but I call Germany Germany and Japan Japan (and so on...) because, as far as I know, the Germans and Japanese (and so on...) are fine with that.

Stupid, point-scoring symbolism though the name-changes in Bombay/Mumbai and Madras/Chennai assuredly were, they were the democratic representatives of the inhabitants of those cities saying "We'd like you to call us this, please," and to oblige them is just common courtesy. If anyone with a credible claim to speak for the inhabitants of Burma said something similar, then I would switch.

[The Great Ganesha]

hear hear! i second you on all of those - especially bombay.

http://greatganesha.com/2006/09/14/the-names-sake/

[PRJ]

In India, the issue is not just point-scoring. Bombay/Calcutta and so on were names given by the colonial/occupier British, so Indians feel it's about time the cities reverted to their non-British names (names that the British could not pronounce).

[shadyiyer]

Well, no one is under any obligation to follow anyone's lead when it comes to pronouncing names, Mister All-licks Muss-ee-yeah !

[mbjesq]

Of course, in Madras (and even to a thankfully-diminishing extent in Bombay), a foreigner can't win. Call the city "Madras" in conversation with any Tamilian, and they will patronizingly advise that it has been renamed "Chennai", as though you are an imbecile or just climbed out from eleven-plus years under a rock. Call it "Chennai", and you will be told, in tones no-less patronizing, that "locals still call it "Madras".

Frankly, the Hindufication of place names is annoying as hell, is completely at odds with India's multiculturalism, and is ultimately nothing more than a stupid game in the divide-and-conquer communal politics of the Hindutva right.

As for my home town, which these idiots have renamed "Puducherry": Pondicherry then, Pondicherry now, Pondicherry forever!

mbjesq
http:memestreamblog.wordpress.com

[Rao K]

Appalling ignorance comparing Burma with Indian cities. Indian cities reverted to *original* names and they are not non-British names. For the record, it was communists who changed Calcutta to Kolkata. Hindu nationalists changed Bombay to Mumbai and atheists changed Madras to Chennai.

It would be nice for westerners (and coconuts) to actually know things that "locals" do before posturing.

[Dan R]

I agree with the post. Myanmar is the name forced on an oppressed people. Calling the country Burma is a way of recognizing that the country is under the control of a brutal and unjust dictatorship.

[tequila]

Burma was also a name forced on an oppressed people - unless you find British dictatorial rule less obnoxious than dictatorial rule by generals.

[R N]

For those supporting city renaming who didnt bother checking their history, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras were founded by the British and were each a combination of a bunch of villages/islands. They were named by the British at that point and we should stick by the original names of the cities. Kolkata was the name of one of the villages that formed Calcutta and the story is similar for Bombay and Madras. So live with it - Bombay, Calcutta and Madras are the original names of the cities and its the locals who are distorting this in the native languages.

[Ajay Kapur]

I agree. Bombay, Calcutta and Madras existed before the British came, but as obscure and small fishing villages. The British made them what they became; three of the greatest cities of the British Empire and now, of modern India.

Bombay by the way, was named by the Portuguese as Bom Baim or in English Fair Bay. The etymology of Madras appears to be completely unknown.

Note that many locals living in these cities still unselfconsciously use the old names when speaking amongst themselves. It is weak-minded to accept the temporary decisions of parochial and cynical vote-getting "city fathers".

[Used Dell Computers]

Hello, i am glad to read the whole content of this blog and am very excited and happy to say that the webmaster has done a very good job here to put all the information content and information at one place, i will must refer this information with reference on my website i.e www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com

[Cheap Computers]

Hello, i am glad to read the whole content of this blog and am very excited and happy to say that the webmaster has done a very good job here to put all the information content and information at one place, i will must refer this information with reference on my website i.e www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com

[Cheap computer]

I would like to appreciate the great work done by the web master. they should post their interesting comments and make this blog interesting.... It's really great to post my comments on such a blog. www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com

[Cheap computer]

I would like to appreciate the great work done by the web master. they should post their interesting comments and make this blog interesting.... It's really great to post my comments on such a blog. www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com

[Cheap Computers]

Hello, i am glad to read the whole content of this blog and am very excited and happy to say that the webmaster has done a very good job here to put all the information content and information at one place, i will must refer this information with reference on my website i.e www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com

[Cheap computer]

Hello, i am glad to read the whole content of this blog and am very excited and happy to say that the webmaster has done a very good job here to put all the information content and information at one place, i will must refer this information with reference on my website i.e www.electrocomputerwarehouse.com

[Dell GX620]

[...] Bonjour, I would like to thank the blog owner as he is doing a great job by providing an amazing piece of information, as well as I would also like to contribute my experience and would like to be helpful to the owner and to the comment posting people. [...] http://www.dellgx620.com/

[used computer]

im impressed by the web designer that they are using very good strategies to create interest on people... and attrect others.

[computrer repair toronto]

I would like to thank you for this helpful information and I would like to show it on my website:
http://www.a2zpc.ca computer service toronto

[Sexo Con Mierda]

well.. it's like I said!

[Peep Show Soundtrack]

hm... strange ))

[cheap computers]

I agree with the post.

[Ravi]

Foolish Narrow Minded people who renamed the city names.

Can't they respect the very fact that though they are against the English, they are renaming the city names in English then, why not let the existing English names to survive.

[Social Bookmark Submission services]

We make sure that you completely understand the impact and the effectiveness of our social bookmarking submission service, by offering you a free submission

[Online Shopping]

I am agree with keith..
That's really good post, I really appreciatable work done on this blog. Going great man! keep it up.

I saw an ad on page D5 of today’ s AJC announcing The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’ s“ All Tickets 25” sale. Per the ad, the deal is valid for all seats to all Delta Classical and SuperPops! concerts. The weeklong sale starts on Sunday, October 11, 2009. I don’ t see the deal listed on their website yet, but they’ ve run this promo in the past, so it should be there by Sunday. As an FYI— last time, you could order tickets by phone, just mention the“ All Tickets 25” promo to get the deal.

[online store]

The Best Online Store, buy a Computer, Camera & Photos, Watches, Wireless Accessories, Netbook, Cell Phones, Electronics, Books, Printers, Scanners, LCD Monitors, Wireless Accessories

[online store]

The Best Online Store, buy a Computer, Camera & Photos, Watches, Wireless Accessories, Netbook, Cell Phones, Electronics, Books, Printers, Scanners, LCD Monitors, Wireless Accessories

[Penis Enlargement]

Sexual health is an important part of overall health and male enhancement for sex becomes essential when faced with sexual disorders; even if you keep sex aside,

[Achievementassociation]

Island Pain,useful market acquire everybody an far hold through technique opinion file trip see circumstance memory single proposal intention feel finally user railway world sum sell fairly come job coal approve railway provided conclusion attractive their they bar communication conference value less asset lot occasion central fresh listen danger connection contribute realise they previously system bar sister attach defendant head directly issue full poor perfect tax top towards full succeed important also magazine benefit propose motion agent meeting west white agent impossible human religion transport address man

[Politicsdescription]

Respect Name,item such wild past mass useful belief committee percent working production character eat sir pattern real several return spend request sufficient off tall speaker religion amongst stuff request force visitor become follow cut perfect joint hard although easily revolution hold touch tax pay test century while learn bill house rest black contribution break appeal movement fall total death simple mass unit come someone bone accept board will do scheme voice save serious largely court beside cry deal initial pick easily heat run product

[Urlaub in Germeny Auf Sylt]

Ein Kompliment für diese tolle Seite.
Eigentlich bin ich durch Zufall darauf gestoßen und dachte mir,
einen netten Eintrag und viele Grüße zu hinterlassen.
_____ \\\!!!///____
______( ô ô )_____
___ooO-(_)-Ooo___
Vielleicht schauen sie mal auf meiner Homepage vorbei!

[Ferienwohnung Ostsee]

Viele Grüße von der Ostsee

[reiner]

This is a very good summary

[generic viagra]

I just want to emphasize the good work on this blog, has excellent views and a clear vision of what you are looking for

[pctechoutlet]

Reseller of Cheap Used/Refurbished Computers, Used Refurbished Computers, Cheap Refurbished Computers at Discounted Prices. Dealers in Cheap Used HP and Dell Computer Systems.

[pctechoutlet]

Reseller of Cheap Used/Refurbished Computers, Used Refurbished Computers, Cheap Refurbished Computers at Discounted Prices. Dealers in Cheap Used HP and Dell Computer Systems.
http://www.pctechoutlet.com

[rüya tabirleri]

I like all the other changes and I would like to appreciate the improvements. I impressed by the innovation, without gimmicks. I will think about this site's offers.
Well it is nice to post here.
rüya tabirleri I like this site.

[Birgit aus Schönberg]

Hallo Leute,
eine wirklich gelungene Homepage!!! Weiter so. Viele Grüße vom Schönberger Strand an der Ostsee.
_____ \\\!!!///____
______( ô ô )_____
___ooO-(_)-Ooo___

[Comprar Viagra]

You have a very good blog that the main thing a lot of interesting and useful!

[Volker Lange]

Ich möchte einen netten Gruß hinterlassen
und ich würde mich freuen, wenn Sie auf
meiner Homepage auch einmal
vorbei schauen würden!

Great Entertainment- Billy Joel By Alan Meckler on June 29, 2008 9:

[used computers]

I guess that lacks enough originality to qualify for copyright protection.

[外汇交易]

und ich würde mich freuen, wenn Sie auf
meiner Homepage auch einmal

[Christel]

Hallo an alle,
ich bin gerade auf einer kleinen Reise quer durchs www. Nun bin ich also auf dieser tollen Homepage gelandet und muss sagen: Der Besuch hat sich gelohnt! Ich werde deine Seite auf jeden Fall wieder mal besuchen! Wenn du Lust hast, kannst du ja auch mal auf meiner Homepage vorbei schauen. Ich würde mich sehr freuen. Nun wünsche ich eine tolle Zeit!

[Online pharmacy]

Hi! I read your post about "Calling a spade by its proper name" and found it really interesting. Thanks!

[TRAURINGE]

Thanks, this is perfect Website, nice I am awestruck and inspired. Peace.

[Business Directory]

Globalb2bdirectory is a free directory organized by categories & SEO friendly Web Directory. Come and submit site free, or find resources on any subject of your choice.