Name Journeys

"Name Journeys" by Raman Mundair

Context

Raman Mundair is a contemporary poet whose work often explores themes of identity, migration, and cultural displacement. In "Name Journeys," Mundair reflects on the significance of names and the challenges of maintaining one's cultural identity in a foreign land. The poem delves into how names carry deep meaning, connecting individuals to their heritage and personal history, while also highlighting the struggles of being part of the South Asian diaspora in an English-speaking society.

The Poem

Like Rama I have felt the Wilderness,

← Allusion to Indian Mythology

but I have not been blessed

with a companion as sweet as she,

Sita; loyal, pure, and true of heart.

Like her, I have been chastened

through trial by fire. Sita and I,

spiritual sari-sisters entwined

in an infinite silk that would swathe

Draupadi's blush. My name

← Imagery

a journey between rough and smooth,

an interlacing of banyan leaves with sugar

cane. Woven tapestries of Journeys;

traveling from South

to North, where the Punjabi in my mouth

← Metaphor

became dislodged as milk teeth fell

and hit infertile English soil.

My mouth toiled to accommodate

the rough musicality of Mancunian vows

and my name became a stumble

← Metaphor

that filled English mouths

with a discordant rhyme, an exotic

rhythm dulled, my voice a mystery

in the Anglo Echo chamber -

void of history and memory.

← Symbolism

5 Key Quotes + Analysis for a Grade 9 Answer

1. Allusion: "Like Rama I have felt the Wilderness"

• Analysis: This line references the Hindu mythological figure Rama, who was exiled and faced many hardships. By comparing herself to Rama, the speaker draws a parallel between her own experience of displacement and the challenges faced by Rama. The "Wilderness" here represents the feelings of alienation and isolation that come with being separated from one's cultural roots in a foreign land.

2. Imagery: "My name a journey between rough and smooth, / an interlacing of banyan leaves with sugar cane"

• Analysis: This powerful imagery highlights the complexity of the speaker's identity. The "rough and smooth" suggests the contrast between different aspects of life and culture, while the banyan tree represents deep roots and strength, and sugar cane symbolises sweetness and nourishment. Together, these images reflect the speaker's experience of trying to balance two cultures—the familiar and the foreign.

3. Metaphor: "The Punjabi in my mouth became dislodged as milk teeth fell" Analysis: This metaphor compares the loss of the Punjabi language to the natural process of losing milk teeth. It suggests that the speaker's native language is gradually replaced by English as they grow up in a new country. The word "dislodged" conveys that this change is unsettling and not easily controlled, implying a loss of cultural roots. The image of milk teeth falling symbolises the inevitable but painful transition from childhood innocence to a more complex, hybrid identity.

4. Metaphor: "My name became a stumble / that filled English mouths with a discordant rhyme"

• Analysis: The metaphor of the name as a "stumble" suggests how the speaker's name is hard to pronounce and understand in the English-speaking world. The "discordant rhyme" reflects the awkwardness and misinterpretation of something deeply meaningful, showing how the speaker's identity feels misunderstood and disrupted when forced into a foreign language and culture.

5. Symbolism: "My name... void of history and memory"

• Analysis: The "Anglo Echo chamber" symbolises the English-speaking world, where the speaker's identity feels invisible and insignificant. The "void of history and memory" suggests that English culture does not recognise or value the speaker's heritage, leaving her feeling disconnected from her past and her cultural identity.

Form & Structure Points

• Free Verse: The lack of a fixed rhyme or meter allows the poem to flow naturally, mirroring the fluidity of the speaker's identity and experience. It creates a sense of freedom, but also of uncertainty, as the speaker navigates between two worlds.
• Imagery: Vivid descriptions help convey complex emotions and experiences, making abstract ideas about identity more concrete and relatable to the reader.
• Metaphor: The use of metaphor creates layers of meaning, enabling the reader to understand the speaker's struggles with identity and belonging.
• Allusion: References to Indian mythology enrich the poem by connecting personal experience to a broader cultural and spiritual context.

Example Practice Question

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "Name Journeys," Raman Mundair explores identity and heritage through rich metaphors and allusions. The line "My name became a stumble that filled English mouths with a discordant rhyme" illustrates how the speaker's name is mispronounced and misunderstood in a foreign culture. This connects to the broader theme of cultural displacement and the challenges of retaining one's identity in an English-speaking society. The mythological references to Rama and Sita, alongside the metaphor of her name as a "journey," suggest that the speaker's cultural heritage is both a source of strength and a burden in a world that does not fully understand or appreciate it. This tension between cultural preservation and assimilation is explored in both Mundair's poem and in other works in the collection, such as "The Immigrant."