Name Matters

“What’s in a name” heard somewhere yes, you guessed right famous lines from Romeo and Juliet. But I encountered problems several times due to my name.  Ok let me tell you my story of my name and the problems I face quite regularly.

I studied in Telugu medium we never used to bother check the name written on certificate my name is Arun Kumar in Telugu (అరుణ్  - AruN) if you write (అరుణ - AruNa) gender changes. I studied in an all boys’ school. I do not know why no one bothered to check. Those days no one used to bother to check certificates only during verification they checked meticulously. Anyway, the point is with one letter the gender changes. When I received my SSC certificate (Most of the time every subsequent certificate or document will be based on the details of a person is mentioned on this certificate) I was told to use the details written on the SSC certificate. First time I checked the document in English it was written as Aruna Kumar. As I am known as Arun never encountered problems. So, I never bothered about that. Later during my university days, a friend of mine changed his name and suggested it to me. I ignored the suggestion just for the sake of one letter who will go through the lengthy process. I only realized that later when I started applying to jobs. During one interview they checked certificates and the person who checked, looked at me suspiciously when he checked my name and kept on looking at me, then thought this guy is going to call the police for impersonation and told him the story behind my name. I used to (I am talking of the days when Telegram (not messenger app) of postal department (which is no longer in use) or letter addressed as Ms. Aruna Kumar. Very embarrassing moment during one interview, I was asked to wait till my turn and the receptionist kept on announcing Ms. Aruna Kumar, somehow, I realized after 3^rd time and went and mentioned her. I try sometimes act smart and type Mr. G. Aruna Kumar even then got mail to Ms. Aruna. I keep typing Mr. G. Aruna Kumar, I am an optimist you see. 

Making YouTube video

Dear reader if you are looking for a techie or geeks’ tips to make the yt video or a newbie looking for tips to make your video on YouTube get more likes sorry to disappoint to. This is not about those details.  

I always try and learn new things and see if I can incorporate those lessons. I keep posting on to FB, Insta, and twitter. I never tried to post on YouTube before. I had a breakthrough when the PN Panicker Foundation during their National Reading Month conducted various events that included the use of new technologies.  One such contest dealt with making a 3-minute video on topic chosen. Participant must post video on YouTube then share the link with the contest organizers. I said wow, now I need to work on this. One advantage of these times is everything is available online to certain extent free of charge. I just started inquiring with busy-bee, techy friends so that I can take their help if I fail (You see you need to have plan B, right). I got enough people around me who always there to pitch-in unless they are really, really busy.  Then religiously looked around for help online, google Baba (I use this for all pervasive sense, don’t attribute any motives I am not responsible if you do so and try and market this idea (definitely I am not the first one to use these words) produced millions and zillions (sorry I may be exaggerating pardon me for this but you know what I mean) and read them ok I am ready after sometime. I had to make 3-minute video right I calculated with people approximately half an hour I allotted 1 hour you known just in case.  You might be thinking why I am telling all these, sorry boss picture abhi baaki hai.. Real story begins now….

I prepared the content and made few rehearsals; you see I do not want to be a laughingstock after uploading the video. Any ways I sat down and checked timing etc., and started recording using my laptop when I checked the recording voice is not audible and switched to mobile, in the process I felt it’s not that easy when you are doing first time (I am talking about my experience here and not generalizing hats off to those who could it very quickly) as I guessed (so need to be careful while guessing one important lesson). It took me 6 times to do the recording finally I was happy that everything is fine. Some how there was nagging feeling that hinting something is not right you see when instinct warns me at times I will be careful (you see we are humans and ignore warnings and I had enough experiences so I thought I will go by my instinct I had enough time to upload so I thought why not sparing 3 more minutes in listening that proved me right). I started listening somewhere in the background there was a faint barking sound warning bells started ringing and through out the audio clip the barking sound is audible though unless you are keen in listening to find mistakes. I am posting to public listening how do I ignore the fact the people do listen. Now my problems started. For a second, I went into contemplation. I started thinking of dogs seriously. I remember due lockdown many stray dogs moved out of this my vicinity of late. I know there are no pets in my street as I speak.  Then how come I hear the barking sound. I stopped what ever I was doing. Sat down quietly started listening it was past 11PM so there was silence around I could hear barking sound far away. Then I sat down had to change my plan of recording and thought of using PowerPoint and insert audio for each slide so that I can use only few seconds and convert it into video. I patted on my shoulder (don’t ask me how its only… ) for this creative idea. I felt I can look quickly for mistakes and recording will be easy, I was wrong once again. Finally, when I am done with recoding it was 1AM.  I do not the reason there was a barking sound at regularly I could not even record for 10 seconds. Any way the idea of adding audio to slides worked though it took more than 2 hours. Finally, I uploaded the video posted to public (as I type this piece its  more than 48 hours no one gave me any complaints about the background noise I hope everything OK.)

(I thank a good friend of mine for suggesting to write)