Kunjhichirutha is an Indian girl now living in New Jersey, USA. She loved watching the street and the cars go by. She felt happy in her new school, but her classmates found her name hard to say. Ms. Hopkins, her teacher, tried her best to say it right. Mr Prakash, the owner of a candy shop was the only one outside her home who could pronounce her name correctly. He said her name correctly, and they spoke in Malayalam. Kunjhichirutha learned he was from a village near her home in Kerala. Later, a new girl, Antoinette, joined her class. Her friends also found her name hard to say. Kunjhichirutha practiced and learned to say it the right way. Antoinette also tried and said Kunjhichirutha’s name well. They became good friends.
ചിലരുടെ പേര് കേൾക്കുമ്പോൾ നമുക്ക് ചിരിവരും. ചിലരുടേത് പറയാൻ നമ്മൾ നന്നായി പണിപ്പെടും. പേരുകളെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള ഒരു കഥയാണ് നമ്മൾ പഠിക്കാൻ പോകുന്നത്.
അമേരിക്കയിലെ ന്യൂജേഴ്സിയിൽ താമസിക്കുന്ന ഒരു ഇന്ത്യൻ പെൺകുട്ടിയാണ് കുഞ്ഞിച്ചിരുത. തനി മലയാളി. പുതിയ സ്കൂളിൽ അവൾ ഹാപ്പി ആയിരുന്നെങ്കിലും സഹപാഠികൾക്ക് അവളുടെ പേര് പറയാൻ (ഉച്ചരിക്കാൻ) ബുദ്ധിമുട്ടായിരുന്നു. അവളുടെ അദ്ധ്യാപികയായ മിസ്സിസ് ഹോപ്കിൻസിൻ്റെ കാര്യം പറഞ്ഞാൽ മതിയല്ലോ. കുഞ്ഞിച്ചിരുത എന്ന് ശരിയായി ഉച്ചരിക്കാൻ സാധ്യമായതെല്ലാം മിസ്സിസ് ഹോപ്കിൻസ് ചെയ്തെങ്കിലും ഇതുവരെ സാധിച്ചില്ല. ഒരു മിഠായി കടയുടെ ഉടമയായ പ്രകാശിന് മാത്രമാണ് അവളുടെ വീടിന് പുറത്ത് കുഞ്ഞിച്ചിരുതയുടെ പേര് ശരിയായി ഉച്ചരിക്കാൻ സാധിച്ചത്. അദ്ദേഹം അവളുടെ പേര് ശരിയായി ഉച്ചരിക്കുകയും അവർ തമ്മിൽ മലയാളത്തിൽ സംസാരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. കേരളത്തിലെ തൻ്റെ വീടിനടുത്തുള്ള ഒരു ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ നിന്നാണ് അദ്ദേഹം വന്നതെന്ന് കുഞ്ഞിച്ചിരുത മനസ്സിലാക്കി. പിന്നീട്, ഓങ് ത്വാ നെറ്റ് (Antoinette) എന്ന ഒരു ഫ്രഞ്ച് പെൺകുട്ടി അവളുടെ ക്ലാസ്സിൽ പുതിയതായി ചേർന്നു. കുഞ്ഞിച്ചിരുതയുടെ പേരുപോലെ ഓങ് ത്വാ നെറ്റിൻ്റെ പേര് പറയാനും ക്ലാസ്സിൽ എല്ലാവരും വിഷമിച്ചു. എല്ലാവരും അവളുടെ പേര് തെറ്റിച്ചു വിളിച്ചപ്പോൾ കുഞ്ഞിച്ചിരുത അത് ശരിയായി “ഓങ് ത്വാ നെറ്റ്” എന്ന് പറയാൻ പഠിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. കുഞ്ഞിച്ചിരുത എന്ന പേര് നന്നായി ഉച്ചരിക്കാൻ ഓങ് ത്വാ നെറ്റും ശ്രമിച്ചു. അവർ നല്ല സുഹൃത്തുക്കളായി.
അപ്പോൾ നിങ്ങളും പഠിച്ചില്ലേ?
- കു KU
- ഞ്ഞി NJHI
- ച്ചി CHI, CHCHI
- രു RU
- ത THA, TA
Questions & Answers
- Where did Kunjhichirutha live before moving to New Jersey? Kunjhichirutha lived in Kerala before moving to New Jersey.
Kerala is a state in India known for its lush greenery and rich culture. She had spent her early years there, learning some English rhymes in playschool. When she moved to New Jersey, everything felt new, but she quickly adapted to her surroundings. - What did Kunjhichirutha enjoy watching from the gate? She loved watching passing vehicles and pedestrians from the gate.
Seeing cars, buses, and people walking by fascinated her. It became a daily habit to stand and gaze at the street. Observing the busy world outside made her feel connected to her new city. - What season was ending in New Jersey when the story began? Winter was ending when the story began.
The air was beginning to warm up, but there were still occasional cold winds. Kunjhichirutha had experienced a very cold winter in New Jersey, which was different from what she was used to in Kerala. The change in seasons fascinated her. - What puzzled Kunjhichirutha about the day and night? She was puzzled by the varying lengths of day and night across seasons.
When she arrived in July, the sun set late, around eight-thirty, making the day very long. But now, in winter, the sun set much earlier, around five, making the day shorter. This natural change was something she had never noticed before moving to New Jersey. - At what time did the sun set in July in New Jersey? In July, the sun set at eight-thirty in New Jersey.
Kunjhichirutha was surprised that daylight lasted for more than fifteen hours. She enjoyed the long summer days when she had more time to play outside. It felt completely different from the short winter days she later experienced. - How many students were in Kunjhichirutha’s Grade I class? There were twenty-four students in Kunjhichirutha’s Grade I class.
She was not the only student from an immigrant family. Almost half the students in her class had families from different countries like Canada, Mexico, Italy, UAE, Egypt, and China. Despite being the only Indian, she felt welcomed by her classmates and teachers. - What subject did Ms. Hopkins teach? Ms. Hopkins taught Mathematics in Kunjhichirutha’s class.
She was a kind and helpful teacher who always made sure Kunjhichirutha felt comfortable. Although she struggled with Kunjhichirutha’s name, she tried her best to pronounce it correctly. Her kindness helped Kunjhichirutha feel at ease in her new school. - What did Kunjhichirutha call Prakash instead of ‘Mr. Prakash’? She called him ‘Prakash Uncle’ instead of ‘Mr. Prakash’.
In Kerala, it was common to call older men ‘Uncle’ as a sign of respect. Calling him ‘Mr. Prakash’ felt strange to her, as it seemed distant. She felt happy and more connected when she called him ‘Prakash Uncle’. - What language did Prakash switch to while talking to Kunjhichirutha? Prakash switched to Malayalam while talking to Kunjhichirutha.
Malayalam was her native language, so hearing him speak it was comforting. He was curious about her name and wanted to know more about her background. His ability to say her name correctly made her feel special. - Who was Kunjhichirutha named after? She was named after her great-grandmother.
Her great-grandmother had been a schoolteacher at the age of eighteen. Kunjhichirutha had only seen an old photograph of her. She felt proud to carry the same name as someone so accomplished. - How old was Kunjhichirutha’s great-grandmother when she became a schoolteacher? She became a schoolteacher at the age of eighteen.
This was remarkable because she had started teaching at such a young age. Kunjhichirutha admired her for being strong and independent. She enjoyed telling people about her great-grandmother when they asked about her name. - Where was Antoinette from? Antoinette was from Marseilles, France.
Her family had relocated to New Jersey because her mother had a new job. Kunjhichirutha found Antoinette’s name interesting because it was hard to pronounce. She quickly became friends with her as they had similar experiences with name pronunciation. - Why did Antoinette’s family move to New Jersey? Her mother got a new project in a multinational company, so they moved.
The family had to relocate for work, just like many others in New Jersey. Antoinette had to adjust to a new school, just like Kunjhichirutha had. Despite the change, she soon settled in and made friends. - What did Kunjhichirutha find amusing about Antoinette’s name? She found it amusing that people had trouble pronouncing Antoinette’s name.
Many classmates said her name incorrectly, just like they did with Kunjhichirutha’s name. Some pronounced it ‘an-toy-net’ instead of ‘ong-thwa-net’. Kunjhichirutha practiced and learned how to say it correctly. - How did Kunjhichirutha and Antoinette become friends? They became friends by helping each other pronounce their names correctly.
Antoinette tried hard to pronounce Kunjhichirutha’s name, and she did well. Kunjhichirutha also practiced and got Antoinette’s name right. Their shared experience brought them closer together.
Writing Tasks
Letter Writing
Dear Antoinette,
I hope you are doing well. I really enjoy spending time with you at school. You are kind, and I am happy that we are friends. I like how we help each other with our names. You learned to say my name so well, and I practiced saying yours too!
Yesterday, I visited Prakash Uncle’s store. He gave me a sweet for free! He said it reminded him of Kerala, where I come from. He was happy to meet me because we speak the same language. I want to take you there one day so you can meet him. I think you will like his store—it has lots of tasty candies!
My mother is still trying to say your name correctly. She is practicing, but it is hard for her. Maybe you can teach her, just like you taught me! I taught her a little, but she still makes mistakes. It is funny to hear her try again and again!
I am excited to see you at school tomorrow. We can play together and talk more. Thank you for being my friend!
Your friend,
Kunjhichirutha.
Conversation
Complete the conversation with the words / phrases in the list:
- Kate: Hi, Kun-hi-chi-ryoo-tha!
- Kunjhichirutha: sighs Kate, ________________. It’s Kunjhichirutha.
- Kate: Kun-hi-chi… ru-tha?
- Kunjhichirutha: Closer! Say it ________________. It is Kunjhichirutha.
- Kate: Kunjhichirutha?
- Kunjhichirutha: Yes! That was _________________!
- Kate: Your name is hard!
- Kunjhichirutha: It just takes __________________, like any new word.
- Kate: Kunjhichirutha! Did I get it?
- Kunjhichirutha: Yes! __________________.
List: practice, that’s not right, Thank you for trying, much better, smoothly
Textual Analysis
Kunjhichirutha stood at the gate, gazing at the street. She loved to look at passing vehicles and pedestrians. It was the end of winter. The air was warming up. But there was still the occasional cold wind. It had been a cold winter in New Jersey. It was only five. But night had fallen. The varying lengths of day and night across seasons had puzzled Kunjhichirutha. When she arrived in July, the sun set only at eight thirty. The day was more than fifteen hours long. Now the sun set a little before five, and the day lasted only a little less than ten hours.
“Kun-hi-chi-ryoo-tha!” Kunjhichirutha was startled. That was Kate, her classmate. She lived just across the street. Oh, not again! Kunjhichirutha said to herself under her breath. When will she learn to pronounce my name right?
This was her sixth month at school. Back in Kerala, she had only learned some English rhymes at play school. But she had picked up English with an amazing speed. Her classmates and teachers were very kind and helpful. She did not feel a stranger at all at the school. Ms. Hopkins who taught Mathematics went out of the way to make her comfortable. The only thing that upset her was the way her classmates pronounced her name. Even Ms. Hopkins found her name difficult to pronounce! She did try, though. She managed to get the last part right. But she still found the first part a tongue twister.
“Hi, Kate”, Kunjhichirutha waved back. Kate was going shopping with her aunt. There were twenty four students in Grade I. Kunjhichirutha was not the only non-American student in her class. In fact, nearly half the students belonged to immigrant families. There were students from Canada, Mexico, Italy, the UAE, Egypt and China. Kunjhichirutha was the only Indian.
Kunjhichirutha had come across many Indians on the streets. She had a pleasant surprise when she met Prakash. Prakash ran a confectionery near her school. Kunjhichirutha thought he looked remarkably like her uncle, Harish. Only Prakash looked a lot older. Almost as old as Muthassan (Grandfather). He had gazed curiously at her, the first time she bought some candy from the store.
All her classmates called him’Mr. Prakash’. Kunjhichirutha thought it rude. Back home in Kerala, she would have called him ‘Prakash Uncle’. The next time she went to the store, Prakash patted her affectionately on her head.
“What do people call you, dear?”
“Kunjhichirutha”.
Prakash’s eyes widened. “Kunjhichirutha!”
Kunjhichirutha was delighted. Prakash Uncle was the first person outside her family to pronounce her name perfectly in New Jersey. She nodded her head and beamed at him.
Prakash suddenly switched over to Malayalam.
“Do children still have names like’ Kunjhichirutha?” he wondered aloud.
Prakash was not the first person to wonder about Kunjhichirutha’s name. She had faced the question several times after she became old enough to talk about it. Of course, she knew very well how she got her name. So she told him about her great grandmother who became a schoolteacher at the age of eighteen. She had only seen a fading photograph of her great grandmother. Kunjhichirutha later learned from Amma (her mother) that Prakash
belonged to a village not far from her town. He had arrived in America almost half a century ago.
A few days before the spring break, a girl named Antoinette took admission in Kunjhichirutha’s class. She was from a city called Marseilles in France. Her mother was working in a multinational company. She was given a new project in New Jersey. So the family had relocated. Antoinette and Kunjhichirutha soon became friends. Kunjhichirutha was amused to find that her classmates and teachers had trouble pronouncing Antoinette’s name too. Most of them pronounced it as ‘an-toy-net’. But Kunjhichirutha learned from Antoinette that the name ought to be pronounced ong- thwa-net’. Kunjhichirutha tried to say it that way. She found to her surprise that she got it right after a few trials. She was equally surprised to find Antoinette pronouncing her name fairly well, especially the ‘nh’.
Antoinette visited Kunjhichirutha at her home a few days later. Kunjhichirutha found to her amusement that Amma (mother) could not say Antoinette’s name right. So she had to become her mother’s language teacher for a moment!
