What’s in a name? A lot if it happens to be Bunty & Jugnu

Bhartesh Singh Thakur 

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Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, August 30 

What’s in a nickname? A lot actually. The protagonists of poll on the Panjab University (PU) campus are famous by their nicknames. They are carrying their childhood names blessed by their parents to campus politics too. 

There is no Babli but there is ‘Bunty’. National convener of the Students Organisation of India (SOI), which is a students’ wing of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), is Parambans Singh ‘Bunty’ Romana. He is famous as ‘Bunty’ Romana. 

Romana is the name of his native village. He clears all important decisions on candidates and alliances for the campus. Bunty contested the Punjab elections too. 

Vikramjit Singh Middukhera, president of the Chandigarh unit of SOI, insists that he should be mentioned as Vicky in newspapers as he is more popular by his nickname. “No one knows Vikramjit. In the political arena Vicky is more popular. It helps in connecting with masses as it is quite a common name. The students also feel closer when they address us by nicknames. It removes formality in conversation,” he defends. Middukhera is the name of his native village. 

Students are hardly aware that real name of Robin Brar, another SOI leader, is Arshdeep Singh Brar. He appears on the campus near elections only. 

In the National Students Union of India (NSUI), big daddies are ‘Mauji’ and ‘Jugnu’. 

‘Mauji’ actually means jolly which Manoj Lubana is. He was the overall boss last year in the NSUI but the party came last. “My parents gave me the nickname but on campus I became popular by ‘Mauji’. It has a benefit. The students don’t forget it. It is easier while saving the number too,” said Manoj Lubana. 

Jeewanjyot Chahal is ‘Jugnu’ which means a firefly. He is a major leader in the NSUI and leads a faction. Last year, he got separated and formed NSUI-Students Front which swept the polls along with PUSU. 

In Panjab University Students Union (PUSU), the big boss is ‘Naval’ whose real name is Satwinder Singh. “Since, I have come on the campus, I have been addressed as Naval. It is a common name and easy to pronounce,” he said. 

PUSU president Navi Khemkaran is actually Sandeep Singh. “Sandeep is the name on certificates but in politics Navi works,” says Navi Khemkaran. 

Leaders say they would carry their nicknames even to candidates’ list when they graduate to real politics. 

It is bringing them good luck on campus at least.