Name is not just a Name

Name is a group of words and signs which represent a symbol or meaning. Name also we use as a tool to know someone and it part of identities from human. Name can reflect or show the background family especially culture of someone. Such as in Indonesia, we have a lot of unique region but we still can recognize someone background only from guessing her name like, Hutabarat from Batak, Harfey from Makassar, etc. I think my name also one of many names who represent my background (actually my parents’ background).

I have name “Sri Dewi Pertiwi”. From the shape and structure of my name, maybe people can directly know where my families come from is. Both of my parents come from Java, focused on Yogyakarta from my father and Solo (Ngawi) from my mother. For myself, I was born in Jakarta in the 13^th days on October 1992. Actually, until now I still confused why my father give my name like this. If I analyze, the family tree of my father is complicated and believe or not my great grandfather is a Chinese and Japanese. It makes me more confused because my name does not represent that I am Oriental person.

The meaning of my name is “Dewi Sri” the queen of angel rice who sacrifices who for another people and “Pertiwi” represent the world and Indonesia itself. In the story, angel rice is a woman who sacrifice her selves to the dry soil so, everyone at that time can plant the paddy and can get rice for eat.   Another meaning of my name is the name of Batara Wisnu’s wife in Ramayana and Mahabarata story. Batara Wisnu is one of the Gods in Hindu. Based on my knowledge, Batara Wisnu’s wife have a lot of name like Dewi Sri, Dewi Rupangga, etc. Dewi Sri is famous with her generous and her beauty. My father gave my name like this because he wants me to become like angel rice who can help another people and my behavior like Batara Wisnu’s wife who soft, generous, and smart.

The second reason why I have this name is my father is typical strict person who still follow his culture. In this case is Keraton Yogyakarta. My father always calculates the number of date of birthday before give a name to his children. It is like Java calculation or we know as “Primbon”. Based on that calculation, Java people that the day when I was born is heavy day for a girl. So, if my father wrong when give my name the old Java people believe I can be crazy or someone who fighting with my parents. That is the culture.

I think my name is meaningful and every old people who ask my full name they always said that my name is really heavy. I do not know for sure what the meaning of it is. Sometimes, I proud of my name and scary because I know the meaning of it. In my opinion, for now I cannot be soft girl who always speak and do something softly because I am kinesthetic person who cannot be quite. Although I cannot be soft girl I think this name can represent myself and I like this name because unique. So, I do not want to change my name because I believe in the letters of name it include our parents hope or pray.