An elegantly dressed man in a white suit came on the screen and in his imitable manner said "I am Bond, James Bond." Several of my friends copied his style and prefixed their Given names with their surname. However, I could never do that as I did not have a surname.
A decade ago I got my passport renewed and for reasons best known to the person issuing my passport they made my name "AISHWARYA BHARGAV" and left the surname blank. The gap between Aishwarya and Bhargav was negligible and it looked like a single name. I knew I needed a surname, but the idea of standing in a serpentine queue to get it changed did not appeal to me and I left the name as it was. This led to a series annoying moments where I had to explain the lack of a surname.
Worse was situations where I had to fill automated forms that would simply not accept the lack of a surname. Messages that read "Surname is a compulsory field. It can not be left blank" would pop up on the screen and I would have to either fill the space with a 'NIL' or call up a customer service representative to get the issue sorted out.
My best friend in college also faced the issue of a non-existent surname (no points for guessing why). He had applied for a driving license in USA. The authorities at the transport office called out the applicants by surname. The clerk at the office called out 'Smith','Brown' and then looked surprised as he looked at the applicants. He then scratched his beard for a moment and then called out 'None'! The other applicants were amused and giggled. My friend stood up red faced and went to check whether they were calling for him. Most certainly they were!
In Singapore communication is informal as most people are called by their first names. If one does not know the other persons name they either call them auntie or uncle (if the person is older) or simply refer to them as La! As a result I did not face any issues with the absence of a surname.
The only time I had a problem was when I tried to do an early online check in for a flight. I tried several permutations and combinations comprising the two names that were blended together in my portmanteau name. No combination worked and I finally gave up and opted for the conventional check in at the airport. The next time I was flying, my friend offered to try his luck at web check in. He once again tried all the permutations and combinations and an idea struck him. He filled the surname box with the word 'Miss' and was able to proceed to check in.
I was 'Aishwaryabhargav Miss' according to the boarding pass. While some friends remarked that it sounded like an endearment referring to a teacher, others joked by asking if I would have to fill 'Aishwaryabhargav Mrs' once I was married.
A few weeks ago, I needed to fill out a form for a Visa. this form would simply not take a blank for an answer. I was at my wits end and called up my father who suggested that I change my passport and get my name corrected. I went to the Indian passport office at Singapore and requested them to make my name 'Aishwarya Bhargav' for the sake of convenience. The officer behind the desk requested for a proof of name. I explained to her that in my PAN Card and other documents there was no separate field for surname and the only thing mentioned was 'Name : AISHWARYA BHARGAV' with a negligible gap between the words. She was unsure of what to do and asked whether she could renew the passport as it was. I explained that I needed a surname and not changing my surname would simply render the act of changing the passport pointless. The officer was unsure as to whether my request could be considered and asked my to write a letter to the High Commision of Singapore.
I wrote a letter saying 'I, Aishwarya Bhargav would like my name to be listed as Given Name : Aishwarya; Surname: Bhargav in the passport as the absence of a surname is not accepted in some places. I kindly request you to grant my request'. I hope my name gets changed and I eagerly look forward to the day I receive my brand new passport with my new name.
I can then say " I am Bhargav, Aishwarya Bhargav".
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