The Bard made Juliet ask Romeo,
"What's in a name?" She went on to answer herself "That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet ..."
Little did Shakespeare know what problems a name can cause! Our little 13 acre lake is called Puttenahalli. So is the 31 acre one in Yelahanka! To compound matters, the one in Sarakki is also occasionally and mistakenly called Puttenahalli. Three lakes with the same name is two more than necessary. Truly confusion worse confounded.
As if our struggle to nurture our little "Puttenahalli Puttakere" as it was earlier called, is not enough, we are constantly explaining this name jumble to people. We can do this with individuals but how do we address this issue when the mistake occurs in the newspaper? Those few reporters who are aware of this, are careful in specifying which one by writing "Puttenahalli Yelahanka" or "Puttenahalli, J.P. Nagar" (which will still clash with the Sarakki lake but this cannot be helped). If, however, they do not give precise direction to the photographer, then it is very likely that a photograph of our lake will accompany the report on Sarakki or Puttenahalli Yelahanka lakes! This is perhaps what happened in the report which has appeared in The Times of India today.
Do we change the name of our lake? Will it help at all since it appears that our lake is so "well known" that any mention of Puttenahalli, it is ours that rises to the mind? Please give your suggestions on how to resolve this name muddle once and for all. We are fed up of explaining which lake is being referred to orally or in print.
Since the report in today's newspaper is based on KSPCB data, we would like to add that we continue to feed our lake with the surplus treated water from the STP of an apartment complex. This was a pilot project approved by KSPCB in May 2015 which has led to our Puttenahalli thriving and teeming with fish. It doesn't stink either. These are enough indicators to reassure us that our lake is in good health. If you will believe only what you see, then please visit our lake - Puttenahalli, J.P. Nagar 7th Phase next to Samskruthi Brindavana and MLR Convention Hall.
Usha
