So, what is the latest coming out of Bangalore, that most happening town where the world-is-flat theory originates?

Well, it's that it's no longer Bangalore, sorry. The native politicians are at it again. The Karnataka chief minister has announced that Bangalore will officially become Bengaluru (or is it Bengalooru?), effective from November 1, 2006.

Thiruvananthapuram for Trivandrum, Kolkata for Calcutta, Mumbai for Bombay, Chennai for Madras and now Bangaluru for Bangalore. Over 20 'Anglicized' Indian cities have been restored to their pre-colonial names since independence. And that's not mentioning the smaller towns and districts.

I was reminded of the first article I wrote under this column in 2001. In that first 700-word article, I had argued that the name of Churachandpur be reverted back to Lamka, as that was and still is what those who live there, those who own and nurture it, want it to be.

That has been its name since its inception. As for my own inclinations, the name of this column betrays it all.

Whatever contempt one may have for it, this business of name-changing is not about to end anytime soon. Ironically, when people become more and more aware of their culture and history, they tend to turn more and more native in their thinking.

It's part of the process of decolonization, at least in the mind. It signifies the native's assertiveness, their being in charge and their political empowerment. That the corporate honchos in Silicon Valley or Broadway will find it distasteful and sneer at it is immaterial.

And names do have their significance. In his latest book on the northeast, Enduring Disorder (2004), Sanjib Baruah recorded that the names, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya which were granted statehood after the 1962 India-China war were not such innocent creations after all.

Their names, according to Baruah, constituted a part of India's 'nationalizing project' and were subtly designed to signify the region's ties with the Indian mainland (There were real concerns in India at the time of the entire northeast region seceding from or wrenched off from the country.

A national opposition leader suggested the transfer of upto 1,00,000 farmers from Punjab to the region!). The names, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya carries sanskritic connotations and they respectively meant 'land of the mountain sun' and 'abode of clouds'.

Baruah goes so far as say that the creation and naming of two other states as Mizoram (a purely local, indigenous name) and Nagaland subsequently without such a baggage 'bears testimony to the accommodation that India has had to make to the voices of cultural assertion in the region'.

It's no wonder then that local level attempts to effect change of Churachandpur into Lamka never cease. I say local level, because this has always been the wish of the general public even though the same never gets reflected with the ruling politicians and the government.

There is this attachment and feeling of belongingness that goes with the name and it rankles and hurt when your legitimate claims on it are denied.

It was around the 1980s that a powerful movement starts on this. All the public sign boards bearing the name 'Churachandpur' were erased and changed into 'Lamka'. The Churachandpur District Students Union (CDSU) has always been a part of this campaign.

But characteristic of this sleepy, rice bowl town, its politicians have always managed to skirt this emotive question and other substantive issues like 6th Schedule etc and still gets elected.

When it comes to issues like this and other issues that matter, the politicians are as slippery as fish.

Smarting under this enduring failure, the CDSU volunteers black-brushed all signboards bearing Meitei Mayek in the town a few days ago, followed, of course, by MEELAL's dictate to all buses to Lamka to sport number plates in the Mayek.

I don't know what that will amount to? It rather signifies a frustrated hitting out, not a coherent, well thought out strategy to take things to their logical end.

But, if the names of even metropolitan cities (with all their global implications) can be changed without most of its residents even aware of it, why should it be so difficult to do the same for this small town?

In 2003, during the 2nd anniversary observation of Lamka Post newspaper, ministers Phungzathang Tonsing and Ngamthang Haokip promised that the name Lamka will soon be officially restored in deference to popular opinion. That was three years ago.

Election is round the corner and it's still not happening. They have now only 3 months to deliver on this promise made in full public view.

In fact, had they been serious about it, there is no reason why it should be so difficult. After all, all that's needed is a state cabinet decision to that effect.

In states like Uttar Pradesh, the names of districts and towns were changed in their dozens every time new governments took charge, even though that's not what we desire. And it doesn't even require budgetary allocations!!

The only way multi-ethnic state like Manipur will survive in the long run is by mutual accommodation and understanding. Local sentiments have to be respected.

There are obviously people who view issues like this as zero-sum game and believe that even minor concessions will lead to bigger demands and even disintegration.

It's dangerous illusion to say the least. If you put a lid over people, muted all their cries and did not give any outlet where the pressure will escape, then, be warned.

Because, it's only a matter of time before an explosion occurs.