Have you ever wondered about the names of the places we call home? To quote the legendary playwright, William Shakespeare, “What’s in a name?” Well, it turns out, quite a lot. It’s funny how something as simple as naming a residential society can be so intriguing.
The White House, Capital Athena, Knightsbridge, and many more – these aren’t code names for an edge of the seat spy thriller, they’re actual names for places where people live, that too in our Bharat! Like the weird choices of ripped jeans or the ever-rolling Instagram reels, it’s a trend, albeit not as in-your-face, but something that’s both baffling and sometimes downright illogical.
In a nation where names are almost infinite, the way we name our residential societies is nothing short of perplexing. It’s not just about a choice of words; it’s about the legacy they carry. It’s about a colonial hangover that we’re still struggling to shake off. No matter the region, this habit of naming societies is not just unattractive; it’s a reflection of a past we should have moved beyond.
So, join us as we delve deeper into this peculiar phenomenon of society names, understanding the stories they tell, and pondering why we haven’t let go of this colonial baggage. From intriguing to absurd, the names of our living spaces have a lot more to say than we might initially think.
 From Bhavans to Societies: A transformation undocumented
Change is the only constant in our lives. With each passing year, we witness subtle shifts in our lifestyles, housing preferences, and the things we hold dear. But have you ever stopped to think about how our cities have evolved, how they transformed from villages into bustling metropolises, and what role housing societies played in this journey?
Before India’s transformation into a republic in 1950, urban life was a rarity. Apart from a handful of colonial strongholds, most of our now-iconic cities were once humble villages that gradually expanded to become thriving Zilas or Nagaras. Delhi, Bhopal, Indore, Amdavad, Kashi, Prayagraj â all bear testimony to this remarkable evolution.
It wasn’t until later, as cities like Bombay (now Mumbai), Chandigarh, and Madras (now Chennai) gained prominence, that the concept of urbanization became the need of the hour. But it wasn’t just about transforming landscapes; it was about creating new spaces for people to live in, to adapt to the growing urban population.
As more and more people flocked to the cities, the available urban space began to dwindle. Imagine a place where, say, a hundred people or ten families resided on 1000 square meters. Suddenly, these once-comfortable spaces found themselves surrounded by at least two to three hundred people or twenty to forty families, to put it bluntly.
This crunch in space led to the rise of the apartment culture. Initially, it was primarily the chic cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and even New Delhi that embraced this change. But slowly, the trend started spreading to other cities as well, becoming a new way of urban living.
To understand this shift better, we can look at it through the lens of economics. The age-old law of demand and supply applies here as well. As more people sought housing in urban areas, the demand for housing societies grew. Developers responded to this demand, and soon enough, these housing societies became an integral part of our city landscapes.
The ludicrous obsession of Indian builders
Where, you might ask, does the trouble begin in the intriguing world of housing society names? It’s quite simple, really. Just take a moment to Google the names of well-established housing societies that have graced our cities for over two decades.
What you’ll discover, regardless of the builder’s brand or the society’s origin, is that each of them carries an unmistakable indigenous flavor. Names like “Sahitya Sahwas,” “Sanskriti Apartments,” or “Ansals’ Neelpadm” resonate with the cultural roots of our nation. They’re a testament to our heritage and identity.
Speaking of societies, does a villa, mansion, estate, boulevard, belvedere, isle and royal greens sound familiar? These are just some of the phrases used to name residential projects in, guess what, Indian real estate. So where have native names such as vihars and nagars disappeared?
The names of posh societies today seem to have taken a detour. We have “The White House,” “The French Apartment,” “Burj Noida,” “Capital Athena,” and “Grand Wellington” gracing the urban landscape. If that doesn’t make your blood boil, you’ll be shocked to know that there are residential societies with names like “ATS Knightsbridge,” named after a district in London. It’s almost comical how much respect we continue to give to our former colonizers.
This is merely a case study of some posh societies in Noida. Now, imagine the scene of the entire urban landscape, and the situation becomes even more bewildering.
What’s with the Indian builders’ persistent obsession with Western and Arab world-inspired names? Are we so devoid of meaningful, culturally rich names for our societies? Have you ever considered naming a society something like “Kashi Kutumb” or “Kosala Sahwas,” rooted in the profound heritage of our country?
If this trend continues, what’s next? Will we soon have “The Eiffel Tower Apartments,” “London Bridge Living,” or perhaps “Tower of Liberty Residences”? Or, for that matter, “Al Sindh” and “Al Doha” housing societies? It’s high time we reevaluate this curious penchant for names that bear little relevance to our own vivid culture.
 This is not something to be ignored
The signs of trouble in our housing societies should have been apparent from the moment the types of trees planted in these locales started changing. But what does tree planting have to do with the grander issue at hand? Well, the connection is as clear as the palm trees often used in such societies.
You might be a bit perplexed, and that’s understandable. What’s happening is that many of our affluent housing societies seem to distance themselves from our local culture and biodiversity, despite compelling evidence to the contrary.
Take, for instance, the pervasive use of palm trees. For the authorities in Delhi, these tall, slender palms have been a godsend. They’re visually appealing, occupy minimal space, and can be planted in abundance as substitutes for the trees that are routinely felled in the National Capital Region for various purposes.
Yet, are these palm trees truly beneficial for society at large? The resounding answer is no. In fact, the way some of these trees are unceremoniously wedged into pavements, they’re left with minimal space for proper growth and expansion. As a result, it’s no surprise that uprooted trees have become a common sight in regions like Delhi NCR. And we haven’t even delved into the adverse effects of introducing eucalyptus into the mix.
This peculiar predilection for exotic flora mirrors the trend seen in the names of our residential societies. It’s not just absurd; it’s a glaring sign of ignorance regarding nomenclature and our own indigenous culture.
In our pursuit of modernity and affluence, it’s imperative that we don’t forsake our cultural and national identity. We should seriously reconsider naming our housing societies in a manner that reflects the beauty and diversity of our nation. A name isn’t just a label; it’s a profound reflection of who we are and the values we hold dear.
Thus, the naming of societies might seem like trivial matters, but they’re emblematic of a broader issue. Our housing societies can be living testaments to our commitment to preserving local culture, ecology, and identity. It’s high time we reevaluate our priorities and steer our course toward a future where the names we choose are in harmony with the essence of our land.
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