E-Paper
Woman named India reveals story behind her unusual name: ‘American kids called me Pakistan, China’
India Witkin shared how she had a love-hate relationship with her name while growing up.
What’s in a name? For India Witkin, her name represents a journey from embarrassment to deep gratitude. She revealed the dual cultural pressure she faced - teasing in the US and constant questioning in India.
“I grew up having such a love-hate relationship with my name. I was teased in America, then questioned in India... I cared too much about what people thought and never appreciated the uniqueness of my name,” wrote India Witkin.
Also Read: Foreigner left stunned after Indian shopkeeper tells her to litter on the street: ‘He kept telling me…’
She continued, “Finally at 18 as I entered adulthood (I even wrote my college essay about my name), I started to come around to it. Now at 29 years old I love it and am so grateful to my nani for coming up with it. Thank you to my parents!”
She shared a video that included a text insert with a question from one of her followers. The individual asked, “What’s the story behind your name? Why were you named India?”
In a video, Witkin shared that before she was born, her parents were confused about what to name her. Just a week before her birth, her grandmother “very casually” mentioned that she could be named India, and that’s what her parents did after she was born.
Witkin said her nani suggested the name because it would always remind her of where she came from. She explained her name is a homage to the beautiful and vast culture of India, a country she loves.
In an email to HT.com she shared, “My mother is Sindhi-Punjabi and was raised in Mumbai (then England from the age of nine) and my father is Dutch-Italian and was raised in Amsterdam. I was born and raised in New York City.”
When did she first realise her name was a country name?
“My mother told me when she would take me to India as a small child I would tell Indians proudly, ‘my name is India’ and they - sweetly surprised - would say, ‘India is my country!’,” she told HT.com.
Recalling the positive and negative moments she faced due to her moniker, she shared, “Early in my life I would get teased by American kids calling me ‘Pakistan’ and ‘China’. They would say, ‘We'll you're not Indian, right?’ As if it would be stupid to be Indian and be called India. Often I would scoff and say ‘no,’ out of embarrassment, and other times I would say ‘Well actually yes I am,’ leaving them feeling awkward and ashamed for saying something so mean. Sometimes I would lie and tell people my name was Jessica or Priya to avoid the inevitable questions and reactions.”
India Witkin on embracing her name:
With all the teasing and bullying, accepting her name wasn’t easy for Witkin. She was even once made fun of by the customs agents. However, after decades of feeling ashamed, she finally began to accept her name.
“After decades of feeling ashamed about having the name 'India,' I finally felt like it was time to make light of it and make fun of myself, while also making fun of the hilarious scenario of being India with the name India and going through Indian customs. I received many messages and comments from women around the world, including those from India, who felt seen in my video. I also connected with other people who were named after countries. My pain became light. Decades of repressed shame and embarrassment gave way to laughter and joy," she told HT.com.
How did social media react?
An individual commented, “What better way to honour your roots!” Another added, “Incredible and wonderful.”
Also Read: Foreign traveller's honest take on India's culture and stereotypes goes viral: 'It's not wrong, it's just different'
A third posted, “I LOVE that they named you that! So beautiful.” A fourth wrote, “What a beautiful story. Love this so much.”
Who named her?
Talking about her grandmother, Ratan Chawla, Witkin shared that she was her “everything”. Sadly, she passed away from cancer in 2021.
“I spent the last few weeks of her life taking care of her in Bangalore during COVID-19. When she passed away a part of me wondered if my connection to India would fade away, as she was the salient reason for my annual trips to the country. It was four years later, in 2025 that I decided to return. I was worried that the grief would feel overwhelming, but I was determined to find a new way to connect with my motherland. I connected with relatives, took a deep interest in Vedanta philosophy and Ayurveda and found solace in nature across Goa and Kerala,” Witkin recalled.
She plans to go back to India in 2026 or 2027 to film a TV or video series about her travels there. She also runs a YouTube channel called “Travel with India”.
