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Of funny names ‘n’ gangsta warriors

While some of them prefer to attach their birthplaces to their names, others make their appearances speak for them.

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If the Bard had asked the gangsters in the Bangalore underworld his trademark 'What's in a name?' question, they would have unanimously come to the conclusion that he was a little touched in the head. For the rowdy-sheeters in our midst, nicknames mean the world – and a little more.

While some of them prefer to attach their birthplaces to their names, others make their appearances speak for them. A case in point is Rajesh Kumar, who is better known as Bannanje Raja because he is a native of Bannanje near Udupi. Though he controls the underworld from bigger cities like Mangalore and Bangalore, Raja swears by the place of his birth. There are many gangsters who like to be associated with their native places, such as yesteryear rowdy Krishnoji Rao, better known as Srirampuram Kitty, and reformed goon Krishna, who would like to be known by no other title than the name of his locality, Jedarahalli.

And then there are others like Koti (monkey) Rama, who is called so just because he supposedly looks like a monkey. And no, the nickname does not offend him in the least. The slain Kunta (lame) Suri acquired the title after police shot him in the leg and left him hobbling for the rest of his short life.

For one thing, gangsters prefer to be known by these titles because they feel that their regular names do not have the required zing to strike terror in the hearts of people.

Sometimes, the rowdies’ preferred ‘profession’ provides them with their titles. And though many of them – such as Koti Rama – may sound funny, their deeds seldom are.

No sir, some of them have more killings to their name than years to their age. Dons like Chota Rajan have their erstwhile ‘status’ to thank for the titles they get. Rajan, originally Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, was named so because he was a former associate of Rajan Nair alias Bada Rajan. And then there are others, such as Ravi Pujari, who embrace shorter titles because their actual names happen to be tongue-twisters. Pujari's actual name happens to be Raviprakash Sullia Pujari.

Kotwal Ramchandra, who was once a terror in the city, acquired his first name because he preferred non-Kottu (vegetarian) food to chicken or mutton. His underworld companion, Oil Kumar, was earlier called Boot House Kumar because he used to run a footwear shop in the city. The 'Oil' title came only after he ditched the shoe-chappal trade to enter the more lucrative illegal petroleum business. MP Jairaj, who was shot dead in the late 90s, was better known as Robbery Jairaj while his contemporary, Bekkinkannu (cat-eyed) Rajendra, was known for his glassy eyes. According to assistant commissioner of police BB Ashok Kumar, rowdy-sheeters embrace these names because they find a sense of identity in them. He said many of them also got their names on account of some characteristics distinct to them.

The now-deceased Station Shekhar acquired his nickname because he was always found hiding in railway stations after committing crimes. On the other hand, Gidi Gidi Krishna was named so because he would also be found shaking uncontrollably – as if in a trance – before an attack on his rivals.
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