My mother fondly narrates this story about the origin of my name. When I was born—yet another girl—her grandfather apparently said, “Kannagiyin pen Manimegalai aagattum.” And that is how I was named. Her younger brother is named Ilango, after Ilango Adigal, the author of Silapadhikaaram. So in our family, we have Kannagi, Manimegalai, and Ilango—three names drawn...
