So, Muthusamy is Moutussamy, Magalinga Arumuga Vandiyar is Magalingom Aroomooga Vandiar, Marimuthu is Marimoutou, Singara Velupillai is Singaraveloupoulli. And then there is my favourite: the delectable Ponnin Canavin (Ponniyin Kanavan or Ponni's husband)
Jean-Regis Ramasamy-Nadarassin, the lone person manning the stall, rushes to my rescue. "I am a person of Indian origin from Reunion," he introduces himself.
He is a journalist who is also pursuing his post-doctorate in immigrant history and indenture labour. He points out Reunion, a tiny speck nestled between Madagascar and Mauritius, on a world map near his desk.
"Reunionnaise are used to the blanks they draw whenever the place is mentioned," he says, explaining the ready availability of the map.
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