My Name, My Story: Connecting Identity and Language Through Hindi

Navya writes: 
Working on the “My Name, My Story” project in Dr. Kusum Knapczyk’s class was a meaningful experience that allowed me to reflect deeply on the personal and cultural significance of my name. Living in New York my whole life, I’ve gotten so used to hearing the Americanized version of my name that I almost forgot how it’s actually supposed to sound. Through this project, I reconnected with my name’s real pronunciation and meaning, and I learned how much love and care my parents put into choosing it. This made me appreciate it even more, because it’s not just a word, but rather a reflection of my family, our culture, and their hopes for me. 

The process of 3D printing my name was both exciting and surreal. This class is my first time learning the Hindi script, so finally being able to read and write my name in Hindi felt very special. Seeing my name take shape physically in the script made me feel more connected to my language and identity as a whole. The project made me proud to embrace my “real” name and share it confidently with others. 

Raida writes: 
By working on the “My Name, My Story” project, I was able to connect with parts of my identity that have been latent for a long time. Since I was rather young, I haven’t engaged with the meaning of my name, more specifically, its Arabic roots. Connecting with that part of my name most definitely made me feel closer to my culture as a Muslim, a part of myself that has felt distant since coming to college. Not only that, but also because we translated our name into Hindi, it helped me connect my Bengali, Muslim identity to this new Indian culture that I am being exposed to through my Hindi class. 

The process of 3D printing also helped me see a physical manifestation of the meshing of these three cultures, bringing to life the combination of these three identities I felt. Holding that printed piece was like holding a part of myself that had been waiting to be rediscovered. 

This project wasn’t just about names; it was about stories, culture, and connection. It reminded us that a name is more than a word—it carries history, family, and pride. 

What Our Classmates Shared: From Printing to Presenting 

The journey began at the Co-Lab, where students transformed their names into tangible art through 3D printing in Hindi script. This hands-on activity was a creative twist that connected language learning with technology. Sarisma said she really enjoyed 3D printing and was impressed by how easy the instructor made it, even though she expected it to be complicated. Praneeth appreciated that the class goes to different locations and found the process smooth and beginner-friendly. Aastha loved the activity and would definitely use the 3D printers again, calling it a fun way to apply Hindi outside the classroom. Aashiv highlighted how 3D printing connected their names and vocabulary to a practical, enjoyable experience. Ved shared that printing his short name was simple and praised the helpful staff at the facility. Navya thought the 3D prints came out “so cool” and enjoyed learning about the Co-Lab. Hardit said it was his first time doing something like this and hopes for more activities like it in the future. Raj summed it up as a unique experience that made learning Hindi exciting and interactive. 

But the project didn’t end there. Weeks later, those printed names became the centerpiece of oral presentations where students shared the stories behind them. Yana emphasized the importance of correct pronunciation, noting that names are tied to identity and should be respected. Dhanya loved hearing the stories and nicknames associated with each name, while Anjali found it fun to learn the origins of her own name and others’, laughing at the common mispronunciations. Akshara appreciated the film that highlighted the weight names can carry in society, making the discussion even more impactful. Esha enjoyed researching her name’s history and said listening to native speakers in related videos helped improve her pronunciation. Geethika reflected on how the film revealed deeper truths about caste and identity in India, adding a cultural dimension to the lesson. Aastha called it her favorite oral presentation so far because it expanded her understanding of Hindi and Sanskrit roots. Aashiv found the diversity of names touching and said the activity reminded everyone of the emotional connection people have to their names. Arya summed it up as a great way to learn more about each other and their families, while Raj appreciated learning about the caste system through the short film. 

This project showed that learning Hindi is not just about vocabulary and grammar—it’s about stories, culture, and creativity. From printing names in Devanagari script to sharing their meanings and histories, students discovered that language learning can be both personal and innovative. 

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Thank You, Duke Co-Lab Team 

Thank you to George Breeden, Co-Lab Studio Manager at Duke University Office of Information Technology, for organizing and supporting this event and making the 3D printing experience possible. 

This event was supported by Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.