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(bright music)

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- 50 years ago, my 
parents left India.

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They took with them 
their combined histories,

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cultures, food, and fears.

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My father, Ramaiah, was 
the first in his family

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to leave the small 
farming village

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where my parents grew up.

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My mother, Vimala, was 17 
years old when she left home.

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And eventually they 
moved to Michigan

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where my brother 
and I were born.

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I was born early.

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And so I had to stay in a 
neonatal ICU for several weeks

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after I was born.

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Because my arrival was 
unexpectedly abrupt,

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my parents had not yet 
chosen a name for me.

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So the nurses called 
me Baby Boy Muthyala.

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My parents wanted my 
grandmother to help

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choose a name for me, 
but the phone connection

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to her small village was poor,

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and so we couldn't hear 
from her for days and weeks,

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and this went on and on.

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And the NICU was about a 30 
minute drive from our home,

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so everyday my dad 
would pile everybody

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into the car, drive 
to the hospital,

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drop my mom off.

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He would take my older 
brother to school

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before going to work himself.

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And then after work, he 
would pick my brother up,

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and they would go 
to the hospital,

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we would all spend 
time together,

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and my family would return home,

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only to just do it 
again the next day.

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During this time, my brother, 
who was very outgoing,

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made friends with 
the neonatologist.

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And they would actually 
go on rounds together.

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And one day, the neonatologist 
asked my brother,

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does your little 
brother have a name yet?

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And in classic 
fashion, he said yes.

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His name is Brian.

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And so the next day, 
when my parents returned

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to the hospital, 
written above my crib

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was the name Brian Muthyala.

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To this day, no one knows 
how he came up with it.

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And my parents, as 
you could imagine,

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were a little surprised.

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But in our traditions, 
it is considered bad luck

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to take a name away from 
a child once it's given.

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So eventually, I got old enough,

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and I was sent home to 
join my family a Brian,

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living with Ramaiah, 
Vimala, and Sharat.

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As the son of immigrant parents,

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I often felt torn between 
cultures, values, and beliefs.

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Brian could play 
soccer, go to the mall,

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play video games, whereas 
Kirti, my middle name,

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was a dutiful son, and 
who knew just how to act

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with the aunties 
and uncles who lived

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in our small Indian community.

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As a teenager, I was 
grateful that my brother

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gave me a name that 
allowed me to blend in.

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Strangers would see my 
brown skin, my last name,

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but my otherness was 
often less visible

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because Brian felt so familiar.

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Today, as a doctor, 
I watch my patients

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stare wide-eyed at my ID badge 
after I introduce myself,

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trying to enunciate Moothealla?

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And I quickly interrupt 
them, and I say

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you can just call me Dr. Brian.

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And I often will see the 
relief wash over their face

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as we share a quick 
smile together.

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I have often reflected on 
how my life has been simpler

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because of the mysterious 
split second decision

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of a six-year-old brother.

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But more recently, these 
thoughts have made me uneasy.

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Names are important.

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And while my name 
made introductions 
comfortable for others,

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it also put me further 
away from the rich history

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and traditions that my parents 
worked so hard to maintain

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in our family.

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So when it came time 
to name our children,

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my wife and I intentionally 
chose traditional Indian names,

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realizing that they will not 
have some of the benefits

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that I had.

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And at times I fear for my 
two young beautiful kids.

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How will I teach them 
to not be afraid,

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shy, or embarrassed of 
the richness of those

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that came before them?

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I hope I'm as 
courageous as my parents

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who braved an unknown 
world to make a better life

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for me and Sharat.

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I hope I can be the 
parent, son, partner,

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doctor, friend, and neighbor,

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and live up to the 
name I was given

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all those years ago.