A cyclone formed over the Bay of Bengal is now named Murasu, a word proposed by India in 2020. P. Puviarasan suggested the name, which refers to a traditional drum used by ancient kings to announce warnings. He said, “We were particular about proposing names rooted in the Tamil language.”
Puviarasan explained why he chose the name "Murasu" and shared his thoughts on a cyclone finally carrying a distinctly Tamil name.
A cyclone that has formed over the Bay of Bengal has been named “Murasu", a word rooted in the Tamil language and proposed by India in 2020. The name was suggested by P. Puviarasan, who was then the Director of the Weather Forecasting Division at the Chennai Meteorological Centre and is currently heading the Karnataka Meteorological Centre.
Speaking to CNN-News18, Puviarasan explained why he chose the name “Murasu" and shared his thoughts on a cyclone finally carrying a distinctly Tamil name.
The responsibility for naming cyclones over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea rests with the India Meteorological Department (IMD), under a regional naming system involving 13 countries. These include Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The practice of naming cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea began in September 2004. In 2020, a fresh list of 169 names was finalised, with each of the 13 participating countries contributing 13 names. The names are assigned in a predetermined sequence based on the order of the countries whenever a cyclone forms over the region.
The names must adhere to specific guidelines. They should not be associated with politics, religion, gender or cultural sensitivities. They must also be easy to pronounce and contain no more than eight letters. Murasu met these criteria and was included in the list submitted by India.
Recalling how the name was proposed, Puviarasan told News18 Tamil Nadu in an exclusive interview, “In 2020, the Chennai Meteorological Centre was asked to suggest names for cyclones. At the time, Mr Balachandran was heading the Southern Regional Meteorological Centre of the India Meteorological Department, while I was in charge of the Weather Forecasting Division. I suggested the name Murasu. Mr Balachandran collected our suggestions and took them forward to the subsequent stages. We were particular about proposing names rooted in the Tamil language."
Explaining the significance behind his choice, Puviarasan said Murasu holds an important place in Tamil history and tradition.
“In ancient times, kings used to have a traditional drum called Murasu played across their kingdoms to announce important messages, public notices and warnings during natural disasters. People would gather upon hearing its sound, after which the announcement would be made. Since cyclone warnings also serve as a means of alerting people, we felt Murasu was a meaningful Tamil name to propose," he said.
Puviarasan also revealed that several other Tamil names were considered, including ‘Neer’, meaning water; ‘Er’, representing agriculture and farmers; ‘Navai’, meaning a boat and symbolising the fishing community; and ‘Thirukkai’, the name of a type of fish. Of these suggestions, Murasu and Neer were selected for inclusion in India’s list of cyclone names.
He also pointed to the coincidence of a cyclone named Murasu forming over the Bay of Bengal in the region between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The name had been proposed six years ago, with no expectation that a cyclone carrying it would eventually form in this part of the region.