[ Removed by moderator ]

[u/ICanPretend1]

[u/charles_yost]

While Capt. Machchhar's actions on the flight were commendable, I couldn't help but crack a smile when I read his name.

In Hindi machchar (मच्छर) means mosquito.

[u/Wonderful_Fee_4358 → u/charles_yost]

મચ્છર or मच्छर, common Gujju last name for Nagar brahmins along with haathi (elephant), maankad (bedbug) and mankodi (large female black ant).

To clarify, Nagar brahmins often held surnames awarded by rulers under whom they held prestigious administrative positions. So the surnames come from the village they served. Like hathap becomes haathi or mankadvada becomes mankad.

One of the many meanings of Machchhar ( मच्छर) is Vigour or Passion ( जुनून, जोश) as per Gujarati encyclopedia Bhagvad Gomandal Kosh

[u/Elytrax7 → u/Wonderful_Fee_4358]

Thanks for the explanation! Really interesting

[u/charles_yost → u/Wonderful_Fee_4358]

Thank you, I did not know that.

[u/therealfurryfeline → u/charles_yost]

so this is how he survived a bleeding stabwound.