Last month, we celebrated three years of Anvarta, and it reminded us of a question we’re often asked.
What does the name “Anvarta” mean?
So I thought of sharing the journey of finding it, which apparently has been as much arduous in finding the business, with respect to the size of the task of course
The search for a name
When the vision for the organisation was forming and shaping in my head, to avoid having to get into the task of finding a name for it, I asked the universe to point me in the right direction – but the universe, as always, took its own time.
Anvarta was envisioned as an organization focused on leading innovation in the circular economy – helping these innovations become part of mainstream practices and markets. The focus was less on the “why” and “what” and more on the “how.”
The places I went to in search of the name of the organization were not very different to what parents go through in finding a name when they welcome a new child to their family – Partly rational, a lot emotional.
When you name a child, you ask your friends and loved ones, and our search for some mythological name or story you can relate to, and sounds like something you can associate well with.
But when you name a business, of course, it comes with its own unique challenges.
You got to secure a unique domain name and search business registry to check whether it is being used. No other parent will take you to courts if you name your child by theirs, but it is a possibility in this one.
What did the name have to reflect?
The values I wanted the name to convey included regeneration, renewal, balance, revival, and transformation. But the organization wasn’t just about concepts – it was about making them happen. So, I also explored words related to strategy, change, transition, trasformation and action.
This led me to explore names across several mythologies. Throughout, I was going back and forth between several cultural mythological names, Greek mythology, African mythology and a few others.
Here were some of my top picks:
Finding “Anvarta”
Eventually, after two months of brainstorming, iterating, and refining, I discovered the Sanskrit word “Anvartha,” meaning “finding the true meaning .“
It resonated perfectly with what we set out to achieve:
- Finding the true purpose of our existence, not as superior beings controlling nature, but as integral parts of it, coexisting with it.
- Redesigning a new future, finding a new vision on how things need to be, by learning from the past while not being bound by it.
- It’s broad and expansive, going beyond the environment but finding the balance on fair distribution, equity and diversity aspects of a regenerative economy
I chose to drop the “h” from “Anvartha” to simplify pronunciation and make it easier to remember. Most importantly, the name was available for both the business and domain registration!
Was It Worth the Effort?
Absolutely. I was teased by people close to me that I had spent more time naming the organization than setting it up. But to me, the time and energy were well worth it. The name Anvarta represents everything we stand for, making it not just a name, but a reflection of our mission and values.
Be a part of our journey! Check out what we do at Anvarta.
Written by
Dr. Mayuri Wijayasundara