Comments on: Where People have no (sur)Names http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/ Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:22:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: TV Sinha http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-194 TV Sinha Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:01:00 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-194 It was definitely for the purposes of caste less society. I am not sure if this started in 40's or in 50's and got popular in 70's. To my knowledge, this trend was popularised by the Sarvodaya leader Jai Prakash Narayan. Names like Kumar, Prakash, Ranjan, Priya etc became very popular as surnames while caste based surnames like Mishra, Shrivastava, Paswan etc went out of vogue. Caste neutral surnames like Sharma, Sinha and Prasad used by multiple castes continued. Whatever be the origin of the trend, we should feel proud that this movement, like so many other good things in India, started in Bihar and has subsequently taken up by other states. As Sushil Modi says these days, Whatever Bihar does today, India does tomorrow. (We dont stop at just thinking, we go ahead and do it). It was definitely for the purposes of caste less society. I am not sure if this started in 40’s or in 50’s and got popular in 70’s. To my knowledge, this trend was popularised by the Sarvodaya leader Jai Prakash Narayan. Names like Kumar, Prakash, Ranjan, Priya etc became very popular as surnames while caste based surnames like Mishra, Shrivastava, Paswan etc went out of vogue. Caste neutral surnames like Sharma, Sinha and Prasad used by multiple castes continued.

Whatever be the origin of the trend, we should feel proud that this movement, like so many other good things in India, started in Bihar and has subsequently taken up by other states. As Sushil Modi says these days, Whatever Bihar does today, India does tomorrow. (We dont stop at just thinking, we go ahead and do it).

]]> By: Satyakam http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-192 Satyakam Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:18:21 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-192 Hi, Amazing... I remember my father saying that he had not added the surname in my (and my siblings') name so as to hide caste identity. I never paid much attention to it but I was happy (also felt lucky) that my name does not bear the caste-based surname. After reading this post I just analysed the names of my friends. To my surprise most of them do not have one (Raj Shekhar, Pratyush Pushkar, etc). Whatever be the reason, at least symbolically, we (Biharis) are in the process of establishing a non-caste-based society; today on paper (as in our names without sur-names) and tomorrow on ground. As the saying is in air (for all wrong reasons) that what Bihar does today, rest of the country does tomorrow. I hope and pray that this saying manifests in proportions that Bihar come out of the shackles of caste menace and be the torch-bearer. Till then let me be happy with what I have be gifted with unwittingly; my short and simple name.... ~SATYAKAM. Hi,
Amazing…

I remember my father saying that he had not added the surname in my (and my siblings’) name so as to hide caste identity. I never paid much attention to it but I was happy (also felt lucky) that my name does not bear the caste-based surname.

After reading this post I just analysed the names of my friends. To my surprise most of them do not have one (Raj Shekhar, Pratyush Pushkar, etc).

Whatever be the reason, at least symbolically, we (Biharis) are in the process of establishing a non-caste-based society; today on paper (as in our names without sur-names) and tomorrow on ground.

As the saying is in air (for all wrong reasons) that what Bihar does today, rest of the country does tomorrow.

I hope and pray that this saying manifests in proportions that Bihar come out of the shackles of caste menace and be the torch-bearer. Till then let me be happy with what I have be gifted with unwittingly; my short and simple name….

~SATYAKAM.

]]> By: Random T. http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-136 Random T. Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:03:13 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-136 After reading through this article, I just feel that I really need more info. Could you share some more resources please? After reading through this article, I just feel that I really need more info. Could you share some more resources please?

]]> By: How to Get Six Pack Fast http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-133 How to Get Six Pack Fast Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:11:11 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-133 After reading the article, I feel that I need more info. Can you suggest some more resources ? After reading the article, I feel that I need more info. Can you suggest some more resources ?

]]> By: Rajeev Shahi http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-78 Rajeev Shahi Wed, 08 Oct 2008 03:18:52 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-78 Well, I do not think that the surnames were dropped to create a casteless societies. Infact, the Shahis (Bhumihaar Brahmins) are the ones enjoying most of the previleges out of the caste system. The surnames are dropped to ensure that you do not loose out in your exams or interviews, in case the a low-caste person is the examiner or interviewer. No other reasons! Even though I do not support caste/religion based disctincations, I am proud of my surname and my cultural heritage. Happy Diwali and Chatth Puja to all. Jai Bharat, Jai Bihar. Rajeev Shahi Well, I do not think that the surnames were dropped to create a casteless societies. Infact, the Shahis (Bhumihaar Brahmins) are the ones enjoying most of the previleges out of the caste system. The surnames are dropped to ensure that you do not loose out in your exams or interviews, in case the a low-caste person is the examiner or interviewer. No other reasons!
Even though I do not support caste/religion based disctincations, I am proud of my surname and my cultural heritage.

Happy Diwali and Chatth Puja to all.
Jai Bharat, Jai Bihar.
Rajeev Shahi

]]> By: Anonymous http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-31 Anonymous Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:54:49 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-31 I am also from Bihar and don't have a surname. I don't think the reason was to create casteless society, that too in 1940s. This is too good to be true. The reason could have been opression of castes by people of other castes. This started with the backward castes dropping their surname for fear of bias in exams, interview, social gatherings, etc. Slowly with years passing by, these backward caste people also came in position of power and started to pay back the forward caste. That's when the forward caste people started dropping their surname as well. The proof of the fact is that even today, most of the backward castes are the ones who dropped their surname. Their proportion is more. I am also from Bihar and don’t have a surname. I don’t think the reason was to create casteless society, that too in 1940s. This is too good to be true.
The reason could have been opression of castes by people of other castes. This started with the backward castes dropping their surname for fear of bias in exams, interview, social gatherings, etc. Slowly with years passing by, these backward caste people also came in position of power and started to pay back the forward caste. That’s when the forward caste people started dropping their surname as well.
The proof of the fact is that even today, most of the backward castes are the ones who dropped their surname. Their proportion is more.

]]> By: Nikhil Narayanan http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-30 Nikhil Narayanan Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:41:04 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-30 It was at NIT Warangal that I met guys from Bihar who had no second/sur names. Most of the guys were usually called as XYZ Bihari as it was easier for the junta to identify. Similar things have happened in Kerala amongst the upper castes(so called) to help form a caste less society. My dad's generation (from the part of the state he comes from) do not have any surnames/caste names but had "House Names" something on the lines of family names. It was at NIT Warangal that I met guys from Bihar who had no second/sur names.
Most of the guys were usually called as XYZ Bihari as it was easier for the junta to identify.

Similar things have happened in Kerala amongst the upper castes(so called) to help form a caste less society. My dad’s generation (from the part of the state he comes from) do not have any surnames/caste names but had “House Names” something on the lines of family names.

]]> By: Ajit Chouhan http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-29 Ajit Chouhan Wed, 09 Apr 2008 11:43:33 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-29 Interesting observation, surnames do not only indicate the caste or sub caste but also indicate the specific region one belongs to. We have enough examples how different castes have different surnames in various states and region of the country. Not sure if it’s a good trend as on one hand it reduces the tendency to discriminate on the other hand it will end the culture of having surnames.As much as we support integration and assimilation of a global culture and spirit of humanity, we also need to retain our unique cultural and social practices. Interesting observation, surnames do not only indicate the caste or sub caste but also indicate the specific region one belongs to. We have enough examples how different castes have different surnames in various states and region of the country. Not sure if it’s a good trend as on one hand it reduces the tendency to discriminate on the other hand it will end the culture of having surnames.As much as we support integration and assimilation of a global culture and spirit of humanity, we also need to retain our unique cultural and social practices.

]]> By: Vinod Khare http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-28 Vinod Khare Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:15:08 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-28 Very interesting. I first came to notice this trend when I went to IITK for my studies and came into contact with a lot of Biharis. Like all people, I assumed it was to offset caste based discrimination in a state where caste politics is at its ugly worst. And somehow I never could summon enough courage to ask any of my Bihari friends about it. This post is an eye opener - an insight in to Bihari culture that we all lack. I hope you do more posts like these. Very interesting. I first came to notice this trend when I went to IITK for my studies and came into contact with a lot of Biharis. Like all people, I assumed it was to offset caste based discrimination in a state where caste politics is at its ugly worst. And somehow I never could summon enough courage to ask any of my Bihari friends about it. This post is an eye opener – an insight in to Bihari culture that we all lack. I hope you do more posts like these.

]]> By: In Bihar, do not drop surnames at Blogbharti http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/2008/04/08/where-people-have-no-surnames/#comment-27 In Bihar, do not drop surnames at Blogbharti Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:30:25 +0000 http://avinashkishoreshahi.wordpress.com/?p=60#comment-27 [...] Avinash Kishore tells you why people do not use surnames (that indicate caste) in a ‘place like Bihar where caste-identities are so strong’: Now, it is neither the inspiration to create a casteless society nor the fear of caste discrimination that motivates people not to give their family names to their kids. It is just the convention in Bihar and to do otherwise is to be old-fashioned, traditional or even reactionary. In and of itself, I think using or not using family names does not make any real difference to people’s lives. It is not even a real issue but it tells us something about Bihar’s post-independce politics where something starting as a lofty gesture towards undoing the problem of casteism eventually became (an ineffective) coping mechanism as the problem worsened and society remained unprepared and unwilling to take any meaningful action. Linked by kuffir. Join Blogbharti facebook group. [...] [...] Avinash Kishore tells you why people do not use surnames (that indicate caste) in a ‘place like Bihar where caste-identities are so strong’: Now, it is neither the inspiration to create a casteless society nor the fear of caste discrimination that motivates people not to give their family names to their kids. It is just the convention in Bihar and to do otherwise is to be old-fashioned, traditional or even reactionary. In and of itself, I think using or not using family names does not make any real difference to people’s lives. It is not even a real issue but it tells us something about Bihar’s post-independce politics where something starting as a lofty gesture towards undoing the problem of casteism eventually became (an ineffective) coping mechanism as the problem worsened and society remained unprepared and unwilling to take any meaningful action. Linked by kuffir. Join Blogbharti facebook group. [...]

]]>