My maiden name is Ananya Khan Bhaduri. Yes, I have seen eyebrows raise at that surname. Are you a Muslim? Bhaduris are Hindus, no? Is your mother a muslim then? Why dont you drop that Khan in your surname? Its so misleading. These are questions and suggestions I have lived and dealt with all my life. No, I dont follow Islam. My ancestors were feudal landlords in Bengal. They were honoured with a prestigious title Khan Bahadur. The family carried the legacy. And dropped the Bahadur somewhere between the generations. The Bhaduri stayed as an extended suffix to the Khan. I am Khan Bhaduri and I am a Brahmin, a believer who recites the Gayatri Mantra every morning, wears a piece of new cloth after a bath and seal my mouth while preparing the sacred anna bhog for the puja and rituals at home. I respect the privilege to be able to do so and I dont mean to debate the correctness of this right to serve. At least, not now. Not here in this platform. I also love my Biryani and kebabs, my sewaiyyaan, my mughlai cuisine, my ghazals and I dream in English and Urdu. My life is incomplete without Ghalib, Khusrau and Gurudeb. I cant remember their faith but I dont carry my religion beyond my connections with my personal God. I love the Khan in my name and I love my Bhaduri. I wish more people had such misleading names. It defines me. Its my ultimate identity of what I stand for, secular to the core, true to my faith, true to my heritage, values and Bloodline. Eid mubarak to all my friends! Much love AKB PS: I have been having a very strong urge to use my maiden name again. At least, when I am gone, I want to be remembered as Ananya Khan Bhaduri.
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 02:00:37 +0000
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