‘Bhayankar’, ‘Becharadas’: Rajasthan’s school kids' renaming drive sparks row over bizarre picks

JAIPUR: Rajasthan education department's Sarthak Naam Abhiyan aimed at providing meaningful and respectable name options for school students has sparked controversy due to the inclusion of several inappropriate and embarrassing names in its suggested list.

This list of 2,950 names for boys and girls features selections such as Bhiksha (alms), Bhayankar (terrifying), Kalyugi (Age of darkness or vice) and Kaikeyi (associated with Lord Ram's exile) for girls, and Ugra Singh (violent person), Thana Singh (Thana means police station), and Becharadas (helpless fellow) for boys.

The list contains names that are prominent surnames, such as Chaturvedi, Yadav and Rawat, or place names like Bikaner, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Badrinath that could lead to embarrassment rather than preventing it, undermining the campaign's intended objective.

The list has repetitive names with just spelling changes when translated to English or the same like Rampyari, Annapurna, Ojasvi mentioned in both gender categories.

"Shocking. Some of the names don't uphold the campaign's objective. According to our ancient scriptures, names can be synonyms of gods or goddesses or must be something that are meaningful and have a value to it," said Shastri Kosalendradas, dean of philosophy at Rajasthan Sanskrit University, who has helped almost 1,000 parents in suggesting names for children.

Kosalendradas said govt must revise the list. "The idea behind the campaign is good, but the list needs revision. Department may take the help of Sanskrit education teachers to revise this list."

Parents' association Sanyukt Abhibhavak Sangh called the campaign a way of diverting attention from pressing problems. "The state is grappling with increasing dropouts, shortage of teachers in schools, and arbitrary behaviour of private schools, but the department is focusing on suggesting names. The department must get its priorities right," association spokesperson Abhishek Jain said.

Education minister Madan Dilawar's team defended the department Wednesday, saying the list of names was only a draft list.

"It is not the final list of suggested names. We have noticed several mistakes, like surnames have been suggested as first names. A final list will be issued by the education directorate," said a source from the minister's team.

Leader of Opposition in the state Tikaram Jully said, "In a state where a large number of govt school buildings are in dilapidated condition and seeking repair, where courts are reprimanding on this issue, and efforts are needed regarding enrolment, the education department is running a campaign for meaningful (Sarthak) names."

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