The recent political changes and the ensuing social changes have emboldened the community to give kids normal names. [break]
“In the past, priests themselves did not give good names to our children,” said Chokat Majhi, son of Aghan Majhi of Chorni-7, Parsa. “But I named my daughter Pooja,” he added. Pooja, who is a nursery student, is very happy with her name, he further said.
Many children who were given odd names are too ashamed to tell their names to people, said Matar Majhi. “My father´s name was Tula. But I names my son Raju,” he added.
Dasai Chaudhary of Bakuliya, Bara, said the Dalit children, in the past, were named according to their color, build, month of birth, day of birth, or behavior.
While non-Dalit people gave their children names such as Rajendra, Nagendra, Rajkumar, and Manish, among others, the Dalit children were, in the past, named Kariya, Bhado, Bhikhari, Potan, Gena, Akkalu, Jhagaru, and Paltu, among others, said Chaudhary.
“But things have changed,” said Fariyad Ansari of Jitpur. “We now see Dalit children with good names,” he added.
Ansari believes the change has been brought about by the community´s increasing access to schools, markets and electronic appliances.
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