Social Media Storm Erupts Over Kolkata Brahmin Girl’s Decision to Drop Surname: Know What's the Controversy

Kolkata- Srijani, a Kolkata student who aced the Indian School Certificate (ISC) exams with a perfect 400/400 and chose to drop her Brahmin surnames—Mukherjee and Goswami—has sparked a heated debate on social media. A user’s scathing post on X, criticizing the move as a privileged gesture, has ignited discussions about caste, privilege, and social capital in India.

Srijani, the daughter of Debashis Goswami, a professor at the Indian Statistical Institute, and Gopa Mukherjee, an assistant professor at Gurudas College, chose to omit her surnames when filing her ISC examination form. “Why carry the baggage of a surname?” she told PTI. “I believe in a society rising above divisions in caste, gender, and religion, and beyond economic status.” Her parents, who themselves have eschewed traditional surname conventions, supported her decision. Gopa Mukherjee noted, “Both my daughters uphold the values we inculcated in them since birth. I myself don’t use my husband’s surname. When we applied for our daughters’ birth certificates, we didn’t include any surname.”

A user wrote: “So a girl dropped her surname, and it’s national news. Why? Only because her parents are Goswami and Mukherjee—Brahmin identity they proudly wore.
The funny thing is, most South Indian Brahmins have been doing this for generations. That hasn’t made them any less Brahmin, nor has it stripped them of their cultural or social capital. If anything, many have wielded that identity with quiet efficiency.
Her parents say they want her to grow up ‘unburdened by social labels.’ But what burden, exactly, does a Brahmin carry? When have Brahmins faced systemic injustice, social exclusion, caste violence, or religious extremism—the very terms she so dramatically invokes?
She’ll still carry her privilege wherever she goes. The only difference now is that she has a clever disclaimer—‘I renounced it!’”

The post has fueled an already contentious debate about Srijani’s decision. Some users echoed the sentiment, arguing that dropping a Brahmin surname is a symbolic act that sidesteps the realities of caste oppression faced by lower-caste communities. One X user commented, “Brahmins can afford to drop surnames because their identity opens doors. For Bahujans, it’s a risk—our caste is used against us every day.”

Conversely, Srijani’s supporters view her decision as a bold challenge to the caste system. An X post read, “Srijani’s move shows the younger generation wants to break free from caste shackles. It’s a small step, but it’s a start toward change.”

The user’s critique highlights the issue of Brahmin privilege. Historically, upper castes, particularly Brahmins, have dominated education, employment, and social networks in India. According to a 2024 World Inequality Lab report, nearly 90% of India’s billionaire wealth is held by upper castes, with similar dominance in bureaucracy and the judiciary. Against this backdrop, critics argue that dropping a surname is a “luxury” for Brahmins, unavailable to lower castes whose identities often trigger discrimination.

Srijani and her family have framed the decision as a commitment to equality. Her parents, who themselves avoid traditional surnames, say they want their daughters to grow up in a society free from caste, gender, and religious divisions. Speaking to PTI, Srijani said, “I believe in a society that rises above these divisions. Dropping my surname is my small contribution.”

The decision aligns with Srijani’s broader activism. Despite her rigorous academic schedule, she participated in the Women Reclaim the Night movement on August 14, 2024, following the rape-murder of a medical student at RG Kar Medical College. Her perfect academic score and principled stand have earned praise from many quarters, with some hailing her as a role model for rejecting caste privilege.