MP Narendra Jadhav believes that dropping surnames would end caste consciousness and wants to bring in a private member’s bill in the Rajya Sabha.

New Delhi: Distressed over rising atrocities on Dalits, Rajya Sabha MP and Dalit ideologue Narendra Jadhav is set to nudge the political class to promulgate a law to outlaw "surnames or family names".

Jadhav believes dropping surnames would be a potent antidote to ending caste consciousness which lies at the root of discrimination against Dalits, calling it akin to Ambedkar's proposal that caste can be annihilated only by "setting explosives to Dharmashastra".

"I am seriously contemplating bringing a private member's bill in Rajya Sabha in the near future. It will be effective," he said in an interview to TOI.

"Unlike in case of Blacks and Whites, you cannot physically distinguish castes. So, the name becomes important. It should be made obligatory to drop family name," said Jadhav, who was nominated to Rajya Sabha by PM Narendra Modi. He was a member of the Planning Commission under the UPA regime and also a part of Sonia Gandhi's National Advisory Council.

A private attempt to legislate against surnames would pose a serious dilemma for the political class amid rising Dalit atrocities, headlined by cow vigilantism. While politicians are swearing by justice to Dalits, they would be cagey of launching a mortal assault on the deep-rooted tradition which has unshakeable sway over an overwhelming segment of voters.

Calling "cow vigilantism" just another symptom of a deep-rooted malaise in Hindu society, Jadhav said "caste system derives its sanctity from religion" as a result of the strategem devised by the priestly class.

"Ambedkar took a strong position: he said the only way to annihilate caste is to put explosives to 'Dharmashastra'," Jadhav said, recalling the Dalit icon's radical solution which led to organiser 'Jaat Paat Todak Mandal' rescind its invitation to Ambedkar to deliver his now-famous "annihilation of caste" speech. Elaborating on his advocacy that individual identities be limited to first names, Jadhav alleged that asking the other person's name had become a ploy to know his caste.

According to him, dropping family names would not end the problem but would be a "giant step" in creating a casteless, merit-based society.

With Dalits facing the ire of 'gau rakshaks' for dealing in dead cows as in Gujarat, Jadhav said it was just another excuse for upper castes to suppress the Scheduled Castes. He recalled when Dalits started following Ambedkar's early call that they stop doing their caste duty of carrying carcasses to redeem their dignity, they faced riots and ostracisation at the hands of dominant castes.

"You need an excuse (for aggression) when your power structure is being broken. That time, it was for Dalits not doing their 'traditional' job. Now, it is for Dalits doing their 'traditional' job," he said.Jadhav said other ways of ending atrocities was better enforcement of the law to prevent Dalit atrocities, promotion of inter-caste marriages and better implementation of Dalit budget sub-plan.

