Big B On How He Got His Name, Writes ‘Indian’ In Census Form

MUMBAI, (IANS) – Megastar Amitabh Bachchan shared a personal anecdote, talking about his surname, and revealed what he had filled in the section of ‘caste’ during the last census.

In episode 26 of the quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’ season 15, host Amitabh welcomed Madhurima to the hot seat.

Talking about the contestant, the actor said: “Madhurima from Ranchi, Jharkhand is here with us. She’s a section officer in the forest, environment, and climate change department. Madhurima, I do not know your full name.”

Replying to Big B, she said: “Sir, my name is Madhurima. I have stuck to the name Madhurima only. Sir, generally, we see that the father’s name is the surname. After marriage, your surname is changed to your husband’s last name.”

The 80-year-old actor then went on to say: “I have done that with my name many times too. My father (Harivansh Rai Bachchan) was not a man who favored the caste system. In India, a person’s surname represents his caste. My father hailed from a Kayasth family. He adopted his pen name as a poet, which was Bachchan, as his surname. That became his name,” said Big B.

He said: “After I grew up, I had to be enrolled in school. At school, my parents were asked about my surname. As written in my father’s autobiography. I have mentioned this on many occasions as well. My father and mother looked at each other and wondered what to do. My mother said, ‘He should take on your surname.’ That’s how I came to be Amitabh Bachchan”.

The actor said: “I’m sure you’re aware of the census. It’s a long list of people’s names, ages, height, and weight. There’s another section for caste. I did not fill that up and I was asked what my caste was. I said I was Indian. I was told they knew that. ‘No, sir. You need to mention your caste.’ I replied, ‘I will not. I don’t have a caste.’ ‘I am Indian.’ My response for the next time will be, ‘I am an Indian, and our Chandrayaan landed on the moon’,” he added.