Amitabh Bachchan got his surname bacause of caste system
The actor says his father rejected the caste system and fashioned his own last name
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan has shared anecdotes about his last name and said that “Bachchan” was his father and legendary poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poetic nom de plume.
The 76-year-old cine icon took to his blog to also discuss about the caste system prevalent in ancient India.
“The caste system in the land has been prevalent for centuries, followed diligently by many and now defied by many too, [it is] an ailment that has plagued our society,” he wrote.
He said that his father was a “strong opposer” of the caste system.
“Babuji was born in a Kayasth home and a Srivastav. But his temperament was always against the ailment of caste, his nome de plume, his ‘takhallus’ his pen name he designed as ‘BACHCHAN’. Poets writers of great eminence often designed their names with a nom de plume. So ‘Bachchan’ became my father’s pen name, his poetic nom de plume but it lent credence of its concept later when I was born, on being admitted to my first school, and being asked by the teachers what surname of this boy was to be filled in the admission form. My mother and father had a quick discussion and it was decided that ‘Bachchan’ would be the family surname,” he wrote.
The actor said he became the first bearer of the surname Bachchan.
“And it has remained so and shall remain so... My Father... the Bachchan [and] I, the proud bearer of this surname,” he wrote.