What’s in a name? To some extent, according to the Rajasthan government.
The state has launched an initiative to change the names of school students it deems unclear, inappropriate, or have negative connotations, traits it believes can affect a child’s confidence, character, and social identity.
Names like Sheru, Chetan, Kalu and Tinku for school children will be changed in consultation with parents, state Education Minister Madan Dilawar said on Tuesday, under an initiative called ‘Sarthak Naam Abhiyan’ (Meaningful Names Campaign).
The Ministry of Education has drawn up a list of nearly 3,000 alternatives – 1,409 for boys and 1,541 for girls – for parents to choose from. These include names such as Abir, Agniba, Balmukund, Badrinath, Aaradhya, Annapurna and Vaishnavi, each accompanied by its meaning.
Officials confirm that the process will be voluntary.
Schools have been asked to raise the issue during parent-teacher conferences, and any change will require written consent from parents. The campaign will cover grades 1 to 9, with provisions to update names in previous mark sheets for older students as well, according to an official directive.
Students with names like Shiro, Kalu, Choto, Pablo, Tenko and Chetan have been identified for possible changes, an official said. The administration estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 such cases exist in public and private schools.
Dilawar said names are often assigned without consideration of their meanings or long-term impact. He said: “Sometimes parents choose names without realizing their meanings or for social reasons, but later children may develop a feeling of inferiority because of them.”
He added: “The administration believes that a person’s name reflects their identity and social values, and that negative or defective names can negatively affect a child’s mental development and confidence.”
The minister also stressed the need to remove sect-based or derogatory terms from official records.
“Words that have historically been used in a derogatory manner should not be recorded. Respectful alternatives must be adopted,” he said.
Teacher bodies say they have been asked to start the exercise immediately. “We are discussing the matter with the parents and necessary action will be taken accordingly,” Vipin Sharma, president of Rajasthan School Teachers Association, said.
