In a unique event that has captured public attention, a man from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh hosted a grand wedding reception for his son, drawing guests from diverse religious backgrounds by embracing a surname tracing back to his Hindu Brahmin ancestors. Naushad Ahmad, who now uses the title 'Dubey', organized the 'Bahubhoj' or 'Dawat-e-Walima' in his village of Dehri, located 35 km from the Jaunpur district headquarters in the Kerakat area.
A Wedding Reception with Separate Arrangements
The event, held on a Sunday, was notable for its meticulous planning to respect the sentiments of all attendees. Naushad ensured two separate compartments for vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, placed 250 metres apart. This was specifically done so that the seers and Brahmin invitees would not feel any discomfort. The invitation card itself stated the event was for the wedding of "Khalid Dubey - the eighth generation of zamindar of 1669 Lal Bahadur Dubey."
Over 100 Brahmins from five districts attended, alongside Vedic scholars and seers. The guest list included prominent figures like Patalpuri Math's Peethadhishwar Jagadguru Balak Devacharya, Mahant Jagdishwar Das, Rampanth's Panthacharya, and Rajiv Shriguruji, national president of Vishal Bharat Sansthan. The gathering also saw Nazneen Ansari, famed for Hanuman Chalisa and a member of the Urdu Council, and Jammu University's Prof Jigar Mohammad.
The Journey to Discovering Brahmin Ancestry
This was not the first time Naushad's family made headlines with an invitation card. Three years ago, his daughter's wedding card also sparked discussion when he used the Hindu Brahmin title. Naushad explained that while many Muslims in India use titles like Chaudhary, Solanki, or Patel, the use of 'Dubey' and 'Thakur' draws particular attention.
His journey to reclaim this identity began with family lore. "Senior members of my family were referred to as ‘Panditji' in the village," Naushad said. His great-grandfather told him that their ancestor, Lal Bahadur Dubey, arrived in Dehri, purchased a zamindari from Hazari Singh, and later converted to Islam.
To verify this, Naushad sought help from historian Rajiv Srivastava (Shriguruji) three years ago. Srivastava's organization, Vishal Bharat Sansthan, conducted research. "We made extensive efforts to search the records," Srivastava recalled. "They revealed that Naushad's ancestors were Brahmins and their gotra was ‘Vatsa'. Their ancestral deity was Goddess Kali."
Identity, Backlash, and Building Bridges
Embracing this history, Naushad adopted the 'Dubey' title and joined Srivastava's organization to help others curious about their ancestry. He argues that Islamic identity in India need not be confined to stereotypes. "One's Islamic identity is identified with non-vegetarian food, skull cap and Arabic names, despite the fact that even by using names as per Indian culture, promotion of food and dress as per local tradition, Islam can also be followed," he stated, citing examples like Malaysia and Indonesia.
His work has led others to explore their roots. Irshad Ahmad of Gorakhpur became Irshad Ahmad Pandey, while Hishamuddin and Rehan added ‘Dubey' to their names. "There's a long list of Muslim people who have started using Hindu surnames," Naushad added.
However, this choice has come at a personal cost. Naushad, who still practises Islam and offers namaz five times a day (and has no desire to reconvert), faces backlash from some relatives. "They have labelled me as Murtad (one who goes against Islam) and have even threatened me." The situation grew so severe that he had to seek police security.
Despite the threats, figures like Rajiv Srivastava see a positive outcome. "As soon as Naushad identified his ancestors' surname and gotra, his kinship emerged even among Hindu Brahmins," Srivastava said. He described the emotional bonds formed as "unbreakable" and called it "a bridge between Hindus and Muslims. Through ancestors and traditions, the distance of hundreds of years has ended."
The wedding of Khalid Dubey, therefore, transcended a family celebration. It became a symbol of a complex, ongoing conversation about history, identity, and community in contemporary India.
