Kolkata Biophysicist's Name Faces Electoral Adjudication Over Hindu-Sounding Identity
In a concerning incident from Kolkata, a 26-year-old biophysicist named Amrita Priyadarshinee endured a month-long period of anxiety as her name was placed under adjudication in the electoral roll. This occurred despite her parents being Muslims, raising questions about the scrutiny of names based on religious connotations.
Family Background and Naming Inspiration
Amrita's mother, Mahua Islam, is a school teacher, and her father, Abdul Gani, is a retired chemistry professor. Abdul Gani is an alumnus of Presidency College and taught in its chemistry department from 1998 to 2013. The family has resided in the South Dum Dum assembly constituency for 25 years.
Mahua explained the origins of her daughter's name: "My husband and I do not believe in religion, so we chose such a name." The name Amrita was inspired by a character in the novel 'Na Hanyate' by Maitreyi Devi, while Priyadarshinee was selected out of admiration for former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, often referred to as the Iron Lady.
Educational Achievements and Career Aspirations
Amrita studied at Adamas International School in Belghoria, completed her graduation from Bidhannagar College, and earned a gold medal in biophysics from Kalyani University, where she also obtained her MSc. Despite receiving PhD offers from abroad, she chose to stay in India to pursue her career, driven by a love for her country.
The Adjudication Ordeal and Lack of Clarity
Amrita's name appeared in the draft electoral roll but was moved to adjudication in the list published on February 28. She expressed frustration over the lack of transparency: "When I was called for the hearing, I asked everywhere for the reason, but no one, including the BLO, could give me an answer. At last, the BLO said that maybe it is because of my name, which does not have a surname or any similarity with the parents. This is strange."
She had previously voted in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 assembly elections without any issues. Despite submitting all relevant documents, including her passport, her name remained under adjudication until it was cleared in the second supplementary list released on Friday night.
Anxiety Over Future Opportunities
The adjudication caused significant distress for Amrita, as she had registered for the West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) exam using her EPIC number. She feared that if her name were deleted, she might not have been able to appear for the exam. "I was going through a lot of anxiety," she admitted.
Concerns Over Targeted Scrutiny
Amrita highlighted a pattern she observed: "I know people who use just their first name but they did not face any problem. Their parents are Hindu. I probably faced this trouble because my parents are Muslims. Previously, I was not confident if a certain community was being targeted through this exercise, but now I see that a large number of Muslim names are being deleted across the state."
Her mother, Mahua, echoed these concerns, expressing disillusionment: "Now, I tell her to leave the country and go abroad because no matter how much we try to be secular and love our country, we will only be targeted as Muslims." She added, "No party is concerned about the plight of ordinary people."
Conclusion
This incident underscores broader issues of identity scrutiny and potential bias in administrative processes. Amrita's case serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by individuals whose names do not conform to expected religious or cultural norms, prompting calls for greater fairness and transparency in electoral roll management.
