This episode provides an extensive analysis of the origin and evolution of Bengali Hindu surnames (Padabi), highlighting that these identifiers reflect far more than just family lineage. It explains that the widespread use of surnames began relatively recently, approximately 800 years ago, primarily during the Sen Dynasty with the establishment of the Koulinya (Kulin) system and subsequent professional and geographical divisions. The text details how surnames were initially derived from a person's village/settlement (e.g., Chattopadhyay), profession (e.g., Basak or Halder), or administrative titles bestowed by rulers during the Muslim and Mughal periods (e.g., Sarkar, Khan, or Majumdar). Furthermore, it notes that while early Bengali names only included the person's name and father's name, titles granted by royalty or landlords eventually became hereditary family surnames. The document concludes by observing that these surnames, though now often disconnected from their original social or professional meaning, serve as a historic reflection of Bengali culture, caste, and societal changes over the past millennium.

Ver todos los episodios