Passport offices overflowing with Gujaratis attempting to fix traditional ‘suffixes’ in their names

Deepaben’s situation is not an isolated incident. Many individuals of Gujarati origin encounter similar challenges when it comes to their names. Adding ‘ben’ to women’s names and ‘bhai’ to men’s names is a cultural norm in Gujarat, symbolizing respect. Renowned figures like Dhirubhai Ambani, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel exemplify the prevalence of suffixes in names.

Officials at the RPO acknowledged that this linguistic practice stems from the region’s speech patterns. However, it becomes problematic when the suffixes vary across the documents required for passports and visas.

Wren Mishra, from RPO Gujarat, disclosed that they receive approximately 4,000 daily applications, of which around 1,000 pertain to name changes, alterations in birthplace, or adjustments in birth dates. Of these, approximately 800 requests involve the addition or removal of suffixes like ‘ben,’ ‘bhai,’ and ‘Kumar.’

Due to the high volume of such applications, the passport seva kendras (PSKs) in Ahmedabad, Vadodara, and Rajkot are now authorized to make necessary changes if the supporting documents are in order. This responsibility was previously managed by the RPO.

Officials highlighted that the practice is more prevalent in semi-urban and rural areas compared to urban centers. Documents such as school-leaving certificates, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and photo IDs like driving licenses are required for passport applications.It is not solely about removing the ‘ben’ suffix. Officials recounted an instance in which a woman wished to change ‘behen’ (sister) to ‘ben’ to simplify her name. The inconsistent spelling of ‘behen’ caused additional complications for her.Kamlesh Shah, a partner in an advertising agency, revealed that they receive an average of 20 name change advertisement requests daily, adhering to the cultural norm. The majority of these requests involve the addition or removal of suffixes. Another common category is name changes for married women adopting new names.

The challenges faced by Deepaben Shah shed light on the complex dynamics surrounding name changes influenced by cultural traditions in Gujarat. As the RPO and PSKs work to streamline the process, it remains crucial to address these cultural nuances to ensure a smooth experience for passport applicants in the region.