'Naming our baby Sindoor': 17 newborns in UP named to honour India's strike to avenge Pahalgam

Newborn

At least 17 newborns in the Kushinagar district of Uttar Pradesh have been named ‘Sindoor’ by their families. This naming trend comes as a tribute to India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ a military action carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir.

Most of these babies were born on May 9 and 10, just days after the armed forces struck back against terror targets across the border. Moved by the courage and dedication of the soldiers, many parents felt inspired to honour them in their own way. Thus, they named their children after the operation.

"My baby was born on May 9, two days after our brave soldiers avenged the Pahalgam attack. While I empathise with the pain of the bereaved families, I also wish to thank the brave soldiers who guard our borders. So, I have named my daughter ‘Sindoor' as a tribute to them," TOI quoted Neha Gupta, a resident of Kushinagar as saying.

This also marks a break from tradition for many Hindu families in this eastern UP district, where newborns are named by their bua (paternal aunt).
The name ‘Sindoor’, which refers to the red vermilion worn by married Hindu women, has now come to symbolise sacrifice, strength, and national unity, especially for the women who lost their husbands in the recent terror attack.

Dr R K Shahi, principal of the Government Medical College in Kushinagar, confirmed that 17 babies born in the hospital around that time were named Sindoor. “It’s amazing to see how deeply people are feeling about the operation. Sindoor has become a symbol of sacrifice and national unity after India's counter-terror operation in Pakistan," Shahi was quoted by TOI.

According to social activist Rajesh Mani, this trend shows a shared feeling of pride and patriotism in the region. "A good number of families in Kushinagar and some other districts of eastern UP have a family member serving in the Army. Maybe the nationalist sentiments owe their genesis to this connection. Nonetheless, one can hope that these babies grow up into strong women willing to serve the nation in uniform,” he said.

Archana Shahi from Bhedihari village had already made up her mind before her child was born. “No matter if it was a boy or a girl, I had decided on the name ‘Sindoor’. It now stands for courage,” she said while holding her newborn daughter.

Her husband, Ajit, added, “We live safely because of the soldiers. Naming our child ‘Sindoor’ is the least we can do to honour them.”

The list includes Vyasmuni and his wife from Bhathahi Babu village, Priyanka Devi from Padrauna and also Madan Gupta from Padrauna who chose the same name for his granddaughter. Besides the name Sindoor, love for the nation is another common link among these Kushinagar families.