Srijani, a student of The Future Foundation School in Kolkata who secured a perfect score in the ISC examinations this year, made headlines not only for her academic feat but also for her principled stand against all forms of inequality—social, economic, and religious. As part of her belief in egalitarianism, the 17-year-old has renounced her surname and declared that the only religion she follows is ‘humanity’.
Ahead of her Class XII board examinations, Srijani formally applied for special permission to register only her first name, without a surname, for the Council’s records. The request was accepted.
The principal of The Future Foundation School, Ranjan Mitter, said there was no objection from the institution’s end. “As long as the law is satisfied, this is not an issue for us, and it’s not mandatory. I believe every person should be allowed to live with their self-respect, and if the family so wishes, we will go along with that,” he stated.
In a conversation with The Times of India, Srijani elaborated on her stance. “I am against all kinds of inequality—social, economic or religious. Communal aggression and religious chauvinism are divisive forces,” she said. “A multicultural society can prosper only with tolerance, mutual respect and egalitarian ideas. I dream of a society where there will be no Abhaya (RG Kar victim), no religious war and no hierarchy.”
Srijani has also been active in social movements. Along with her sister and other family members, she participated in the “Reclaim the Night” protest on August 14, 2024, joining thousands who marched to demand women’s safety and justice in the wake of the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata.
Srijani’s convictions were largely influenced by her parents—mother Gopa Mukherjee, an assistant professor at Gurudas College, and father Debasish Goswami, a mathematician at the Indian Statistical Institute and recipient of the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in 2012.
Mukherjee, reflecting on their parenting philosophy, said: “I did not change my surname after marriage. For the children, they had a choice to use both our surnames. My husband and I are against patriarchy and caste hierarchy, and we want our children to grow up with a free mind without any burden of caste, creed and religion. First, they should be humane.” She added, “It gives us immense pleasure that our kids respect our decision.”
Mukherjee further revealed that when applying for their children’s birth certificates, they deliberately left the surname field blank. “We have never faced any major question about it. A surname is not mandatory anywhere, not even in a passport, but it is a mindset. We use our surname but mention our religion as ‘humanity’,” she explained.
Srijani’s stand has earned her recognition beyond academic circles. State power minister and local MLA from Tollygunge, Aroop Biswas, visited her residence in Ranikuthi to congratulate her. He also lauded her decision to forgo a surname, praising her courage and commitment to social ideals.
Looking ahead, Srijani aspires to pursue higher studies in physics or mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. She is currently preparing for admission into the premier institution.
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