Hyderabad: In a move towards restoring dignity and self-respect, six BC communities in Telangana are on the brink of officially changing their caste names—an effort to shed labels they say have long been misused and turned derogatory in cinema, politics, and everyday discourse.
The Telangana Backward Classes Commission is in the final stages of approving these changes, responding to long-pending demands from within these communities.
The momentum for this shift began shortly after the establishment of the BC Commission ahead of the caste survey. Several communities came forward, arguing that their existing caste names—once markers of their identity—had been co-opted by popular culture and often used in pejorative contexts.
Among the communities seeking change is Dommara, where some objections have been raised regarding the proposed renaming. The Pitchiguntla community has strongly endorsed a name change. Members of the Tammali community have requested the removal of terms like ‘non-Brahmin’ and ‘Sudra’ from their caste certificates, saying such terms are outdated and discriminatory. The Budabukkala community is also in favour of a name change, though their proposal faces a naming conflict.
Three alternatives—Kshatriya, Shiva Kshatriya, and Rama Joshi—were initially considered for Budabukkala. However, the Arya Kshatriya community, already listed under the BC category, raised objections to the use of similar names, prompting the commission to explore other options.
Meanwhile, the Veeramushti community has proposed the name Veerabadreeya, citing that their current name carries derogatory undertones. Students and professionals from the community have reported hesitance in disclosing their caste due to the embarrassment associated with it. Many see it as a long-overdue step towards reclaiming identity and challenging decades of social stigma.
“We have received more than 200 representations from these communities, mostly in favour of the name change. Public hearings were conducted after issuing a notification in Jan. We have nearly reached a consensus to accept all requests, but we want to ensure there are no major objections before finalising,” said BC Commission chairman G Niranjan.
The commission held meetings with the communities in Dec and followed up with field visits to gather first-hand perspectives. While the overwhelming response supports the name changes, the commission has also received a few representations opposing the move, urging caution.
