In a recent public speech, Maoist Supremo Prachanda is reported to have said that he would like to be known by his nom de guerre ‘Prachanda’, as his real name Puspa Kamal Dahal is evocative of bahunbad (Brahminism). The name of any person is as worthy as his identity, but nothing more than that. There are fullnames of many persons in the world that are no more than three letters. All one needs is to be able to uniquely identify oneself. In that matter, the person who is known world-wide by the name “Prachanda” definitely does need any further name to identify him.

I think, Prachanda as a peoples’ distinguished leader should maintain this spirit of exemplary statesmanship representing all the ethnic groups of Nepal, and also go a step further by acquiring his citizenship certificate by this name ending a feudal hangover tradition of having to tag one’s name with a caste. There have been many reports in Nepal that many dalit Karmajans had been denied their righful citizenship certificates, if they did not agree to write their caste names instead of their sub-caste names (Thar) in their certificates.

- Dr. DP Rasali