Need To Change Name To Save Myself From Sword Of Hate: Muslim Bureaucrat From M.P. On The Atmosphere Of Hate In Modi II
He said that it is better for Muslims to change their names because no institution has been capable of protecting them.
Niyaz Khan(PC: Twitter/@saifasa)
The first month and a half of the second term of Narendra Modi’s Prime Ministership have seen several communally motivated attacks and incidents of violence against Muslims. For this reason, a Muslim bureaucrat in the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh wants to change his name.
Taking to Twitter on July 6, Niyaz Khan, a senior officer and author, expressed his fears. He wrote that for the last six months, he has been looking for a new name for himself so that he could hide his Muslim identity. “To save myself from the sword of hate, it is a must.”
For the last six months I am looking for a new name for this book and for myself so that I could hide my Muslim identity. To save myself from the sword of hate it is must pic.twitter.com/gjiTVOhxAP
— Niyaz Khan (@saifasa) July 6, 2019
He further added that the new name would save him from the “violent crowd”. He said, “If I have no topi, no kurta and no beard, I can get away easily by telling my fake name to the crowd. However, if my brother is wearing traditional clothes and has a beard, he is in the most dangerous situation.”
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The bureaucrat added that it is better for Muslims to resort to changing their names as no institution has been capable of protecting them.
The new name will save me from the violent crowd. If I have no topi, no kurta and no beard I can get away easily by telling my fake name to the crowd. However, if my brother is wearing traditional clothes and has beard he is in most dangerous situation.
— Niyaz Khan (@saifasa) July 6, 2019
Since no institution is capable to save us, it is better to switch the name
— Niyaz Khan (@saifasa) July 6, 2019
He also advised Muslim Bollywood actors to find new names for themselves to protect their films.
“Bollywood actors of my community should also start finding a new name to protect their movies. Now even the top stars movies have started to flop. They should understand the meaning,” Khan wrote.
Bollywood actors of my community should also start finding a new name to protect their movies. Now even the top stars movies have started to flop. They should understand the meaning
— Niyaz Khan (@saifasa) July 6, 2019
The officer also made headlines in January when he took to social media saying how he has always felt like an untouchable in his service due to the discriminatory behaviour. “Khan surname hounded me like a ghost,” he said earlier.
This isn’t the first time Khan has spoken about discrimination and the stigmas one has to face over Muslim identities. Earlier in January, Khan had created a stir when he had tweeted about how “Khan” as a surname hounded him like a ghost. He wrote back then, “17 years in government service, transfer in 10 districts and 19 shiftings; I was always made to feel untouchable, like a German Jew. Khan surname hounded me like a ghost.”
In more tweets then, Khan had elaborated on how Muslim bureaucrats were mistreated.