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Time of India
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When a priest objected to Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan's inter-caste marriage: ‘He was not a Bengali and…'
On 3 June 1973, two of Bollywood's most iconic stars, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bhaduri , tied the knot in a quiet ceremony. Today, on the occasion of their wedding anniversary, let us look back on behind the scenes of what looked like a simple wedding, there was a moment of unexpected drama—when a Bengali priest protested against their inter-caste union. Though the event stayed away from the public eye at the time, it was later brought to light by Jaya's father, journalist Taroon Coomar Bhadhuri, who wrote about it in a 1989 article for The Illustrated Weekly of India. His piece not only revealed how quickly the wedding came together, but also tackled the caste-related objections and the gossip that surrounded it. A wedding that surprised everyone The wedding between Amitabh and Jaya was far from a grand Bollywood event. It was an intimate function with just family and close friends present. According to Jaya's father, the decision to marry came as a surprise to him. 'I felt he was not the run-of-the-mill Bombay film star. There were vicious people who said that Amitabh married Jaya because she was a big star, but it's totally untrue. He waited for Zanjeer to be a success. But Jaya would have married him anyway. I know that for certain. She is not a fickle-minded person. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo She is a very determined individual, bent on having her way since childhood. It is difficult for me to say what drew them together,' he wrote. 'Secret marriage' planned overnight Once the decision to get married was made, things moved very quickly. So quickly, in fact, that the family had no time to organise a full wedding in the usual way. As Taroon described it: 'And presto, we were in Bombay the next day to make arrangements for a 'secret marriage' on June 3, 1973. There is no point now in going into the details of how the whole affair was kept secret and the marriage arranged in the flat of friends of our family, the Pandits, at Malabar Hill. But there is something more to it.' Priest protests against inter-caste union The most dramatic part of the story came when the Bengali priest they managed to find in Mumbai raised an objection. Taroon explained, 'A Bengali marriage is usually a long-drawn-out but highly interesting affair. The Bengali priest (who was located with great difficulty) at first protested against having to preside over a marriage between a Bengali Brahmin (Jaya) and a non-Bengali non-Brahmin (Amit). After a lot of hassle, this was sorted out. Amit went through all the rituals, offending no one, and the ceremony went on until early the next morning. He did with sincerity all he was told to do. The following day, they flew to London. On their return, I held a reception at Bhopal, and again Amit did whatever he was told to do.' Setting the record straight After their marriage, gossip spread that Jaya's parents were not happy with her decision to marry Amitabh. But Taroon set the record straight once and for all. He wrote, 'I would like to know just one good reason why my wife or I would have been opposed to the Bhaduri-Bachchan alliance. Amitabh was, and is, a lovable boy. He struggled hard to come up in the world of films. Initial failures did not deter him, and with a Teutonic doggedness, he pursued his career. He proposed marriage to Jaya only when the film Zanjeer clicked, and he has not looked back since. So, what reservations could we have? That he was not a Bengali and was a non-Brahmin? How ridiculous!' Over five decades of love and togetherness Now, more than 50 years later, Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan remain one of the most respected couples in Indian cinema. They have two children—Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan—and three grandchildren, Navya Naveli, Agastya Nanda, and Aaradhya Bachchan . Amitabh Bachchan's Sunday Tradition Continues with a Thoughtful Twist Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
03-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
6 BC communities set for historic name changes to reclaim dignity, identity
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. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad 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.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Trained non-Brahmin archakas demand stipend of ₹15,000
Trained non-Brahmin archakas have urged the State government to appoint 383 persons, who have passed out of archaka training schools at temples under the purview of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department. V. Vijayakumar of Rasipuram said a small group of former students from Tiruvannamalai, who were fed up with waiting for jobs, wanted to place a copy of the petition at the Samadhi of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and chant Thevaram and Thiruvasagam at the spot. They were however, denied permission. The trained archakas also wanted a stipend of ₹15,000 per person so that they can lead decent lives. V. Ranganathan, president of the Archakar Payirchi Petra Maanavargal Sangam, Tamil Nadu, said that while they welcomed the announcement of stipend of ₹10,000 for the next batch of students who would train at the archaka schools, he urged the government to provide compensation to the 383 persons who have remained unemployed for 18 years now. He said the government had been citing a Supreme Court case filed by priests from Srirangam and an association of the Adhi Sivachariars. He wanted the case to be expedited.
