With rapid socio-economic changes in Gujarat, the practice of untouchability also has changed. Surnames have always been important markers for caste, but in a globalizing urban environment, it has become perhaps the most prominent marker of caste identity and therefore carrier of discrimination. Caste revealing surnames can result in ostracization of Dalits and exclusion from institutional and non-institutional resources, such as housing, private sector jobs, education, business and marriage, etc. Many Dalits, in order to access the mainstream society, increasingly attempt to ‘pass’ as non-untouchables or as ‘pure’ caste-Hindus by changing surnames. This study explores the phenomenon of changing surnames among Dalits and how it affects their opportunities for social mobility. Why do Dalits want to change their social identity by changing surnames? Does changing social identity accommodate Dalits as equals with the Savarnas? What are the risks and uncertainties after changing the surname? This paper addresses these questions and assesses the impact of changing surnames on the lives of urban Dalits.

中文翻译：

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现代种姓交易：古吉拉特邦城市通过姓氏改变社会身份

随着古吉拉特邦社会经济的快速变化，贱民的习俗也发生了变化。姓氏一直是种姓的重要标志，但在全球化的城市环境中，它可能成为种姓身份最突出的标志，因此成为歧视的载体。暴露姓氏的种姓会导致贱民被排斥，被排斥在机构和非机构资源之外，例如住房、私营部门工作、教育、商业和婚姻等。许多达利特人为了进入主流社会，越来越试图“通过更改姓氏，将'作为非贱民或'纯正的'印度教种姓传递。本研究探讨了达利特人的姓氏变化现象及其如何影响他们的社会流动机会。为什么达利特人要通过改姓来改变他们的社会身份？不断变化的社会身份是否能像萨瓦纳人一样容纳达利特人？更名后有哪些风险和不确定性？本文解决了这些问题，并评估了姓氏变化对城市达利特人生活的影响。