Srijani, a remarkable student who secured a flawless score in this year’s Indian School Certificate (ISC) examinations, has emerged as a firm voice against all forms of discrimination—whether based on class, wealth, or faith. Guided by her strong convictions, the 17-year-old graduate of the Future Foundation School has chosen to drop her last name and declares that the only belief system she follows is that of humanity. In a bold move prior to her Class XII board exams, she submitted a formal request seeking an exception from the board to allow her to register using only her first name.
Ranjan Mitter, principal of The Future Foundation School, supported her stand, explaining, “If the law permits, we have no objection. Including a surname is not a legal requirement. Every individual deserves to live with dignity, and if this aligns with the family’s wishes, we are completely in favor of it.”
Speaking with the Times of India, Srijani explained, “I oppose every form of injustice—whether it's social stratification, financial inequality, or religious intolerance. Acts of sectarian violence and religious extremism serve only to divide. A nation with diverse traditions can thrive only through mutual understanding, shared values, and equal opportunities for all.” She envisions a world where tragedies like the death of Abhaya, a victim from RG Kar Medical College, no longer occur, where sectarian clashes are a thing of the past, and hierarchical divisions cease to exist.
On August 14, 2024, she, along with her sister and other relatives, joined the mass protest “Reclaim the Night” to speak out against the rape and murder of a PGT doctor. The march was a collective call for justice and the protection of women’s rights.
Srijani’s values are deeply influenced by her parents. Her mother, Gopa Mukherjee, is an assistant professor at Gurudas College, while her father, Debasish Goswami, is a mathematician at the Indian Statistical Institute and a recipient of the 2012 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award. Mukherjee shared, “I never changed my last name after getting married. Our children were free to choose either of our surnames, but my husband and I are fundamentally opposed to patriarchal norms and the caste system. We want our children to grow up unburdened by social labels and to value empathy above all else.”
She added that when they applied for their children's birth certificates, they chose not to include surnames. “We’ve rarely faced resistance for this decision. There’s no legal compulsion to use a last name—not even on a passport. What truly needs to change is the mindset. While we still use surnames in practice, our stated religion is always listed as ‘humanity’.”
Recognizing Srijani’s achievement and ideals, State Power Minister and Tollygunge MLA Aroop Biswas visited her family home in Ranikuthi to personally honor her. He expressed admiration for her decision to relinquish her surname.
Currently, Srijani is setting her sights on a future in science. She hopes to pursue physics or mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru and is actively preparing for the next phase of her academic journey.
Ranjan Mitter, principal of The Future Foundation School, supported her stand, explaining, “If the law permits, we have no objection. Including a surname is not a legal requirement. Every individual deserves to live with dignity, and if this aligns with the family’s wishes, we are completely in favor of it.”
Speaking with the Times of India, Srijani explained, “I oppose every form of injustice—whether it's social stratification, financial inequality, or religious intolerance. Acts of sectarian violence and religious extremism serve only to divide. A nation with diverse traditions can thrive only through mutual understanding, shared values, and equal opportunities for all.” She envisions a world where tragedies like the death of Abhaya, a victim from RG Kar Medical College, no longer occur, where sectarian clashes are a thing of the past, and hierarchical divisions cease to exist.
On August 14, 2024, she, along with her sister and other relatives, joined the mass protest “Reclaim the Night” to speak out against the rape and murder of a PGT doctor. The march was a collective call for justice and the protection of women’s rights.
Srijani’s values are deeply influenced by her parents. Her mother, Gopa Mukherjee, is an assistant professor at Gurudas College, while her father, Debasish Goswami, is a mathematician at the Indian Statistical Institute and a recipient of the 2012 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award. Mukherjee shared, “I never changed my last name after getting married. Our children were free to choose either of our surnames, but my husband and I are fundamentally opposed to patriarchal norms and the caste system. We want our children to grow up unburdened by social labels and to value empathy above all else.”
She added that when they applied for their children's birth certificates, they chose not to include surnames. “We’ve rarely faced resistance for this decision. There’s no legal compulsion to use a last name—not even on a passport. What truly needs to change is the mindset. While we still use surnames in practice, our stated religion is always listed as ‘humanity’.”
Recognizing Srijani’s achievement and ideals, State Power Minister and Tollygunge MLA Aroop Biswas visited her family home in Ranikuthi to personally honor her. He expressed admiration for her decision to relinquish her surname.
Currently, Srijani is setting her sights on a future in science. She hopes to pursue physics or mathematics at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru and is actively preparing for the next phase of her academic journey.
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