The News Minute| October 6, 2014| 8.20 pm IST
On Monday, actor Prithviraj posted on Facebook that he has named his daughter 'Alankrita Menon.'
"Supriya and I would like to welcome our baby girl "Alankrita Menon Prithviraj". Thank you all for the love and blessings and prayers!"
What followed was a barrage of comments by fans questioning why he chose the surname 'Menon' which is an upper caste Hindu community in Kerala.
Many fans asked Prithviraj why he chose his wife's surname 'Menon' for his daughter, and called it regressive. Some even pointed out that his father actor Sukumaran was against the caste system and Prithviraj himself had spoken against the caste system.
As the comments showed no sign of stopping, Prithviraj posted one more status explaining the reason to name the baby with the Menon surname.
He says, "To all those who have an opinion on my daughter's name....
I have publicly spoken against caste system and a society that still holds undercurrents of discrimination by the same..and I feel as strongly about it today and will do so forever. My wife all through her professional career has been addressed as Ms. Menon and even today is addressed so by many of her colleagues. Hence, the "Menon" in Alankrita Menon Prithviraj is JUST a name and it so happens that a caste that once existed (according to me) was called the same. We did contemplate Alankrita Supriya Prithviraj but a sequence of three first names did not sound right. And to all my well wishers who suggested Alankrita Prithviraj, as chauvinistic as I am, I would like my child to have her mother's name..even before mine. So reiterating once again, MENON for me is JUST a name and has no significance whatsoever with respect to caste, religion or beliefs.
I hope that puts to rest the debate on my perspective on the issue and I hope all of you will join us in our prayers and hope that this little girl will one day grow up to be an intelligent, responsible, socially aware young woman.
Thank you for all the wishes.
Prithvi."