My friend Jaya Prakash was born in the early ’70s, two decades after Laloo Prasad, in a neighbouring area of Bihar, into a Yadav family. Jaya Prakash is J.P. Yadav in school records; but Laloo Prasad is only Laloo Prasad in records — including Parliament’s — though he is Laloo Prasad Yadav on election posters. At the time of Laloo’s birth, Yadavs were sceptical about having their caste titles in names. By the time Jaya Prakash was born, more and more Yadavs had begun to stop thinking of their caste title as a baggage. The original JP (Narayan) had become a cult figure in Bihar by then, particularly among the Yadavs — a disproportionate number of people born in the ’70s in Bihar have been named JP. Sometime later, Laloo wove the magic of a surname which officially he did not have, but always announced.In the 15th year of the Yadav Empire, the Yadav title has become a double-edged sword — it could well save you from further questions if you are caught by the police, but there are severed disadvantages too, my friend JP says. One recent example is the effort it took him to get a credit card. JP’s southern employer — a reputed media firm — applied for a credit card in his name; but the bank kept returning the form with silly questions each time. Hassled, the management sought JP’s reasoning on the bank’s weird behaviour. “It’s in the name,” he told them. The more Yadav you are, the more likely you are to default, according the bank’s reasoning. Finally the firm talked to the bank in clear terms and the card was issued.JP had learnt his lessons quite early. Seven years ago when he came from Kolkata, at first he could not figure out why nobody was renting him a place to stay in Patna — at three places he was turned away after the entire deal was finalised. The puzzle was solved by a candid house-owner, politely: “Getting a Yadav to vacate this premise is not a task I would like in this old age.” With the convenience of being known merely as JP, his Yadav title is rarely announced. But places where it had to be disclosed, things have been interesting. JP went to a doctor where his name and address were given. After the check-up, the doctor made a business proposal: “Why don’t you capture the place that you are staying? I will give you the wherewithal.” JP changed his doctor rather than his ways.But in the latest event, JP used his surname to save all of Rs 201. A group of youngsters barged into his premises “requesting” Rs 201 for Durga Puja. “Just tell your name,” he was told. J.P. Yadav, he replied. “How much would you like to pay, sir?” they immediately mellowed down. “Nothing,” he said. “But please come for the Puja, sir.”
