Post by : Meena
Hassan
On Gurpurab, Amitabh Bachchan highlighted a lesser-known element of his background, saying his maternal ancestry is Sikh and tracing those roots back to Punjab.
Speaking on Kaun Banega Crorepati 16, he described his parents' union and said he felt uneasy labelling it "inter-caste." He explained that his father hailed from Uttar Pradesh while his mother belonged to a Sikh family, adding that he considers himself partly Sardar. He recalled how his maternal aunts would affectionately call him "Amitabh Singh" when he was born.
Bachchan has previously written about the mark his mother's faith left on him. Recounting early days in Allahabad, he described his mother Teji Kaur Suri's devotion and how Gurbani verses and hymns were part of his childhood soundscape. He also referenced family members including his grandfather Sardar Khazan Singh Suri and relatives who served as prabandhaks at the Anantpur Sahib Gurudwara.
These personal recollections underscore the influence of his mother's religious practices, particularly the Gurbani renditions that remained vivid in his memories during Gurpurab observances.
About Amitabh Bachchan’s Parents:
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Harivansh Rai Bachchan: A noted Hindi poet and writer, famed for Madhushala and associated with the Nayi Kavita movement. He received the Padma Bhushan in 1976 and was born in Babupatti, adopting "Bachchan" as his pen name.
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Teji Bachchan (née Teji Kaur Suri): Born into a Sikh family in Lyallpur (now in Pakistan), she was active in social causes and interested in theatre. She met Harivansh during a college event in Lahore and the couple married in Allahabad in 1941.
The marriage of Harivansh and Teji, like Amitabh’s later marriage to Jaya Bhaduri in 1973, illustrates personal unions that crossed regional and cultural lines.
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