[1] University of Hyderabad, department of sociology, India, E-mail: nyamathhussainshaik@gmail.com, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9745-2102
Abstract
Naming practices are complex in nature and are often linked with various macro and micro levels ofreligious, cultural, and political factors. They come with many life stories and sentiments attached tothem. Furthermore, naming can have political-ideological undertones, often serving as an assertion against structures of domination. Names also serve a purpose beyond being mere labels for individuals. They transcend these functional roles, suggesting that different processes that go into naming. In this background, this paper seeks tocomprehend the processes of Islamization within the Dudekula community in South India through the lens of personal names and naming practices. Firstly, it examines how naming practices reflect the community’s accommodation of Islamization while maintaining traditional syncretic beliefs of Hindu origin. Secondly, it explores the strategies and methods of accommodation employed by the Dudekula community to navigate the tension between their traditional cultural beliefs and the increasinginfluence of Islamization on naming practices. Finally, it investigates identity negotiation and the interplay of identities, particularly through the phenomenon of temporarily adopting Muslim names during critical social events, such as marriages. By analyzing these practices, the paper aims to shed light on how the Dudekula community balances their dual religious and cultural identities in the face of evolving socio-religious influences.
Keywords: Islamization, Dudekulas, syncretic practices, naming
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