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The man shared that after wife introduced herself, the elderly women followed up with a single: “Aage (What’s next)?” a term commonly used to ask for the surname of a person.
‘Aage?’: Greater Noida Resident Says Elderly Women Asked For His Surname, Sparks Debate On Caste
A seemingly routine conversation between neighbours in a residential society in Greater Noida has come under the spotlight after a man claimed that it took an unexpected turn when he and his wife were asked for their surnames. The post, shared on X, has triggered discussions online, with many hihgligting how casteism still exists in the country.
Sharing the incident, the man named Pranav Bhardwaj said he was taking a walk around his housing society with his wife and daughter when they were approached by two elderly women who struck up a conversation. The women first asked which flat the family lived in, to which replied with the apartment number.
They then allegedly asked for their names. After his wife introduced herself, the women followed up with a single: “Aage (What’s next)?” a term commonly used to ask for the surname of a person. “Two aunties met us and started a conversation: ‘Aap kaunse flat mein rehte ho?’ I replied with the flat number,” he wrote, “Then they asked our names. My wife told them her name, and the aunties asked, ‘Aage?’”
He continued, “This is a posh society in Greater Noida, with retired bureaucrats and defence personnel, including people who retired as Secretaries and Generals.” Reflecting on the encounter, he wrote, “Reservation hatana hai? Abhi nahi hatega. 100–200 saal lagenge, bhai (You want to remove reservation? It won’t be removed anytime soon. It’s going to take another 100-200 years). SC/ST ka reservation, you’ll have to cope with it.”
Last week, I took my daughter for a walk around the society with my wife.Two aunties met us and started a conversation: “Aap kaunse flat mein rehte ho?” I replied with the flat number.
Then they asked our names. My wife told them her name, and the aunties asked, “Aage?”
This…
— प्रणव (@PranavaBhardwaj) July 27, 2026
“It’s Just How Society Is Everywhere”
While he did not elaborate further on the incident, his post quickly gained traction on social media, with some sharing similar encounters, while others argued that asking for a surname is not always indicative of prejudice and may kust be a matter of curiosity.
“I can totally relate to your experience. I have seen it many times first-hand. People – even highly educated ones – instantly give me respect after knowing my surname, which is really casteist. I got that kind of vibe even when I was not financially well off,” wrote a user.
“It’s just how society is everywhere. You move out of your country, let’s say to Dubai; they will ask your state/country. You move to the States; they ask for your skin colour/ethnicity. People will always find a way!” another said.
Meanwhile, an individual commented, “Arre. Maybe it was quite innocuous, and they just asked for your surname to see if they could connect the dots; the building grapevine must have informed them that so-and-so has moved into flat no XX.”
“Surnames aren’t always about caste—they’re also a means of identification. If there are 4 people named Pranava in the same society, how would u distinguish them? Not everyone asking ur surname cares about your caste. Stop assuming the worst. And no, I don’t support ending reservation,” someone else pointed out.
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