Shark Tank judge Anupam Mittal has challenged traditional Indian naming conventions by giving his daughter a middle name. Instead of Alyssa Anupam, he has named her “Alyssa Anantara.”
Anupam, founder of People Group and Shaadi.com, shared his daughter’s naming decision in a personal note on LinkedIn. “In a world where women are still defined as someone’s daughter, someone’s wife, someone’s mother… we just wanted her to start out on her own,” he wrote.
He recalls the moment her daughter was born, saying, “When my daughter Alyssa was born, we wanted to give her a middle name. Traditionally, in most parts of India, it is not done that way. The father’s first name is automatically taken and if it is a girl, it is later replaced by her husband’s name.”
The couple chose their daughter’s middle name as a symbol of freedom and wisdom, rather than following the conventional path. Mittal also explained the name in the post as “Anantara,” which means limitless. Another name for the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, is rooted in infinity.
“It’s a small thing. A name. But… not that small.”
For us, it was a way of saying
– You don’t have to carry on someone else’s legacy.
– You don’t have to be defined by the men in your life.
– You are free to write your own story.”
It wasn’t a grand undertaking. It wasn’t going to change the world. But to us, it felt like the right place to start. A calm way of saying, We believe in equality. In him, in his choice, in his future!
His post has touched many hearts on social media. Commenters on the post shared how it inspired them and how the story resonated with them on a personal level.
About Anupam Mittal
Anupam Mittal is an Indian entrepreneur, business executive, and angel investor. He is the founder and CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com. Apart from starting the Indian online matrimony service Shaadi.com, he has also served as a prominent investor on Shark Tank Seasons 1, 2, and 3, investing in over 250 companies. He was the co-founder and chairperson of the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and is currently a member of its board of directors. He is a recipient of the Karma Vir Chakra award. He has also acted in and produced Bollywood films like 99 and Flavors.