Bahrupia surname is an Indian last name. Bahrupia surname also indicates the caste of person. Bahrupia surname definition is A small class of mendicant actors and quick-change artists. They are recruited from all classes of the population and though a distinct caste of Bahrupias appears to exist people of various castes also call themselves Bahrupia when they take to this occupation. In Berar the Mahar Mang and Maratha divisions of the Bahrupias are the most common:7 the former two begging only from the castes from which they take their name. In Gujarat they appear to be principally Muhammadans. Sir D. Ibbetson says of them:8 The name is derived from the Sanskrit bahu many and rupa form and denotes an actor a mimic or one who assumes many forms or characters. One of their favourite devices is to ask for money and when it is refused to ask that it may be given if the Bahrupia succeeds in deceiving the person who refused it. Some days later the Bahrupia will again visit the house in the disguise of a pedlar a milkman or what not sell his goods without being detected throw off his disguise and claim the stipulated reward. In Gujarat they are ventriloquists and actors with a special skill of dressing one side of their face like a man and the other side like a woman and moving their head about so sharply that they seem to be two persons.9 Mr. Kitts states that the men are by profession story-tellers and mimics imitating the voices of men and the notes of animals; their male children are also trained to dance. In payment for their entertainment they are frequently content with cast-off clothes which will of course be of use to them in assuming other characters.10 Occasionally also they dress up in European clothes and can successfully assume the character of a Eurasian.. People with Bahrupia surname can also be found in other south asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Bahrupia surname definition is from a survey conducted during British rule in India. Many surnames in India indicate the type of work done by the person or by someone in family from whom the family inherited the surname. Surnames help spread casteism in India. One of the intellectuals suggested to drop surnames in India so that people can overcome caste differences easily.
