Is Aviva Baig A Muslim? Priyanka Gandhi Faces Online Outrage Over To-Be Daughter-In-Law’s Surname, Decoding Its Roots And Meaning

Raihan Vadra, son of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and businessman Robert Vadra, just got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Aviva Baig.

The news broke recently and, honestly, people can’t stop talking about it. Raihan and Aviva have been together for seven years, and someone close to them confirmed the engagement to a reputable news channel.

These two have always kept things pretty private, but Aviva gave everyone a peek into their lives when she posted a photo with Raihan on her Instagram stories a few days ago. She’s since moved it to her highlights, but fans definitely noticed.

Who is Aviva Baig?

Aviva Baig is much more than just Raihan’s fiancée. Aviva grew up in Delhi, went to Modern School, and then graduated from OP Jindal Global University with a degree in Media Communication and Journalism.

She’s a photographer and co-founded Atelier 11, a studio and production company that’s worked with big names and agencies all over India. Her website puts it best: “Aviva Baig is a Delhi-based photographer whose art captures the versatility of life. Her works reflect the confluence between the simplicity and the complexity of everyday living.”

Aviva’s not just another photographer, though. She has a style all her own. Her site says she has “a keen eye that lends her images the perspective of a quiet observer.” Over the past five years, her work’s been shown in exhibitions like ‘You Cannot Miss This’ at Method Gallery and at the India Art Fair’s Young Collector Programme, plus shows at The Quorum Club and India Design ID.

Is Aviva Baig a muslim?

Aviva Beg comes from a well-known Delhi family. Her father, Imran Baig, runs his own business, and her mother, Nandita Baig, has made a name for herself as an interior designer. The Baigs and the Vadras go way back. They’ve shared a close friendship for years. Nandita even worked on designing the interiors of Indira Bhavan, the Congress party’s headquarters.

Aviva, though, has made her own mark. She’s a national-level footballer and a professional photographer, and she likes to keep her private life out of the spotlight.

The surname “Baig” carries a lot of history in India and Pakistan. It’s a common name among Muslims with Mughal roots, and people often see it as a sign of high social status.

You’ll also find the surname in places like Uzbekistan, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and, of course, India, especially in North India and Kashmir. In North India and Pakistan, most people named Baig are Sunni Muslims.

But here’s something a lot of people don’t know: before she got into the arts, Aviva was a national-level football player. The same discipline she brought to the field now shows up in her creative work.

These days, she juggles her photography with a growing online presence , almost 11,000 people follow her on Instagram. As she prepares to step into the Vadra-Gandhi family, Aviva’s already bringing an impressive legacy of her own.

Origin and meaning of the surname ‘Baig’

Baig (also Beg, Beigh or Bey) is an ambiguous name that has a very long history, but it was mostly used as a title of nobility in Central and West Asia. To determine its history, it is necessary to examine its Turko-Persian dominant ancestry, a particular position in the Mughal Empire, and its completely unrelated genesis in Western Europe.

1. Turko-Persian and Central Asian Ancestries

A common way that Baig is used is as a Islamic surname which is used in South Asian, Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

The term is based on the Old Turkic term beg or bey that means chief, commander, leader, or nobleman. Historically it served as a title of lords of different sizes, small clans and bigger lands which were called beyliks.

Clan Associations: Traditionally, the name has been linked with the Barlas tribe, which is a Turko-Mongol clan that was the primary tribe of the Timurids. As the heirs of these clans became developmental empires, Baig became not only an honorary title of military leaders, but also a family name that is passed on.

2. The History of Mughal and South Asia

The surname Baig is mainly identified with the Mughal period (16 th -19 th century) in India and Pakistan.

Nobility and Military Position: In the Mughal court, Baig was a name of the senior military commanders, counsellors, and noble persons who frequently served the royal family.

Naming Conventions: It was commonly accompanied by the title Mirza (which means prince or scholar). Traditionally, men would prefix it with Mirza and suffix it with Baig (e.g. Mirza Mansur Baig), and women with Begum.

Social Position: In India subcontinent, the descendants of this line group nowadays still apply the surname “Baig”, but some also adopt “Mirza” or even “Mughal” as its title.

ALSO READ: Who Is Aviva Baig? Meet Priyanka Gandhi’s Son Raihan Vadra’s Fiancée And Longtime Girlfriend

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