Pandit, also spelled as Pandita or Pandith is a Kashmiri Pandit clan or surname,[1] native to the Kashmir Valley in Jammu and Kashmir, India.[1] Pandit as a last name depicts a Brahmin lineage and is used by both Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir.[1]
Usage[edit]
When prefixed to a name, it denotes a scholar, for example, Pandita Ramabai or Pandit Nehru. A Hindu priest is also respectfully called Pandit ji.
Film[edit]
- Anand Pandit, Indian film producer
- Ashoke Pandit (born 1966), Indian filmmaker and social activist
- Chetan Pandit, Bollywood actor
- Gaurie Pandit Dwivedi (born 1982), Indian actress
- Jatin Pandit, Bollywood film composer
- Kalpana Pandit (born 1967), Indian film actress, model, and emergency physician
- Radhika Pandit (born 1984), Indian actress
- Ridhima Pandit (born 1990), Indian actress and model
- Santhosh Pandit (born 1973), Malayalam film actor, singer
- Shiv Panditt (born 1984), Indian actor
- Shraddha Pandit (born 1982), Indian playback singer
- Shweta Pandit (born 1986), Indian actress and singer
- Sulakshana Pandit (born 1954), Indian actress and singer
- Surbir Pandit, Nepalese actor
- Tejaswini Pandit (born 1990), Indian actress
- Vijayta Pandit (born 1967), Indian actress
- Yash Pandit (born 1981), Bollywood actor
Sports[edit]
- Arjun Pandit (athlete) (born 1959), Nepalese marathon runner
- Chandrakant Pandit (born 1961), Indian cricketer
- Krishna Pandit (born 1998), Indian footballer
- Nitin Pandit (born 1975), Indian cricketer
- Ravinder Pandit (born 1959), Indian cricketer
- Rohan Pandit (born 1981), Indian cricketer
- Ronak Pandit (born 1985), Indian shooter
- Shobha Pandit (born 1956), Indian cricketer
Other[edit]
- Agam Manohar Pandit (born 1981), Indian cricketer and entrepreneur
- Balraj Pandit, Indian playwright in Hindi and Punjabi
- Bansi Pandit (born 1942), Indian writer and speaker on Hinduism
- Devaki Pandit (born 1965), Indian playback singer
- Farah Pandith (born 1968), American academician
- Korla Pandit (1921–1998), American musician, composer and TV personality
- Lal Babu Pandit, Nepalese politician
- M. P. Pandit (1918–1993), Indian spiritualist, teacher and Sanskrit scholar
- Rahul Pandit (born 1956), Indian physicist
- Rajani Pandit (born 1962), Indian private investigator
- Sarat Chandra Pandit (1879–1968), commonly known as 'Dada Thakur' — Indian columnist and satirist
- Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900–1990), Indian diplomat and politician
- Vikram Pandit (born 1957), Indian-American banker
- Yadav Pandit, Nepalese research scholar
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Multiple sources:
- Brower & Johnston 2016, p. 130: "Sheikh: local converts, subdivided into numerous subgroups. Most largely retain their family names, or patronyms (kram), indicating their original profession, locality or community-such as Khar (carpenter), Pampori (a place), Butt and Pandit (Brahmin), Dar (kshatriya)-but with increasing Islamization, some have dropped these"
- Ahmad, Khalid Bashir (June 23, 2017). Kashmir: Exposing the Myth Behind the Narrative. SAGE Publishing. ISBN 9789386062819. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
One would come across among Muslims of Kashmir any number of surnames that are equally common among the Pandits. Among these are Bhat, Raina, Nath, Langoo, Malla, Bazaz, Saraf, Munshi, Watal, Wali, Khar, Shangloo, Nehru, Gagar, Kharoo, Aga, Jalali, Peer, Pandit, Parimoo and Mattoo.
- Lawrence, Sir Walter Roper (2005). The Valley of Kashmir. Asian Educational Services. p. 304. ISBN 978-81-206-1630-1.
Among the leading Krams may be mentioned the following names:— Tikku, Razdan, Kak, Munshi, Mathu, Kachru, Pandit, Sapru, Bhan, Zitshu, Raina, Dar, Fotadar, Madan, Thusu, Wangnu, Muju, Hokhu, and Dulu.
- Pandit, Bansi. Explore Kashmiri Pandits. Dharma Publications. p. 101. ISBN 9780963479860. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
- Dhar, Nazir Ahmad (2002). "Social Distribution of Linguistic Variants in Kashmiri Speech". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. 62/63: 46. ISSN 0045-9801. JSTOR 42930603.
The surnames like Bhat, Pandit, Munshi, Dhar, Dar, Handoo, Kakroo, etc. characterize aboriginal affinity
- Clements, William M.; Green, Thomas A. (2006). The Greenwood Encyclopedia of World Folklore and Folklife: Southeast Asia and India, Central and East Asia, Middle East. Greenwood Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-313-32849-7.
A variety of Hindu surnames such as Dar, Bhatt, Handoo, Kachru, Kichlu, Matoo and Pandit persist in Muslim families.
- Raina, Mohini Qasba (November 13, 2014). Kashur The Kashmiri Speaking People: Analytical Perspective. Partridge Singapore. p. 55. ISBN 9781482899450. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
Among the leading Krams may be mentioned the following names: Tikku, Razdan, Kak, Munshi, Mathu, Kachru, Pandit, Sipru, Bhan, Zitshu, Raina, Dhar, Fotadar, Madan, Thusu, Wangnu, Muju, Hokhu, and Dulu. Of these the members of the Dhar family have probably been the most influential.
- Kaul, Upendra (September 4, 2020). "My name is Khan, and I'm Kaul". Greater Kashmir. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
It is hard to believe that surnames – Peer, Wali or Khan, are common Hindu surnames. At the same time a Muslim carrying his last name as Rishi or Pandit…… sounds incredible, but it is a common feature in Kashmir.
- Anwar, Tarique; Bhat, Rajesh (February 23, 2008). "Kashmiryat in Kashmiri surnames". Two Circles. Archived from the original on February 26, 2008. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
Ever heard a Hindu by the surname Peer, Wali or Khan? Or imagine a Muslim carrying his last name as Rishi or Pandit…… Sounds incredible but it is a common feature in Kashmir, where unlike in other parts of the country, Muslims and Hindus have been sharing the same surnames since ages.
- Sharma, Dhruv Dev (2005). Panorama of Indian Anthroponomy: An Historical, Socio-Cultural and Linguistic Analysis of Indian Personal Names. Mittal Publication. ISBN 9788183240789. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
In Kashmiri, the 'Pandit' surname is attested with Muslims as well, e.g. Mohd Shafi Pandit, Charman J & K Public Service Commission.