Das (surname)

Das (translation: devotee^[1]) is a common last name in India, among adherents of Hinduism and Sikhism, as well as those who converted to Islam or Christianity. It is a derived from the Sanskrit word Dasa (Sanskrit: दास) meaning servant of God, "devotee," or "votary". "Das" may be inferred to be one who has surrendered to God. In the Punjab region of India and Pakistan,^[2] they generally belong to the Brahmin caste.^[3] In Bihar and Bengal regions, they belong primarily to the Maulika Kayastha caste. The surname Das is also used by the Mahishya community of Bengal.^[4][5] In Odisha, they belong to the Karana caste, the second upper caste after Brahmins and some belong to Gaudiya caste. The surname Das or Dass may also be found among Bengali Vaidyas and Oriya Brahmins. Bengali Vaidyas may also have surnames such as Das-Gupta/Das-Sharma.

Presently, initiated male devotees of the ISKCON tradition adopt the last name Das or Dasa upon formally entering the ISKCON community, whereas females initiates adopt the surname Dasi. The present day usage of Das, Dasa, and Dasi in Hinduism is highly respectful.

Das is also a Dutch last name. Das means badger in Dutch (from Proto-Indo-European language *teks-) and is found amongst the Dutch of the Netherlands.^[6]

Notable people

• Abhishek Das, Indian football player
• Amil Kumar Das
• Beni Madhab Das
• Bhagavan Das
• Bhagwan Das
• Bhai Dyal Das, Sikh martyr
• Bhai Mati Das, Sikh martyr
• Bhai Sati Das, Sikh martyr
• Bina Das
• Brojen Das
• Chittaranjan Das, a Bengali lawyer and a major figure in the Indian independence movement
• Dinesh Das, a Bengali poet residing in Calcutta
• Durga Mohan Das
• Gardhab Das, fictional character
• Gobindachandra Das
• Gopabandhu Das, Indian Freedom Fighter,Reformer,Journalist and educationist from Odisha
• Gurcharan Das, Punjabi Hindu columnist for The Times of India
• Guru Amar Das, the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism
• Guru Ram Das, the fourth of the Sikh gurus
• Jatin Das, Indian painter from Odisha
• Jatindra Nath Das
• Jatindra Nath Das, Freedom fighter
• Jibanananda Das, a Bengali poet
• K. S. R. Das, Indian film director
• Kamala Das
• Khagen Das
• Krishna das Babaji
• Madhusudan Das, Oriya Lawyer and Indian nationalist of 19th century.
• Manoj Das, English and Oriya writer
• Monica Das
• Namit Das is an Indian film and theatre actor.
• Nandita Das, Indian film actress/director from Odisha
• Parichay Das , path-breaker Bhojpuri- Hindi poet, essayist, critic^[1]
• Radha Charan Das, Former Vice-Chancellor of Berhampur University
• Raja Bhagwant Das, Rajasthani ruler of Amber
• Ranjan Das
• Sarala Dasa, 14th-century poet of Odisha
• Satish Ranjan Das
• Seth Govind Das
• Shiv Sunder Das, Indian Cricketer from Odisa
• Shomie Das, schoolmaster
• Shraddha Das is an Indian film actress who has mainly appeared in Telugu films
• Sudhi Ranjan Das
• Surya Das
• Vasundhara Das, Indian actress and singer
• Veena Das
• Veena Das
• Vir Das, comedian and actor

See also

• Dasa
• Dass (disambiguation)

References

1. das (2006). Essays And Lectures On The Religions Of The Hindus: Religious Sects of the Hindus V1. p. 353. ISBN 1-4286-1308-0.
2. "Sikh surnames". Science groupsrv. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
3. "Bhai Mati Das". Sikh Heritage. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
4. Census of India (Volume 5, Issue 1 ed.). India: Government of India. 1911. p. 498.
5. Roy, Dayabati (19 December 2013). Rural Politics in India: Political Stratification and Governance in West Bengal. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. p. 67. ISBN 1-107-04235-6.
6. "Dutch Surnames". Sara L. Uckelman. Retrieved 2009-04-19.