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

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

See also

• Dasa
• Dass (disambiguation)

References

1. Essays And Lectures On The Religions Of The Hindus: Religious Sects of the Hindus V1. Kessinger Publishing, LLC. 2006. 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.