47-572: Saxena is an Indian surname primarily found in northern and Central India. It is a common surname found amongst the Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha (also known as North-Indian Kayastha) community of upper caste Hindus particularly in the Hindi-speaking regions of India. Saxena, in origin, is derived from the Sanskrit word sakhisena meaning “friend of
94-438: A "powerful component of the upper-bureaucracy" and were on occasion "highly respected as royal biographers" and composers of inscriptions. Inviting them as professional scribes was considered an indicator of an established kingdom. Thapar also notes that "as recipients of office and holders of grants of land, brahmanas , kayasthas , and sreshtins (wealthy merchants)" were moving into a cultural circle which "attempted to diffuse
141-584: A Kayastha from Deoband (Uttar Pradesh) , whose family served as government servants, is considered one of the Radhavallabh sect's foremost poets. Another Kayastha Ghanananda (d. 1739), who served as the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah's Mir Munshi ( transl. "Chief Scribe" ), renounced his worldly life and remained in Vrindavan until he was killed by soldiers of Ahmad Shah Abdali . He
188-709: A Sanskritic culture" According to Chitrarekha Gupta, Kayasthas became "king-makers and the most influential urban elites". The rise of Timuri political power after the sixteenth century had the effect of opening new roles for Kayasthas . The North-Indian Kayasthas were some of the first groups to learn Persian regularly even before it became the court language. Kayasthas were a major demographic block in maktabs (equivalent of primary school) where they acquired skills of copying and writing, which were necessary for working in various Mughal departments. Thus, Kayasthas became conversant with and literate in wider Perso-Arabic fiscal lexicon and started to fulfil requirements of
235-565: A committee in Bengal all advocated for the use of the script in education. Traditionally, the North Indian Kayastha women were allowed to attend school and receive education, but were kept in "far more seclusion than the Rajput women," according to a Colonial era census report. Some patriarchs of the caste also seemed to have kept concubines. A 2015 survey at a District Court revealed that
282-501: A great deal of parade and show...he never appears without a bearer holding a chattah (umbrella) over his head. The early colonial administration, thus, came to be shaped by influential Kayastha families who became early beneficiaries of the British power and success. In 1919, at the cusp of Congress's launch of Civil Disobedience, Kayasthas accounted for two-thirds of all Indian Government law members across north India, with most of them in
329-702: Is a historical Brahmic script that was used widely in parts of Northern India especially Awadh and Bihar . The script derives its name from the word "Kayastha". Documents in Kaithi are traceable to at least the 16th century. The script was widely used during the Mughal period. Under the British Raj , the script was recognised as the official script of the law courts in some provinces. John Nesfield in Oudh, George Campbell in Bihar and
376-647: Is derived from the Sanskrit word vansh (वंश) which translates to belonging to a particular family dynasty. From the eleventh-century onwards, epigraphical texts mention various regional lineages belonging to the North Indian branch of the Kayasthas, which were identified with their common occupational specialisation and whose members had become particularly influential in the administration of mediaeval kingdoms. Some Kayasthas even had feudatory status; some had received
423-555: Is different from Wikidata All set index articles Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha Chitraguptavanshi Kayastha, also referred to as North-Indian Kayastha , is a subgroup of Hindus of the Kayastha community that are mainly concentrated in the Hindi Belt of North India . In Hindu texts and traditions, they are described to have descended from the Hindu god Chitragupta who
470-463: Is married to Shobha Saxena. He did his schooling from St. Joseph Convent School, Bhopal , and Christ Church Boys' Senior Secondary School , Jabalpur . After doing Engineering in Electronics & Telecommunication from Jabalpur Engineering College , he wanted to become an actor. So, in 1972, he came to Mumbai. It was tough because of his build, but eventually, he got the role of a henchman. Benaam
517-451: Is regarded as one of the finest Braj Bhasha poets. The most important contribution came from Lalach Kavi , a Kayastha from Raebareli , who in 1530 CE wrote the first ever Hindi vernacular adaptation of the Sanskrit text Bhagavata Purana's "Dasam Skandha". By the 1820s, the East India company's agrarian taxation had built upon a network of paper-managers that reached back into
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#1733093245270564-467: Is usually depicted carrying "a flowing notebook, a pen and an inkpot" engaged in writing down human deeds. They are further divided into twelve § Subgroups , each of which is claimed to be the progeny of Chitragupta's two consorts. The earliest recorded history of these groups goes to the early medieval period of Indian history , while the word " Kayastha " itself dates to the third-century CE. The North Indian Kayasthas were powerful components of
611-515: The Kayastha caste appeared to have produced the most female lawyers overall. The Kayastha caste, unlike the majority of other castes in Indian society, typically relies on employment rather than land, hence both men and women in this caste marry after obtaining professional qualifications. The Kayastha women consequently marry at an older-than-average age. Beside celebrating all major Hindu festivals, Kayasthas also celebrate Chitragupta Puja around
658-453: The Kayasthas became so dominant as a 'service caste' that "their ability to mould north India's governance led to numerous calls from British officialdom to cut their numbers down". The late-nineteenth-century ethnographers and observers unanimously agreed on the Kayastha's high social status in the Hindu society. They are recognised as a Forward Caste , as they do not qualify for any of
705-559: The Late Mughal era. The registrars and accountants provided important information on "rents, assessments and methods of negotiating rent rates". In the Great rebellion triggered by the annexation of Awadh in 1856, many old Nawabi fiscal records were destroyed in Lucknow and Faizabad . Kayastha qanungos and scribes proved to be of great help in achieving fiscal consolidation and integration of
752-495: The Mughal administration as qanungos ( transl. "Registrar" ) and patwaris ( transl. "Accountant" ). Kayasthas, according to Irfan Habib , were the "second layer" of revenue management in Mughal India, dealing with rudiments of revenue collection, land records, and paper management, where their basic Persian literacy and copying skills were put to use. By the eighteenth century, Kayasthas' control of
799-800: The United Provinces . One famous Gaur Kayastha, Brij Bhukhan Lal, became the first Indian to hold the post of Registrar Judicial in Oudh . Munshi Kali Prasad, who also founded the Kayastha Pathshala, commenced the publication of an Urdu journal – the Kayastha Samachar . It gained recognition among Indian periodicals and was invited to the Delhi Darbar in 1903. Its language was subsequently changed to English whereas name to Hindustan Review and Kayastha Samachar and later Hindustan Review . By 1904,
846-460: The qanungo position had essentially become hereditary. Some Kayasthas were elevated to high ranking positions, such as Raghunath Ray Kayastha (d. 1664)—the Mughal Empire's "acting wazir " ( transl. "Prime Minister" ) and finance minister, whom Emperor Aurangzeb regarded as the greatest administrator he had ever met, and Chandar Bhan Brahman referred to as the "frontispiece in
893-481: The reservation benefits allotted to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes that are administered by the Government of India . Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas are primarily divided into twelve subgroups. These subgroups have traditionally practised endogamy within their subgroup. H. Bellenoit has shown that these subgroups tended to reside in certain geographic areas of Hindustan . Kaithi
940-443: The surname Saxena . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saxena&oldid=1260069669 " Categories : Surnames Lists of people by surname Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description
987-529: The "well-educated" pan-Indian elite, alongside Khatris , Kashmiri Pandits , Parsis , Nagar Brahmins of Gujarat, South-Indian Brahmins , Deshastha Brahmins , Chitpavan Brahmin , Prabhu Kayasthas , Bhadralok Bengalis and upper echelons of the Muslim and Christian communities that made up the middle class at the time of Indian independence in 1947. The functionality of the Kayasthas, who identified themselves with "Chitragupta and paper-oriented service",
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#17330932452701034-765: The 2017 Leon Eisenberg Award Shibban Lal Saxena , Indian politician and Freedom Fighter Sushil Kumar Saxena , Indian musicologist, academic and scholar Vijay Saxena (1968-1994), Indian actor Vineet Ashokkumar Saxena (born 1980), Indian cricketer Virendra Saxena , Indian actor W. Hansraj Saxena , former Deputy Managing Director of Sun Pictures Vinai Kumar Saxena , Lieutenant governor of NCT Delhi Aakash Saxena , MLA from Rampur Prem Behari Narain Raizada , Indian calligrapher Arun Kumar Saxena , Minister of Zoological Garden & Climate Change References [ edit ] ^ Srivastava, Vinay Kumar (September 2016). "Speaking of Caste: Merit of
1081-467: The American Group Leader of Physics of Condensed Matter and Complex Systems Group (T-4) at Los Alamos National Laboratory Banarsi Prasad Saxena , Indian historian Girish Chandra Saxena , former governor of Jammu and Kashmir Gopaldas Neeraj , Indian poet and author Gunjan Saxena , Indian Airforce Officer Harshit Saxena (born 1985), Indian singer and composer Harshita Saxena ,
1128-834: The British divide and rule strategy, in 1901, the Principal of Queens College received a directive from the Commissioner of Benares and its District Collector that candidates for the Collector's office should "belong to castes other than Kayasthas ." Thus, making room for Brahmins and other castes. According to census of India of 1931, Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas were the most literate caste group in United Provinces of Agra and Oudh . Around 70% of Kayastha males aged 7 years and over and 19% females were literate. Modern scholars categorise them among Indian communities that were traditionally described as "urban-oriented", "upper caste" and part of
1175-1294: The Department of Pharmacology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Poonam Kishore Saxena (born 1953), Indian Director General of the Income Tax Investigation agency Rajan Saxena , Indian management academic and the Vice-Chancellor of the SVKM's NMIM deemed university in Mumbai Rajan Saxena (physician) , Indian Dean of the Surgical Gastroenterology Department at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Lucknow Rakesh Saxena (born 1952), Indian convicted criminal, financier and trader Ramesh Saxena (1944-2011), Indian cricketer Sapan Saxena , Indian author, best known for his novel Finders, Keepers (Saxena novel) & UNNS-The Captivation Sarveshwar Dayal Saxena (1927-2003), Indian Hindi Poet Saumitra Saxena (born 1976), United States based poet of Indian origin Sharat Saxena , Indian actor Shekhar Saxena , recipient of
1222-564: The Kayasthas gradually became loosely integrated into an Indo-Muslim governing community. The North Indian Kayasthas, in contrast to CKPs and Bengali Kayasthas , became known for adopting an Indo-Muslim lifestyle, which was reflected in their attire, mannerism, and a common affinity for sharab ( transl. wine ) with Muslim aristocracy. To navigate the Indo-Muslim circle of service and literacy, many adopted Perso-Arabic pennames. The ulama , Muslim aristocracy, and Persian poets, on
1269-582: The Nawab's began early with Nawal Ray (d. 1750), a Saksena Kayastha from Etawah . In 1748, Safdar Jang made him deputy governor over Allahabad and he was awarded the title of first Raja and then of Maharaja . Nawal died on the battlefield fighting against Pathans on behalf of Safdar Under the reign of Asaf-ud-Daula , the Kayastha Raja Tikait Rai who served as a Diwan ( transl. "Finance Minister" ) became an important figure in
1316-519: The Persian works of Hafez and Sadi . Shiva Dasa 'Lakhnavi', a Kayastha from Awadh , authored his monumental work Shahnama Munawar Kalam in Persian, which provides account of events, political upheavals and factional struggles from the time of Emperor Farrukhsiyar (1712 CE ) to Emperor Muhammad Shah's fourth regnal year (1723 CE ). The Kayasthas also became a part of the larger Bhakti movement in northern India. Dhruvadasa (d. 1643),
1363-680: The Planning Commission and of the National Advisory Council Neelam Saxena Chandra (born 1969), Indian poet and author Neha Saxena , an Indian television actress Neha Saxena , a film actress who acts mainly Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil and Telugu, Hindi language films Nitin Saxena , Indian computer scientist Parag Saxena (born 1955), Hindi Founding General Partner and CEO of New Silk Route PN Saxena (1925-1999), Indian academic and founder Chairman of
1410-894: The Principle of Segmentation" . Sociological Bulletin . 65 (3): 317–338. doi : 10.1177/0038022920160302 . ISSN 0038-0229 . S2CID 158426264 . ^ "Caste and the Power Elite in Allahabad" . Economic and Political Weekly . 50 (6): 7–8. 2015-06-05. ^ Shibu Thomas (Dec 19, 2009). "woman: HC to decide woman's caste abuse case against husband | Mumbai News - Times of India" . The Times of India . Retrieved 2021-04-02 . ^ "Kayasth" . Merriam Webster . Retrieved 28 June 2021 . ^ "Saxena Name Meaning & Saxena Family History" . www.ancestry.com . Retrieved 20 March 2023 . [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with
1457-908: The army”. Notables [ edit ] Abha Saxena , the Coordinator of the Global Health Ethics Unit of the WHO in Geneva Abhishek Saxena , Indian Bollywood and Punjabi film director Anuraag Saxena , Indian activist, commentator and founder of the India Pride Project Anuj Saxena (born 1967), Indian producer Arvind Saxena (born 1955), Indian chairman of the Union Public Service Commission Ashutosh Saxena , Indian-American computer scientist and entrepreneur Avadh Saxena ,
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1504-699: The best supporting actors in Bollywood. He played the role of Kichaka in the television serial Mahabharat . He is well known for his role of Daaga in the Hindi movie, Mr. India and Totla Seth in the popular comedy movie Phir Hera Pheri . He was also nominated for Filmfare Best Villain Award for Ghulam (1998). Sharat Saxena was born on 17 August 1950 in Satna , Madhya Pradesh . He spent most of his childhood in Bhopal. He
1551-541: The book of the men of the pen of Hindustan". Emperor Akbar's finance minister, Raja Todar Mal (born in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh ), is often referred to as a Kayastha. In fact, it was under Akbar's reign and Todar Mal's encouragement that most Kayasthas learnt Persian and were appointed as qanungos in the first place . As their participation in Indo-Persian cultural forms grew, so did their interactions with Muslims , and
1598-419: The chief shagird ( transl. "disciple" ) of Mirza Ghalib . They also remained largely reluctant and rarely converted to Islam which, according to H. Bellenoit, limited their "administrative worth". Those who did convert maintained traditions of accountancy and paper-management, and are known as Muslim Kayasthas , a numerically small community of northern India. The Kayastha's association with
1645-565: The circulation of the Hindustan Review and Kayastha Samachar was the largest of any Indian monthly. In the 1880s, Allan Octavian Hume called for the colonial government to: tax the... Kayasths... who, while growing rich by the pen, oust their betters from their ancestral holdings, and then are too great cowards to wield a sword either to protect their own acquisitions or to aid the Government which has fostered their success. As part of
1692-443: The colonial rule, many Kayastha families became early beneficiaries of the British power and success in the subcontinent. In 1919, Kayasthas accounted for two-thirds of all Indian Government law members across north India, with most of them in the United Provinces . According to Merriam-Webster , the word Kāyastha is probably formed from the Sanskrit kāya (body), and the suffix -stha (standing, being in). The suffix vanshi
1739-466: The country's wealth'. Kayasthas had to try and convince Muslims that they did not represent infidelity in Islam, as ulama claimed. Many Kayasthas left their sacred thread ( suta ) at home when Emperor Aurangzeb made it illegal to wear it at court. Most Kayasthas remained pragmatic and vocationally oriented towards their Persian language skills, probably with the exception of Munshi Hargopal Tufta (d. 1879),
1786-408: The early 1970s and has mainly played supporting roles. He has starred in some of the most successful films of Hindi cinema like Mr. India , Tridev , Ghayal , Khiladi , Ghulam , Gupt: The Hidden Truth , Duplicate , Soldier , Baghban , Fanaa , Krrish , Ek Hi Raasta (1993), Bajrangi Bhaijan and many more. His performances in these films have established him as one of
1833-496: The festival of Diwali . The rituals symbolise veneration towards the pen, paper, ink-pot and Chitragupta that are considered indispensable part of the Kayastha heritage. Kayasth cuisine focuses a great deal on meat – in fact, most vegetables in the Kayastha menu are prepared the same way as meat. Yet traditionally meat eating is often limited to public sphere as Kayasthas tend to consume vegetarian cuisine at home. According to
1880-518: The last completed census of India of 1931, Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas were the most literate caste group in United Provinces of Agra and Oudh . Around 70% of Kayastha males aged 7 years and over and 19% females were literate. Sharat Saxena Sharat Saxena (born 17 August 1950) is an Indian actor who appears in Hindi films along with Telugu , Malayalam and Tamil films. He has acted in more than 250 Bollywood films. Saxena started his career in
1927-573: The other hand, looked down on Kayasthas for wielding influence, labelling them "disloyal, cruel, cheats, and extortionists". According to Ayesha Jalal , unless it was a full-fledged conversion some Muslims kept Hindus 'at a figurative and literal arm's length'. One Muslim commentator noted that the Hindu pensman who spoke Persian was a 'neo-Muslim, but still retained [sic] the smell of kufr [infidelity] and discord in his heart'. The Muslim reformer Shah Waliullah once complained that 'all [of India's] accountants and clerks [are] Hindus...they control [sic]
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1974-484: The region into north Indian administration. And in this sense, Kayasthas became well-known in the colonial officialdom and it was observed that: Hindoos of the Kyut [Kayastha] caste are always to be preferred for this duty...generally speaking [they] are respectable, well-dressed and intelligent, and carry much weight with them on entering a village, assuming great consequence, and summoning the village authorities to attend with
2021-646: The region's administration. After him a number of Kayastha administrators such as Raja Jhau Lal, Raja Gulab Rai, Munshi Hardayal, Trilok Chand Bakshi, Raja Jiya Lal and several others made important contributions in administration and cultural activities of Awadh. In some areas, Kayasthas were more willing to embrace outward signs of a spiritual orientation that was almost Islamic . Many were active members of Sufi shrines and frequently attended in Shia spiritual months of Muharram and Ashura . In 1780s Lucknow , thousands of Kayastha worked as calligraphers who had mastered
2068-706: The title of Pandita for their extensive knowledge, while others, who were financially well-off, commissioned construction of temples. The earliest epigraphic mention of Chitragupta having any connection with the Chitraguptavanshi Kayasthas appears around the same period from a royal charter (dated 1115 CE ) written by a Srivastava feudatory of Govindachandra of Kannauj . Similar epigraphic records mention Mathur feudatory of Udayasimha , and members of other Kayastha branches holding important administrative positions under different mediaeval kingdoms. Kayasthas, according to Romila Thapar , had become
2115-498: The upper-bureaucracy and made highly influential urban elites under Hindu kings . They are mentioned in several Sanskrit literary, religious and epigraphical texts. Following Islamic invasions of India , they became some of the first Indian groups to learn Persian regularly and eventually became integrated into an Indo-Muslim governing community gaining hereditary control over the position of Qanungo ( transl. "Registrar" ) but rarely converting to Islam . Under
2162-521: The winner of Pantaloons Femina Miss India International 2009 title Iresh Saxena (born 1984), Bengal cricketer Jalaj Sahai Saxena (born 1986), Indian cricketer Jatin Sahay Saxena (born 1982), Indian first-class cricketer K. P. Saxena (1932-2013), Hindi satirist and writer Krishna Gopal Saxena (1912–2003), Indian homoeopathic physician Manisha Saxena (born 1993), Indian model and television actress N. C. Saxena , Indian member of
2209-415: Was more significant before the 1870s, and historically, their caste status have been ambiguous. Kayasthas of northern India regard themselves as a de facto varna that arose to keep records of the four varnas that came before them. Traditions and occupations associated with them, and their belief in the mythical roles assigned to Chitragupta , their progenitor , partly support this claim. By 1900,
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