Dhar (surname)

This article discusses Dhar, the Kashmiri caste. For the Indian city, see Dhar.

Dhar (Kashmiri: धर (Devanagari), دھر (Nastaleeq)), also spelled Dar (Kashmiri: दर (Devanagari), در (Nastaleeq)), is a Kashmiri surname (kram), of Brahmin origin, found among individuals native to the Kashmir Valley of India,^[1] as well as Kashmiri émigrés who have migrated to the Punjab,^[2][3] a region divided between India and neighbouring Pakistan.^[4] The caste name is shared among both Hindus and Muslims.^{[5][6][7][8][9]} The Dhar kram originates from the honorific given to a village head, strongman or a warlord of a jagir.^[10][11][12] This honorific was prevalent during 12 century AD (Jaisimha) and remained in vogue up until the 14th century AD.^[10] In antiquity, many Dhars migrated to Gauda, and a large amount later returned to the Kashmir Valley.^[13] Nevertheless, to this day, there are many Dhars who are found in that region of Bengal.^[14]

Notable Dhars

• Aleem Dar
• Aneek Dhar, Indian singer
• Anuj Dhar
• Asif Dar
• Birbal Dhar, leader of Kashmiri resistance to Afghan rule
• Divya Dhar
• Durga Prasad Dhar, ambassador of India to the Soviet Union
• Haroon Rasheed, former Pakistani test cricketer and manager
• Ishaq Dar
• Mirza Pandit Dhar
• Muhammad Ahsan Dar, founder & former Hizbul Mujahideen commander
• Munir Ahmed Dar (disambiguation)
• P. N. Dhar, Principal Secretary to Indira Gandhi
• Sheila Dhar, famous Kashmiri Indian author and singer
• Ratan Nath Dhar Sarshar, Urdu novelist
• Rumeli Dhar, Indian cricket player

References

1. ^ Explore Kashmiri Pandits. Dharma Publications. http://books.google.com/books?id=zsoC6GWr47QC&pg=PA99&dq=bhat+butt+name+kashmir&hl=en&ei=JdEbTaLcOsqkngfx4f2aDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2010-12-02. 
2. ^ A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province. Nirmal Publishers and Distributors. http://books.google.com/books?id=LPsvytmN3mUC&pg=PA479&dq=malik+kashmir+caste&hl=en&ei=OPjxTISOA4GC8gb92eThDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCIQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=malik%20kashmir%20caste&f=false. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "The most important Kashmiri element in the Punjab is found in the cities of Ludhiana and Amritsar, which still contain large colonies of weavers, employed in weaving carpets and finer fabrics." 
3. ^ Kashmiris’ contribution to Ludhianvi culture. The Tribune. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030724/ldh1.htm. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "In fact, the Ludhiana hosiery industry owes its origin to Kashmiris. According to the Ludhiana District Gazetteer, during a devastating famine in the 19th century a number of Kashmiris migrated to Ludhiana. They are known world over for their handicraft skills. They started weaving woollen fabric here. Slowly the trade got popular and Ludhiana started to be identified with hosiery only." 
4. ^ P.D.B.J. Meerbach. Relating Farmers' Practices to Cotton Yields in the South-Punjab, Pakistan. Department of Irrigation and Soil and Water Conservation, Wageningen Agricultural University. http://books.google.com/books?id=V9WUMuSdlh4C&pg=PA1&dq=punjab+divided+india+pakistan&hl=en&ei=4bMdTei4IZXqnQfH8Kj-DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFAQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=punjab%20divided%20india%20pakistan&f=false. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "With the inception of Pakistan, the Punjab has been divided into two parts: west Punjab (Pakistan) and east Punjab (India)." 
5. ^ D. D. (Dhruv Dev). Sharma. Panorama of Indian Anthroponomy: An Historical, Socio-Cultural and Linguistic Analysis of Indian Personal Names. Mittal Publication. http://books.google.com/books?id=_5UW9Krt_NEC&pg=PA11&dq=Kashmiri+Surnames+Dar&hl=en&ei=cKYfTZCnLMiinQf-t_TyDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDoQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "Similar is the case of Hindus and Christians in Kerala, eg (Krisna Panikkar; George Panikkar), and Hindus and Muslims in Kashmir or Hindus and Sikhs in Punjab who have many common surnames, eg (Kashmir) : Bhat, Dar, Malik, Rana, Pandit (Saleem Pandit), etc. and (Punjab): Arora, Bedi, Kapoor, Bjaj, Sahney, Maini, Ahloowalia, etc. In such cases reference to a person by his surname, as Mr. Bhat or Mr. Arora does not indicate whether the person under reference is a Hindu, a Muslim or a Sikh." 
6. ^ Arjun Ray. Kashmir diary: psychology of militancy. Manas Publications. http://books.google.com/books?id=8UhuAAAAMAAJ&q=Kashmiri+Surnames+Dar&dq=Kashmiri+Surnames+Dar&hl=en&ei=cKYfTZCnLMiinQf-t_TyDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEYQ6AEwBg. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "This is peculiar to Kashmir only. • Hindu surnames like Dar, Rishi, Pandit, ..." 
7. ^ William M. Clements. The Greenwood Encyclopedia of World Folklore and Folklife: Southeast Asia and India, Central and East Asia, Middle East. Greenwood Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZvrWAAAAMAAJ&q=Kashmiri+Surnames+Dar&dq=Kashmiri+Surnames+Dar&hl=en&ei=P6kfTZLWDovJnAe_xI3ZDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCsQ6AEwATgK. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "The Kashmiri population consists of Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and others. Hindus, popularly known as Pandits and considered the purest specimens of the ancient Aryan ... A variety of Hindu surnames such as Dar, Bhatt, Handoo, Kachru, ..." 
8. ^ Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute, Volumes 62-63. Dr. A. M. Ghatage. http://books.google.com/books?id=IBJuAAAAMAAJ&q=Kashmiri+Surnames+Dar&dq=Kashmiri+Surnames+Dar&hl=en&ei=P6kfTZLWDovJnAe_xI3ZDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCTgK. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "Hence Kashmiri speech community can be viewed as the population united by sharing social norms; acquire Kashmiri as their native language; and use Kashmiri language to meet ... The surnames like Bhat, Pandit, Munshi, Dhar, Dar, Handoo, ..." 
9. ^ Saligram Bhatt, Jānakīnātha Kaula. Kashmiri Pandits, a cultural heritage. Lancer Book. http://books.google.com/books?id=IBJuAAAAMAAJ&q=Kashmiri+Surnames+Dar&dq=Kashmiri+Surnames+Dar&hl=en&ei=P6kfTZLWDovJnAe_xI3ZDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFEQ6AEwCTgK. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "Incidentally it may be stated that many Kashmiri Muslims still have the surnames of the pandits, like Kaul, Bhatt, Pandit, Dar, etc. With the accession to throne of Hari Singh in 1925, the State was given a 'new look'." 
10. ^ ^{a b} Saligram Bhatt. Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace. A.P.H. Publishing Corporation. http://books.google.com/books?id=It1LePnN2LsC&pg=PA134&dq=surname+Dhar+Kashmiri&hl=en&ei=wLIdTdHDL9CSnweG__W4Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "The genesis in outline is that Dhar was the honorific given to a village head, strongman or a warlord of smaller jagir/estate; called Dara pronounced as Dhara. This honorific was prevalent during 12 Century {Jaisimha} and continue to be used till about 14th Century." 
11. ^ Kumar Suresh Singh, Tapash Kumar Ghosh, Surendra Nath. People of India: Delhi. Anthropological Survey of India. http://books.google.com/books?id=0BFuAAAAMAAJ&q=surname+Dhar+Kashmiri&dq=surname+Dhar+Kashmiri&hl=en&ei=KKQfTZmKE8r_nAfutITpDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCYQ6AEwADgU. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "Some of their surnames are derived from location, occupation, tide, status, family history and so. These are Kaul, Dhar, ..." 
12. ^ Barbara Anne Brower, Barbara Rose Johnston. Disappearing peoples?: indigenous groups and ethnic minorities in South and Central Asia. Left Coast Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=jcXYAAAAMAAJ&q=surname+Dhar+Kashmiri&dq=surname+Dhar+Kashmiri&hl=en&ei=0qQfTZ-1NqDtnQffzMSJDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCcQ6AEwADge. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "Their surnames (kram) designate their original professions or their ancestors' nicknames (eg, Hakim, Kaul, Dhar, Raina, ..." 
13. ^ Saligram Bhatt. Kashmiri Scholars Contribution to Knowledge and World Peace. A.P.H. Publishing Corporation. http://books.google.com/books?id=It1LePnN2LsC&pg=PA134&dq=surname+Dhar+Kashmiri&hl=en&ei=wLIdTdHDL9CSnweG__W4Dg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "Dhar's were those who migrated to Gauda {Bengal} and retained their Dhar surname once they returned to the valley." 
14. ^ Jogendra Nath Bhattacharya. Hindu Castes and Sects: An Exposition of the Origin of the Hindu Caste System and the Bearing of the Sects Towards Each Other and Towards Other Religious Systems. Nabu Press. http://books.google.com/books?id=xlpLAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA575&dq=surname+Dhar+Kashmiri&hl=en&ei=-LIdTZvcL5KjnQez8LnyDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CD8Q6AEwBjge#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2007–03–25. "Dhar–A Surname–1. (1) Of the inferior Dakshin Rarhi Kayasthas of Bengal–179. (2) Of the inferior Bangaja Kayasthas of East Bengal–184. (3) Of the inferior Barendra Kayasthas of North bengal–184. (4) Of the Sonar Baniyas of Bengal–200." 

External links

• Kashmiri Dhar Dynasty: family tree of Shri Meeru Pandit Dhar, the oldest known Kashmiri Dhar