Deshpande

Deshpande (Marathi: देशपांडे)(Kannada: ದೇಶಪಾಂಡೆ)is one of the most famous Brahmin surnames in the state of Maharashtra and North Karnataka, . Deshpande was the revenue post created by the King Krishnadevrai of Devgiri (Daulatabad). One Deshpande used to be appointed superior to about 10 Pandes. More than 96% of Deshpandes belong to the Deshastha Brahmin community.^{[citation needed]} Some Goud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB), Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP), Smarth Brahmin families also have this surname.

Meaning

Deshpande derives from the Marathi title dešpande,^[1][2] or "district accountant". Dešpande was formerly a hereditary office^[3], and is ultimately derived from the Sanskrit terms deśa ("country", or "district") and pandita ("learned man").

Prominent Deshpandes

• Baji Prabhu Deshpande, a 17th century lieutenant of Shivaji
• Chimanaji Deshpande, a 17th century military general
• Murarbaji Deshpande, a 17th century military general
• Gangadharrao Deshpande, Lion of Karnataka
• Nirmala Deshpande, a Padmashri award winner (2005)
• P. L. Deshpande (known as PuLa); Marathi writer, playwright, actor, and song-writer
• Vasantrao Deshpande - a Hindustani classical and Natya Sangeet singer.
• Gururaj Deshpande, an Indian American businessman and co-founder and chairman of Sycamore Networks and chairman of A123 Systems
• Nikita Deshpande; a 21st Century classical dancer and poet of Maharashtran art. Also has recently made many screenplays involving a collection of Bolly and Holly Wood Mashes, available in 2013.
• Pratik Deshpande, CEO of Kitarp International Services, one of the world's largest international corporations.
• Rahul Deshpande, a Hindustani classical and Natya Sangeet singer

References

1. ^ [1]People of India: Maharashtra, Volume 3 By Kumar Suresh Singh, B. V. Bhanu, Anthropological Survey of India
2. ^ [2]Gandhi's Tiger and Sita's smile: essays on gender, sexuality, and culture By Ruth Vanita
3. ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency ...: Volume 20, 1884