Ghosh

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1 Classification of different branches of the Ghosh Family
2 Famous Ghosh

[edit] Classification of different branches of the Ghosh Family

NOTE THIS SECTION IS IN PARTICULAR NEED OF ATTENTION FROM AN EXPERT

The name Ghosh in Hinduism is a surname, and is meant to denote the caste, or sub-caste, of a person. Family histories, both oral and written, imply that the surname Ghosh in fact covers a range of different groups, with potentially different origins.

[edit] 1. Kayastha Ghosh

Many Ghoshes identify themselves as belonging to the "Kulin" Kayastha clan. Kayasthas are a sub-caste of Hindus, found across both historical and modern India. The Kayasthas emerged as a sub-caste of the Kshatriyas in Bengal during the 5th-11th centuries AD. Unlike Chitragupta Kayastha families in Northern India, Bengali Kayasthas claim their origin from King Bhadrasen and his Kshatriya subjects. Historically Bengali Kayasthas emerged as a sub-caste of Kshatriyas who started looking after administration in newly formed Kingdoms. Some of them even formed their own independent Kingdoms for example the Deva dynasty, Chandra dynasty, Shur dynasty etc. In medieval Bengal, Kayasthas were able to play a key role under Muslim rule by learning foreign languages such as Persian.

After the defeat of the Afghan Karani rulers of Bengal by the Mughals at the battle of Patna in 1576, some Kayastha warlords or zamindars played a key role in resisting further incursions into the east of India. As part of the "Baro Bhuiyan" (lit. Twelve "bhuiyan" or landowners), partially independent kayastha zamindars fought for around 50 years resisting Mughal rule.

Prominent Bara Bhuiyan who were Kayasthas included: Raja Pratapaditya, Raja Ranchandra, Raja Satrajit, Kedar Ray, Chand Ray etc. Raja Ranchandra specifically belonged to the Ghosh kulin kayastha clan.

As a sub-caste, their position in Bengal is after the Brahmins. Other common Kayastha names include Chanda, Gupta, Nag, Aditya, Nandi, Mitra, Sil, Dhar, Kar, Datta, Rakshit, Dev, Palit, Bose, and Guha. However, many people of other sub-castes also sometimes use these surnames.

In Bengal, Kayasthas form a developed and affluent class whose contributions to arts, crafts, science, literature, economics, education and social development are noteworthy. Their religious and social activities follow the regional patterns of Hindu tradition.

A characteristic of Kayastha Ghosh families is that they have regarded themselves as part of a single extended family, and have preferred not to inter-marry with other Kayastha Ghosh families. However they do often practice sub-caste endogamy, preferring to marry members of other kayastha families (Bose, Mitra, Dutta, Guha etc.).

As with most caste-based marriage traditions, these "rules" are adhered to much less strongly in modern day India, particularly in urban communities.

[edit] 2. Kshatriya Ghosh or rajput ghosh

There is a second group who identify themselves specifically as Kshatriyas. Some people of these families claim association with the Kanyakubja or Kanauj rajput who appeared in Bengal during the medieval period under Ballal Sen, who was then re-establishing a Hindu kingdom in contemporary Bengal.

Various family accounts suggest that Kshatriya Ghoshes may have at some point been warrior caste inhabitants of northern India with Kshatriya antecedents from locations such as Kashmir, Ayodhya and ancient Mithila mentioned as points of origin. It is thought that they were brought to Bengal in order to revitalize a caste structure that had been eroded under the previous Pala Empire.Many Ghoshes who claim a Kshatriya origin, come from Vikrampur, near Dhaka (the capital of modern day Bangladesh) and surrounding areas

[edit] 4. Other Ghosh surnames

Some people in Israel and Lebanon also use the surname Ghosh. However, these surnames do not have the same caste implications as in India.

[edit] 5. Alternate Spellings

The name Ghosh, is alternately spelled as "Ghose".In addition the name is occasionally used in conjunction with titles conferred by the Muslim and British rulers of Bengal such as Chowdhury, Majumdar, Roy, Taluqdar etc.