Sethi

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Sethi is a common surname among Punjabi Hindus and Sikhs now living in India as well as Pakistan.

[edit] Etymology

In Hindi language, Seth means merchant or rich man, Sethi was derived from Seth. Sethis are believed to be one of the bravest clans of the Khatris. For the most part, Sethis have been in the civil, government, and military administration roles for centuries. They have expanded into trade and mercantile businesses.

[edit] Origin

Sethis are Kukhran Khatris, a regional sub caste of Khatris of ten clans of Punjab, originally from the town of Bhera in the Jech doab (Jhelum - Chenab interfluve) region of Sargodha district of Pakistani Punjab. In keeping with Khatri-like traditions, Bhera was an important trading outpost on the road to Kabul, and a 'taksal' (mint) during the reign of Ranjit Singh.

Sethis are Indo-Aryan peoples and have originally followed Hinduism, however a significant number adapted Sikhism during the 18th and 19th centuries. This, and also because many Hindu Sethi families, as well as other Khatri and Khatri-like clans, raised at least one Sikh son after the formation of the Khalsa in 1699, resulted in Kukhran family names, as well as other Khatri-like clan names, being present in both Hindu and Sikh communities worldwide.

Some of Sethi's or Sethi family are also living in Peshawar, a capital city of NWFP(North West Frontier) province of Pakistan. There is a famous area (colony) called "Mohalah Sethiyhan", famous for sethi families living there.

[edit] Religion

Indian Sethis are mostly Hindu and Sikhs whereas in Pakistan they are mostly Muslims.

Hindu 55%, Sikh 40%, Muslim 5%

[edit] Notable Sethis

• Simran Sethi (born October 12, 1970, in Munich, Germany) is an American journalist, television producer and activist.
• Geet Sethi (born April 17, 1961) is an Indian billiards player who dominated the sport of billiards throughout much of the 1990s.
• Gorav Sethi is a well known Irish-Indian Investment Banker famous for creating the Jockie cult of 2003.
• Jagdish Sethi is an Indian actor. He has starred in more than 50 films.
• Najam Sethi, a Pakistani journalist, editor, and media personality, is the editor-in-chief of The Friday Times
• Parmeet Sethi is a well known Indian TV Actor. He performed in some Bollywood movies including Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.
• Pramod Karan Sethi (23 November 1927 – 5 January 2008) was the coinventor of the Jaipur foot
• Parender Sethi is a notable Indian Palmist, Astrologer and Scholar who has contributed significantly to the science of Palmistry
• Rajendra Sethi is an Indian Bollywood actor who appears in Bollywood films.
• Ravi Sethi (born 1947) is an Indian computer scientist retired from Bell Labs and now president of Avaya Labs Research. He is best known as one of three authors of the classic computer science textbook Compilers: Principles, Techniques and Tools, also known as the Dragon Book.