List of Kashmiri people

This is an incomplete list of notable persons of Kashmiri origin. Those who specifically identify as Kashmiri Pandits are shown in List of Kashmiri Pandits.

Activists

• Parveena Ahanger Cofounder and chairman of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.

Administrators, diplomats, bankers and jurists

• Amitabh Mattoo^[1] (1962– ), Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, Noted thinker & writer, Padma Shri awardee
• Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad Prime Minister Jammu and Kashmir state 1953 to 1964.
• Birbal Dhar (early 19th century), invited Maharaja Ranjit Singh to Kashmir
• Braj Kumar Nehru (1909–2001), ambassador of India to the United States (1961–1968) and Governor of Assam (1968–1973)
• Durga Prasad Dhar (1918–1975), ambassador of India to the Soviet Union, and politician
• Farah Pandith (1969– ), U.S. State Department Special Representative
• Farooq Abdullah, Former Cabinet Minister and Former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir
• M. L. Madan, Veterinarian, Scientist, Administrator. Vice Chancellor (Akola and Mathura Universities); Deputy Director General (DDG)- Animal Sciences, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR); Joint Director, National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI). Creator of World's First IVF Buffalo Calf.
• Mehraj Mattoo (1961– ), Global Head, Commerzbank AG, London
• Mirza Pandit Dhar, prominent Kashmiri during the rule of Azim Khan^[2]
• Mohan Lal (1812–1877), diplomat in the First Anglo-Afghan War, and writer
• Munir Butt (1940– ), former British diplomat
• Neel Kashkari (1973– ), Interim Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability in the United States Department of the Treasury
• Omar Abdullah, Former Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir
• P. K. Kaul (1929-2007), ambassador of India to the United States (1986–1989)
• Purushottam Narayan Haksar (1913–1998),^[3] political strategist
• Rameshwar Nath Kao (1918–2002), first chief of the Research and Analysis Wing,^[4] India's intelligence agency (from 1969–1977)
• Sheikh Abdullah (5 December 1905 – 8 September 1982), was the leader of the National Conference, and one of the most important political figures in the modern history of Jammu and Kashmir. He was the Prime Minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir after its controversial accession to India in 1947.
• T.N. Kaul (1913–2000), ambassador of India to USA (1973–1976),^[5] Soviet Union & Iran. Foreign Secretary, Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
• Tej Bahadur Sapru (1875–1949), lawyer, political and social leader during the British Raj
• Triloki Nath Khoshoo (1927–2002), secretary of the Department of Environment in the Indira Gandhi Government, and environmentalist
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900–1990), ambassador of India to the United States (1949–1952), President of the United Nations General Assembly (1953), politician, sister of Jawaharlal Nehru^[6]

Armed forces

• Colonel Anil Kaul, VrC, Indian Army
• Brij Mohan Kaul, commanded the Indian forces in the Sino-Indian War
• Mohammed Amin Naik, Major General in the Indian Army
• Mushaf Ali Mir, Air Chief Marshal (1947–2003) was Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (2000–2003)
• S. K. Kaul (1934– ), Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force, former Chief of Air Staff (India) (1993–1995)
• Tapishwar Narain Raina (1921–1980), Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army (1975–1978)
• Tahir Rafique Butt, Air Chief Marshal is the current Chief of the Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force (2012 -)

Authors and poets

• Agha Shahid Ali,(1949-2001) Internationally acclaimed Poet
• Abdul Ahad Azad,prominent Kashmiri poet
• Amin Kamil (1924-2014), Kashmiri poet & short story writer
• Basharat Peer (1977– ), author
• Chandrakanta (1938– ), novelist and short story writer
• Dina Nath Walli alias Al-mast Kashmiri (1908–2006), poet as well as renowned water color artist
• Habba Khatun 16th century poet, known under the name Zoon (the Moon) because of her immense beauty
• Hari Kunzru (1969– ), British novelist of Kashmiri descent^[7]
• Khalid Hasan (1935–2009) writer, senior Pakistani journalist and diplomat.
• Krishna Hutheesing (1907–1967), author, and sister of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Manju Kak, short story writer
• Maqbool Shah Kralawari (1820–1876), lyricist
• Meeraji (1912–1949) an eminent Urdu poet, lived the life of a bohemian and worked only intermittently
• Mahmud Gami (1765–1855), composed a version of the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha
• Ghulam Ahmad (1885–1952), poet, better known by the pen name Mahjoor
• Momin Khan Momin (1800–1851) Indian poet known for his Urdu ghazals
• Moti Lal Kemmu (1933– ), playwright
• Moti Lal Saqi (1936–1999), poet, writer, folklorist and researcher
• Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938) famous Muslim poet and philosopher. Commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal
• Nyla Ali Khan, Professor, writer, granddaughter of Sheikh Abdullah.
• Nayantara Sahgal (1927– ), Indo-Anglian writer, novelist
• Rehman Rahi, Kashmiri poet
• Rasul Mir, also known as the John Keats of Kashmir.
• Saadat Hasan Manto (1912–1955), famous short story writer, member Progressive Writers' Movement
• Salman Rushdie (1947– ), novelist and essayist
• Santha Rama Rau (1923– ), travel writer
• Sheikh Showkat Hussain (1954– ), author and political analyst
• Shivkumar Sharma (1938– ) Indian Santoor player, Santoor being a folk instrument from Kashmir
• S.L. Sadhu (1917–), Scholar, Professor, poet, writer, folklorist and Historian
• Pamposh Bhat, (1958– ), author and environmentalist
• Zinda Kaul (1884–1965), poet, also known as Masterji
• Hakeem Manzoor (1937–2006) a prominent Urdu writer, poet & administrator. He has written more than 15 books some of his famous books in Urdu are Na Tamaam, Barf Ruton Ki Aag and Lahu Lamas Chinar.

Philosophers and historians

• Abhinavagupta, (ca. 950–1020), one of India's greatest philosophers, mystics and aestheticians
• Ahmad Hasan Dani (1920–2009), intellectual, archaeologist, historian, linguist
• Anandavardhana (820–890), philosopher and author of the Dhvanyaloka
• Bhaskara, notable writer on the Kashmir Shaivism
• Bhatta Kallata, a notable Shaivite thinker
• Gopi Krishna (1903–1980), writer and mystic
• Jonaraja (15th century), historian and poet
• Kalhana (12th century), historian and author of Rajatarangini
• Kumarajiva (4th n 5 century CE), Buddhist scholar in China
• Kshemaraja (10th century), philosopher and a disciple of Abhinavagupta
• Lalleshwari (1320–1392), saint-poet
• Prajna Bhatta (16th century), historian
• Somananda (875–925) a teacher of Kashmir Shaivism
• Shrivara (15th century), historian
• Subhash Kak (1947– ), writer, philosopher, and computer scientist
• Utpaladeva, a teacher of Kashmir Shaivism
• Vasugupta (860–925), author of the Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta

Politicians

• Abdul Ghani Lone (1932–2002), lawyer, politician and founder of the People's Conference
• Abid Hassan Minto Pakistani lawyer and politician
• Agha Shorish Kashmiri scholar, writer, debater, and leader of the Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam, figure of the freedom movement of undivided India
• Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad (1907–1972), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1953–1963)
• Asiya Andrabi (1963), Chief Of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Prominent among Kashmiri separatist leaders
• Masarat Alam, Separatist leader
• Birbal also Maheshdas Bhat (1528–1586), was the Grand Vizier (Wazīr-e Azam) of the Mughal court in the administration of Emperor Akbar
• Birbal Dhar leader in the Kashmiri resistance to Afghan rule in the early 19th century
• Deepa Kaul (1944– ), former minister, social worker and human rights defender
• Farooq Abdullah (1936– ), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1982–1984, 1986–1990, 1996–2002), son of Sheikh Abdullah.
• Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, educator, reformer, a founder of the University of Kashmir
• Ghulam Muhammad Sadiq, Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1964–1965), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1965–1971)
• Ghulam Mohammad Shah (1920–2009)), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1984–1986)
• Ghulam Nabi Azad (1949– ), former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
• G. N. Ratanpuri (1954–), Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from J&K National Conference
• Hashim Qureshi, (1953–), Chairman Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party
• Indira Gandhi (1917–1984), Prime Minister of India, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964), first Prime Minister of independent India
• Khawaja Saad Rafique Pakistani Minister of Railways
• Khwaja Shams-ud-Din (1922–1999), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1963–1964)
• Khawaja Muhammad Asif MNA Sailkot PML-N
• Kailash Nath Katju (1887–1968), freedom fighter, Prominent lawyer, participated in INA trials, former governor, chief minister of several Indian states, cabinet minister under Jawaharlal Nehru
• Maulana Mazhar Ali Azhar (1895–1974) one of founders, leader of Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam, political figure in the history of Sub-Continent
• Mehbooba Mufti (1959– ), female politician, member of the 14th Lok Sabha
• Maqbool Butt (1938–1984), co-founder of the JKLF Party
• Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq (d. 1990), chairman of the Aawami Action Committee
• Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, (1929– ), former governor of Bihar and of Madhya Pradesh, State Railway Minister
• Motilal Nehru (1861–1931), Indian independence activist, president of the Indian National Congress
• Muhammad Farooq Rehmani (1938–), Chairman of the Peoples Freedom League, former Convener of the Hurriyat Conference
• Mufti Muhammad Sayeed (1936– 2016), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (2002–2005)
• Muzaffar Baig (1946– ), Deputy Chief Minister, Finance Minister, Law Minister, Tourism Minister of Jammu & Kashmir (2002–2008)
• Nawaz Sharif (1949– ), incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Neel Kashkari (1973- ), American banker and politician
• Omar Abdullah (1970– ), former Chief Minister Jammu And Kashmir, member of the 14th Lok Sabha, son of Farooq Abdullah
• Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991), Prime Minister of India, son of Indira Gandhi, grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Ram Chandra Kak (1893–1983), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir during 1945–47 and an eminent archaeologist
• Ruhollah Khomeini, Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Mostafavi Moosavi Khomeini (1902–1989 ) First Supreme Leader of Iran, His grandfather was from Kashmir
• Saif-ud-din Soz (1937– ), long-time member of the Parliament of India, former Union Minister of Environment & Forests, former Minister of Water Resources, President JKPCC
• Saifuddin Kitchlew (1888–1963), freedom fighter and politician
• Sadiq Ali (1952– ), politician, poet, writer, and environmentalist
• Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister of Pakistan
• Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Pakistan.
• Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad Ex Federal Information Minister Pakistan
• Shabir Shah (1953– ), Founder of the Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party. Known as Nelson Mandela of Indian Administered Kashmir
• Syed Mir Qasim, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1971–1975)
• Syed Ali Shah Geelani (1929– ) Prominent figure in Jammu & Kashmir, Member Jamait-e-Islami, Founder and Chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat J&K, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference
• Sheila Kaul (1915– ), former Indian governor and cabinet minister, social reformer, and educationist
• Sheikh Abdullah (1905–1982), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1948–1953), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1975–1977, 1977–1982)
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900–1990) Indian diplomat and politician.
• Begum Akbar Jahan Abdullah, Politician, wife of Sheikh Abdullah.

Royalty

• Khwaja Abdul Ghani and his Dhaka Nawab Family reigned in Dhaka from mid 19th century to mid 20th century
• Lalitaditya Muktapida, emperor of Kashmir from the Kayastha clan (724–760)

Saints, mystics and philosophers

• Bhagwan Gopinath (1898–1968), a mystic and saint
• Lal Ded (1320–1392), a Shaivite saint
• Mian Muhammad Bakhsh (1830–1907), a Sufi saint and poet
• Rupa Bhawani (ca. 1620 – ca. 1720), a mystic from the Saahib clan of Kashmiri Pandits
• Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali (1377–1440), a famous saint who belonged to the Rishi order
• Swami Lakshman Joo (1907–1991), a scholar of Kashmir Shaivism

Scholars and educationists

• Sa'id al-Afghani (1911–1997), half-Kashmiri half-Syrian professor of Arabic
• Ahmad Hasan Dani (1920–2009), Pakistani intellectual, archaeologist, historian, and prolific linguist
• Patañjali, compiler of the Yoga Sūtras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice
• Kailas Nath Kaul (1905–1983), Indian botanist, agricultural scientist, agronomist, and educationist
• Samsar Chand Kaul (1883-1977), teacher, author and ornithologist of Kashmir
• Braj Kachru (1932– ), researcher in English linguistics
• Omkar N. Koul (1941– ), researcher in linguistics, language education, communication, and comparative literature
• Ravinder Kumar (1933–2001), historian
• Jaishree Odin, post-modern literary theorist, professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Hawaii
• Giridhari Lal Pandit, historian of science, professor of philosophy
• Lalita Pandit, poet, professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
• Muneeb Faiq, Clinical Researcher, Medical Philosopher and an expert in Glaucoma and Diabetes working at All India Institute of Medical Sciences
• Idrees ul haq^[8][9] (1988– ), Electrical engineer, young innovator, Social worker, Educationist.
• Balajinnatha Pandita (1916–2007), Sanskrit scholar, expert on Kashmir Shaivism
• Hakeem Ali Mohammad (1906–1987), Unani Medicine scholar, physician expert on Unani Medicine
• Sat Lal Razdan (1924-2009),Teacher known for his innovative way of teaching and known for teaching notable people like Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Prince Charles^[10]
• Nyla Ali Khan, Professor, writer, granddaughter of Sheikh Abdullah.

Athletes

• Suresh Raina, Indian cricketer
• Munir Dar (field hockey)
• Salman Butt former Pakistan test captain
• Vivek Razdan (1967– ), member of the Indian Cricket Team
• Asif Dar, boxer
• Mehrajuddin Wadoo (1984– ), member of the Indian national football team and East Bengal FC
• Munir Dar, Member of Pakistan National hockey Team
• Aleem Dar, International cricket empire
• The Great Gama, famous wrestler
• Haroon Rasheed Dar (1953– ), former Pakistani cricketer, remained manager Pakistan Cricket team, credited for discovery of Waqar Younis and Shahid Afridi
• Nida Dar, Pakistani cricketer
• Sana Mir (1986– ), female Pakistani cricketer and captain of the Pakistan women's team
• Abid Nabi (1985- ), once regarded as fastest bowler in India
• Parvez Rasool (1989 -) is first Kashmiri cricketer to play for India National Cricket team, India A and for Sahara Pune Pune Warriors and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League

Visual and performing artists

• Abid Kashmiri, actor
• Abhay Sopori, Indian Santoor player, composer & musician
• Anupam Kher (1955 -), actor
• Anwar Shemza (1928–1985) artist and writer in Pakistan, later in UK. Published Urdu novels and books of poetry, wrote plays performed on Radio Pakistan
• Bansi Kaul (1949 – ), theater director
• Bhajan Sopori, Indian Santoor player, awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1993 and the Padma Shri in 2004
• Ghulam Hassan Sofi (1932–2009) singer and harmonium player of traditional music of Kashmir
• Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz, proponent of Kashmiri Sufi Music
• Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, singer and composer
• Ghulam Rasool Santosh (1929–1997), painter
• Hina Khan (1986– ), actress
• Omkar Nath Dhar (Jeevan), actor
• Khawaja Khurshid Anwar (1912–1984) filmmaker, writer, director and music composer who gained extreme popularity both in India and Pakistan
• Kiran Kumar, actor
• Sandeepa Dhar, actor
• Kunal Khemu, actor
• Mani Kaul (1950–2011), Indian Film Maker,^[11] winner of Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
• Manohar Kaul (1925– ), painter
• Muzammil Ibrahim (1984– ), model, actor
• Mushtaq Kak (1961– ), theater director
• Malika Pukhraj (1912–2004), highly popular Ghazal and folk singer in Pakistan
• Mekaal Hasan (1972– ) prominent Pakistani musician and record producer, leader and composer for Mekaal Hasan Band
• Mohit Raina, Indian actor
• MC Kash Kashmiri hip hop artist
• Mohit Suri (1981– ) Indian film director, most known for his films Kalyug (2005) and Awarapan (2007)
• Nanabhai Bhatt (1915–1999) film director and producer of Bollywood and Gujarati cinema, well known for fantasy and mythological films
• Neerja Pandit, singer, Kashmiri Folk Music, Hindi Film & Television Music
• Pran Kishore, Kashmiri drama writer
• Pushkar Bhan, Padamashree, a radio actor & drama writer
• Raj Begum, singer, awarded the Padma Shri in 2002
• Raj Zutshi, Indian Bollywood & TV Actor^[12]
• Ratan Parimoo (1936– ), art historian, and painter
• Khalid Abbas Dar, artist
• Samina Peerzada (1955– ) Pakistani television & film actress, director
• Soni Razdan Indian TV actor and director, Bollywood actress^[13]
• Qazi Touqeer (1985– ), singer in Kashmiri and Hindi languages; Fame Gurukul Finalist
• Vic Sarin (1945–), is an Indian-born Canadian/American film director, producer and screenwriter.
• D.K. Sapru (1916–1979), actor
• Priti Sapru, actor
• Alla Rakha, actor
• Aamir Bashir, actor^[14]

References