Sahu

Sahu (or Sah, or Sahoo, or Shahu). is a surname found in India.[1]

The meaning of the term "Sahu" may change from region to region. The term generally means "businessman" or "moneylender".[2] It means "gentle" in the Jhelum region and "patient" among Jats.[1]

Usage

In India, the surname is found among Gakhars, Teli, Marwadi, Baniya, Janjuas, Jats[1] and other Rajput communities. People of Dhund, Dhanial and Satti tribes also use the surname. In Ludhiana region, it is used by Grewal Jat people. A tribe of Jats, who are an offshoot of the Sial tribe, also use this surname. In the Kabirwala region, it is used by another Jat tribe.[1]

In Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, people with Sahu surname belong to the Marwadi business class and have been categorized in the general category. Sahus of Mahakaushal area (Gondwana) are also known as Malguzar, Seth, and Pethiya.[3]

In Bihar, Jharkhand people with Sahu or Gupta surnames belongs to trading community specifically those are Sudi and Roniaur caste.[4]

The Sahu people in Maharashtra belong to the Marwari caste, and migrated from Bundelkhand mainly to the Vidarbha region. They trace their origin to Karmabai who lived in the Jagannath Temple in Puri.[2][5]

There are also people with the surname Sahu belonging to the Gupta caste in Odissa.[6] There are also some people using the surname who belong to the Chasa caste.[7]

List of people with the surname Sahu (or Sahoo)

• Batakrushna Sahoo, Indian farmer and recipient of Padma Shri in 2020 for his contribution in animal husbandry
• Chandra Sekhar Sahu (born 1950), politician and former Member of Parliament representing the Berhampur constituency of Orissa, India
• Chandu Lal Sahu, politician and Member of parliament, Lok Sabha representing Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh
• Gazi Saiyyed Salar Sahu (c. 11th century), a commander in the army of Mahmud of Ghazni
• Kanak Manjari Sahoo (born 1957), writer and translator from Odisha, India
• Kishore Sahu (1915–1980), film actor and director from Madhya Pradesh, India
• Laxminarayan Sahu (1890–1963), writer and politician from Odisha, India
• Nandini Sahu (born 1973), writer and critic in English literature from Odisha, India
• Nattal Sahu (c. 1132), merchant prince who lived during the reign of the Tomara kings near Delhi
• Pardeep Sahu (born 1985), cricketer, Haryana & Kings XI Punjab
• Sarojini Sahoo (born 1956), Feminist writer and a columnist in The New Indian Express, from Odisha, India.
• Sudarshan Sahoo (born 1939), sculptor from Odisha, India
• Sunil Sahu, professor in the Department of Political Science at the DePauw University
• Supriya Sahu (born 1968) Indian Administrative Service, Director General, Doordarshan, President, Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
• Tarachand Sahu (1947–2012), politician from Chhattisgarh, India
• Tamradhwaj Sahu (born 1949), politician and former member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India, representing Durg Chhattisgarh

See also

• Shah
• Ghanchi
• Sahu Jats
• Sahu Jain Family

References

1. Ibbetson; Maclagan (1 December 1996). Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province. Asian Educational Services. p. 345. ISBN 978-81-206-0505-3.
2. B. V. Bhanu (2004). People of India: Maharashtra. Popular Prakashan. p. 1813. ISBN 978-81-7991-102-0. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
3. "Central List of OBCs. State : Gujarat". National Commission for Backward Classes. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
4. "Central List of OBCs. State: Bihar".
5. "Central List of OBCs. State: Maharashtra". National Commission for Backward Classes. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
6. "Central List of OBCs. State: Odisha". National Commission for Backward Classes. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
7. Census of India, 1961: Orissa. Office of the Registrar General. 1961. Retrieved 30 March 2014. The people belonging to Chasa caste are divided into two sub-groups, i.e., Bisi and Sahu.