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William Shakespeare might have asked. Lots, as one discovers while journeying with Rajesh Bhat to the fascinating world of Kashmiri surnames
William Shakespeare might have wondered, “What is in a name?” since “a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But for any Kashmiri, be a Hindu or a Muslim, it makes a world of difference. In fact, his surname has more relevance than his first name. It reveals his whole identity -his origin, roots and the profession of his forefathers. It even reminds him how witty his forefathers were. So quoting Shakespeare in this context to a Kashmiri is almost like challenging his existence.
Interestingly, most of the Kashmiri surnames are based on nicknames, identifying the community with birds, animals, vegetables, fruits or the menial jobs the forefathers were doing during Pathan or Sikh rule. Most of these surnames are shared by both Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims and at times it’s difficult for a non-Kashmiri to identify a Kashmiri’s religion on the basis of his surname.
Love of nicknames is mixed in the blood of Kashmiris. They have nurtured this art for generations together. They give it spontaneously and make full use of ordinary events, actions, habits and even physical features of persons to coin new nicknames which later become surnames and even enter into the revenue records. Pandit Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, the most authentic written document on Kashmir’s history, is full of references of nicknames. Shalok I6I of Sixth Taranga uses the word Kankanavarsa, which is a nickname given to a person.
Pandit Anand Koul, a great Kashmiri historian, has quoted a classic example of resistance shown against a nickname by a poor Kashmiri Pandit whose name was 'Vasadev'. He had a mulberry tree in his courtyard, and was, therefore, called Vasadev Tul, Tul being the Kashmiri name of mulberry. In order to get rid of this nickname he cut down the mulberry tree. But a mond (trunk) remained and he was called, ' Vasadev Mond'. Irritated, Pandit immediately removed the trunk; and a khud (hollow) was caused and henceforth he was known as 'Vasadev Khud'. Continuing his battle against nickname givers, he got the hollow space filled up and the ground became a teng (a little elevated). Thus he was re-nicknamed as 'Vasadev Teng'. At last, he had to give in gracefully and accepted his latest nickname, which then became a family name for his progeny. Surnames like Tul, Khud, and Teng are still in use with certain changes in the spellings.
Kashmiri's never forget a nickname once coined for a particular person, even if he makes all the amends in his behaviour,. A gentleman known by the name of Karim was once found moving bare-footed on the street. He was instantly called 'Karim Nanvor' (i.e. Karim the bare-footed). He is reported to have later put on fashionable shoes but people would still whisper, "Look! What beautiful shoes 'Karim Nanvor' has put on!”
Apart from nicknames that later became surnames, most of the present day Kashmiri surnames are linked to the profession or occupation of their forefathers. Aram (vegetable grower), Kral (potter), Gooru (Milk seller), Hakim (physician), Waza (cook), Bazaz (Cloth Merchant) are some of the surnames that tell about the profession of older generation of Kashmiris.
There are even surnames originating in animal names. For example, Hangloo ( Stag), Khar ( Ass), Braroo ( Cat), Kantroo ( male sparrow) ,Kakroo ( Cock), Kaw (Crow), Bambroo ( black bee), Kotru (Pigeon), Dand (Bull), Hoon ( Dog), Yechh (Yeti), Kukiloo ( Koel) etc. These surnames have been attached to a Kashmiri because of the appearance of some of their ancestors with that particular animal or a bird and hence the surname. Well-known personalities like Gen P N Hoon, former senior bureaucrat M K Kaw or journalist M L Kotru display surnames that show that even present day Kashmiris carry on associations with `dog’ , `crow’ or `pigeon’ that began in the remote past.
Not only animals, even vegetables and fruits contribute to forming surnames like Mujoos (radish), Bamchoots (quince) Hakh (a long green-leafed vegetable).
There is another brand of Kashmiri surnames associated with ancestral villages or places where their forefathers came from. Sopori, Nehru, Lidhoo,, Hangloo, Ishbari or Kadalbujoo are a few of them. Jawahar Lal Nehru’s family had migrated to Uttar Pradesh but they continued with the surname Nehru ( a person who lives by the side of a canal). Nehru was basically a Koul but his forefathers once lived by the side of a canal, hence this nickname. This gets mention in Nehru’s autobiography. Similarly Pandit Bhajan Sopori, a Santoor maestro, finds his roots linked to his ancestral home-town of Sopore in North Kashmir. Same holds true for Lidhoo (belonging to village Ladhoo) or Hangloo of Hangalgund in South Kashmir.
Kashmiri surnames are also named after stone and metal pots. Wakhulu (a flat bottomed stone mortar), Grata ( Chakki) , Lej ( an earthen pot) or Gadwa ( a metallic pot) are typical surnames that literary take us to stone or metallic age.
And hold on. If any Kashmiri’s ancestor had a deformity, it also carried through to the future generation. Karihaloo ( a person with a bend in the neck), Kaboo ( a hunch in the back), Kissu ( a person appearing like a little finger ),Kharoo ( a bald man), Zaroo ( a deaf man), Tut ( a man with the long chin) , Kaloo ( a dumb man) Mushraan (a person with an extra-ordinary physique or temperament) or Dev ( an imaginary being) are typical surnames still in practice and use. Vivek Mushraan of Bollywood reminds his forefathers might have been holding extra-ordinary physique and hence Mushraan!
There are number of Kashmiri surnames that are based on individual’s moods the forefathers of the particular family must had nourished or lived with. Hakhoo in Kashmiri means a person who is dry, while as Trakroo means who is very hot tempered.
Pir, Sadhu, Rishi, Walis and Sahib are few other typical Kashmiri surnames which have religious connotation. Sahib is an honorific. Some elderly Pandit who had attained highest stage of spiritual perfection or was well-versed in the religious scripture was called as Sahib out of reverence. Pir Pandit Padshah, during the reign of Shah Jahan was a famous saint of Kashmir. His miracles and spiritual attainments attracted people from different walks of life. His disciples, both Hindus and Muslims, are still known as Pir .
There is another distinction in Kashmiri surnames. A Rishi or a Pandit by surname can be a Muslim too. It is also interesting that a Peer or Khan can also be a Hindu.
Similarly, Dhar or Dar, Bhat, Kaul, Akhoon, Chakoo, Durrani, Kachroo, Draboo, Kaloo, Kanna, Kaw, Khar, Khuda, Kitchloo, Munshi, Machama,Mirza, Padar, Parimoo, Pandit, Peer, Raina and, Rishi are few typical surnames that are used by both Hindus and Muslims of Kashmir.
So next time when you meet a Kashmiri, probe a little and you are sure to find an interesting story linked to his or her surname. Shakespeare would have perhaps paused a bit before penning the next line after such an encounter.
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