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Chowdhury

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Chowdhury
Pronunciationchow-dhuree
chaw-dree
chow-dree
Origin
Word/nameIndo Aryan
MeaningHolder of four; four-way duties; four responsibilities
Region of originIndian subcontinent
Other names
Variant form(s)Chaudhary, Chaudri, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chowdary, Chowdhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhuri, Chaudhari, Chudhry, Choudhari, Choudhury, Chowdhuri, Chowduri, Chaudhurani, Choudhurani, Chowdhurani, Chowdhrani, Choudhrani, Chaudhrani.

Chowdhury is a surname and hereditary title of sanskrit origin. "Chowdhury" is a term adopted from the Sanskrit word caturdhara, literally "holder of four" (four denoting a measure of land, from chatur ("four") and dhara ("holder" or "possessor")). Only brahmins, kayasthas and kshatriyas who were also bhumipatis were granted this surname. Muslims who have converted from Hinduism and were Brahmin, Kayastha and Kshatriya by caste belonging from the royal bloodline of bhumipatis also use this surname post-conversion to Islam. It means the "holder of four". During British rule in the Indian subcontinent, the bhumipatis were converted into zamindars; the common female equivalent was Chowdhurani.[1] Many landlords under the Permanent Settlement carried this surname. Land reforms after the partition of India abolished the permanent settlement. In modern times, the term is a common South Asian surname for both males and females.

Meaning and significance

"Chowdhury" is a term adapted from the Sanskrit word caturdhara, literally "holder of four" (four denoting a measure of land, from chatur ("four") and dhara ("holder" or "possessor")).[2] The name is an ancient sanskrit term denoting bhumipati.[3] It was a title awarded to people of royal bloodline, who belonged to Brahmin, Kayastha and Kshatriya caste only of the Hindu religion. It was also used by muslims who converted from hinduism during the Mughal-era and were bhumipatis. It was originally granted as a title to the hindu maharajas of brahmin, kayastha and kshatriya caste only during the pre-mughal era.[4] These people were given the role of zamindars during the British-era.[5]

Regional

In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the titular Hindu Maharajas of the Bohmong Circle and Mong Circle have the surname Chowdhury.[6][7][8][9]

The Bengali Muslim Mirashdars[note 1] living in the former Kachari Kingdom were given this title during the pre-mughal era when they were Hindu by religion and belonged to Brahmin, Kayastha and Kshatriya caste only, also belonging from the royal bloodline of bhumipatis. This title in modern-day acts as a surname for them.[11]

In Bihar, the Pasi community adopt the Chaudhary surname to hide their Shudra caste and traditionally were connected with toddy tapping.[12]

Alternate spellings

Its alternate spellings include: Chaudhary, Chaudri, Choudhary, Chaudhry, Chowdary, Chowdhary, Chaudry, Choudary, Choudhry, Chaudhuri, Chaudhari, Chudhry, Choudhari, Choudhury, Chowdhuri and Chowdury.[4] The female equivalent is Chaudhurani and alternate spellings include: Choudhurani, Chowdhurani, Chowdhrani, Choudhrani, Chaudhrani.

Notable people

Faizunnesa Choudhurani
Choudhry Rahmat Ali
Sophie Choudry
Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri
Chanchal Chowdhury
Rezwana Choudhury Bannya

Bangladesh

India

Nepal

Fiji

Pakistan

United Kingdom

United States

Chaudhurani

Notes

  1. ^ Mirashdar is a term referring to a landowner who pays taxes directly to the government. They were converted from Hinduism to Islam. [10]

References

  1. ^ "::: Star Weekend Magazine :::". archive.thedailystar.net.
  2. ^ "Chaudhury Name Meaning & Chaudhury Family History at Ancestry.com®". www.ancestry.com.
  3. ^ Campbell, Mike. "User-submitted surname Choudhry". Behind the Name. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  4. ^ a b Patrick Hanks, Richard Coates, Peter McClure (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press. p. 501. ISBN 9780192527479.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ The Journal of the Anthropological Survey of India, Volume 51. Anthropology Survey of India. 2002. p. 204.
  6. ^ "InsideStoryEventsMaster - Raj Punyah Ceremony Held Both in Bandarban..." ext.bd.undp.org.
  7. ^ "Saching Prue new Mong King". The Daily Star. 18 January 2009.
  8. ^ "Feature: 'Kingdom' system in Bangladesh's Chittagong Hill Tracts still in force - People's Daily Online". en.people.cn.
  9. ^ "UNPO: Chittagong Hill Tracts: Stalemate For Land Commission". unpo.org.
  10. ^ Laskar, Nitish Ranjan (1985). Mahishya Das of Cachar and their Social Background. Proceedings of North East India History Association. North East India History Association. p. 456.
  11. ^ E M Lewis (1868). "Cachar District: Statement No. XVIII: Glossary of Local Terms". Principal Heads of the History and Statistics of the Dacca Division. Calcutta: Calcutta Central Press Company. pp. 406–408.
  12. ^ People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 759 to 765 Seagull Books
  13. ^ Ahuja, M. L. (2000). Handbook of General Elections and Electoral Reforms in India, 1952-1999. Mittal Publications. pp. 302, 340. ISBN 9788170997665.
  14. ^ "Pakistani Leaders Online". Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  15. ^ Hossain, Anowar (2003). Muslim women's struggle for freedom in colonial Bengal: (1873-1940). Progressive Publishers. p. 266. ISBN 9788180640308.
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