Gupta
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the surname Gupta. For the Gupta Empire, see Gupta Empire
Gupta (Sanskrit: Goptri meaning military governor) is one of the most common surnames in northern India. Though the Indian caste system puts the Gupta clan under the category of traders and merchants, who are also known as Vaisyas according to the Vedic varnas. Guptas are related to other bania and khatri communities like the Aggarwals. However, their significant contribution to Indian mathematics, politics, culture, astronomy and literature gives them a unique place in Indian history.
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[edit] History
The origin of the name Gupta dates back to 2000 BC. During the reign of Maharaja Agrasen, Gupta was added to the first name of military governors, a title available only to close relatives Agrasen.
[edit] Guptas today
After the Gupta community got involved in trading activities and increasingly merged itself with the bania communities. As a consequence, the legacy, political and cultural influence of the Guptas gradually declined while their economic influence increased. Along with the Aggarwals, they formed the bulk of India's merchant community, driving the region's economy. Today, most of the Guptas are well educated and form an integral part of the Indian upper- and middle-class society. Some of the richest Indians, like Lakshmi Mittal (Mittal Steel), Sunil Mittal (Bharti Telecom), Naresh Goyal (Jet Airways) and Sajjan Jindal (Jindal Steel) belong to the Gupta/Bania community.
Hinduism is practised by 99% of Guptaas. Guptas are scattered throughout northern India, especially in Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh. Hindi and its dialects are spoken by the majority of Guptas. Some Guptas, especially those settled in Punjab and Haryana mainly speak Punjabi.
[edit] List of Notable Guptas
- Includes those belonging to closely related bania communities.
- Ancient India
- 20th century onwards
- Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, India's richest man and chairman of world's largest steel company, Arcelor-Mittal
- Sunil Mittal, chairman of India's largest cellular operator, Bharti Airtel
- Naresh Goyal, chairman of India's largest private airliner, Jet Airways
- Sajjan Jindal, CEO of Jindal Steel
- M K Das Gupta, Bengali scientist
- Anil Gupta, British writer and producer
- S. P. Gupta, Indian archaeologist and art historian
- Rajat Gupta, UN special advisor on management reforms
- Dr. Sanjay Gupta, American neurosurgeon and CNN senior medical correspondent
