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.
• Masood Khan, Career Diplomat and President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
• Markandey Katju, (1946-), Former Judge at the Supreme Court of India
• Mehraj Mattoo (1961– ), British Investment Banker, Economist, Harvard Fellow
• 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
• 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), Leader of the National Conference, Prime Minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir after its 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]

Militants

• Burhan Wani, ex Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen
• Farooq Ahmed Dar, former Kashmiri muslim militant who claimed responsibility of killing over twenty-two people, mostly Kashmiri Pandits, during the 1990 Kashmiri Pandit genocide.^[7]
• Muhammad Ahsan Dar, founder and ex Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen
• Yasin Malik, president of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front

Armed forces

• Brij Mohan Kaul, commanded the Indian forces in the Sino-Indian War
• Colonel Anil Kaul, VrC, Indian Army
• Mahendra Nath Mulla
• 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)
• Tahir Rafique Butt, Air Chief Marshal is the current Chief of the Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force (2012 -)
• Tapishwar Narain Raina (1921–1980), Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army (1975–1978)

Authors and poets

• Abdul Ahad Azad,prominent Kashmiri poet
• Agha Shahid Ali,(1949-2001) Internationally acclaimed 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
• Ghulam Ahmad (1885–1952), poet, better known by the pen name Mahjoor
• Ghulam Nabi Firaq (1922-), A poet, writer and an educationist
• Habba Khatun 16th century poet, known under the name Zoon (the Moon) because of her immense beauty
• Hakeem Manzoor (1937–2006) a prominent Urdu writer, poet & administrator. He has written more than 15 booksincluding Na Tamaam, Barf Ruton Ki Aag and Lahu Lamas Chinar.
• Hari Kunzru (1969– ), British novelist of Kashmiri descent^[8]
• Khalid Hasan (1935–2009) writer, senior Pakistani journalist and diplomat.
• Krishna Hutheesing (1907–1967), author, and sister of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Mahmud Gami (1765–1855), composed a version of the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha
• 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
• 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 Din Fauq (1877-1945) writer and first journalist of Kashmir.
• Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938) famous Muslim poet and philosopher. Commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal
• Nayantara Sahgal (1927– ), Indo-Anglian writer, novelist
• Nyla Ali Khan, Professor, writer, granddaughter of Sheikh Abdullah.
• Pamposh Bhat, (1958– ), author and environmentalist
• Rasul Mir, also known as the John Keats of Kashmir.
• Rehman Rahi, Kashmiri poet
• S.L. Sadhu (1917–), Scholar, Professor, poet, writer, folklorist and Historian
• 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
• Zinda Kaul (1884–1965), poet, also known as Masterji

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
• Kshemaraja (10th century), philosopher and a disciple of Abhinavagupta
• Kumarajiva (4th n 5 century CE), Buddhist scholar in China
• Lalleshwari (1320–1392), saint-poet
• Prajna Bhatta (16th century), historian
• Shrivara (15th century), historian
• Somananda (875–925) a teacher of Kashmir Shaivism
• 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
• Asiya Andrabi (1963), Chief Of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Prominent among Kashmiri separatist leaders
• Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad (1907–1972), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1953–1963)
• Begum Akbar Jahan Abdullah, Politician, wife of Sheikh Abdullah
• 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.
• G. N. Ratanpuri (1954–), Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from J&K National Conference
• Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, educator, reformer, a founder of the University of Kashmir
• Ghulam Mohammad Shah (1920–2009)), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1984–1986)
• Ghulam Muhammad Sadiq, Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1964–1965), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1965–1971)
• Ghulam Nabi Azad (1949– ), former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
• Hashim Qureshi, (1953–), Chairman Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party
• Indira Gandhi (1917–1984), Prime Minister of India, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister of Pakistan
• Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964), first Prime Minister of independent India
• Kailash Nath Katju (1887–1968), freedom fighter, lawyer, participated in INA trials, former governor, chief minister of several Indian states, cabinet minister under Jawaharlal Nehru
• Khawaja Muhammad Asif MNA Sailkot PML-N
• Khawaja Saad Rafique Pakistani Minister of Railways
• Khwaja Shams-ud-Din (1922–1999), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1963–1964)
• Kiran Imran Dar,Politician and MNA Of PMLN
• Maqbool Butt (1938–1984), co-founder of the JKLF Party
• Masarat Alam, Separatist leader
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Politician, Guerilla Freedom Fighter and Former President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
• Sardar Khalid Ibrahim Khan, Politician
• Sadiq Ali (1952– ), politician, poet, writer, and environmentalist
• 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
• Shabir Shah (1953– ), Founder of the Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party. Known as Nelson Mandela of Indian Administered Kashmir
• Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad Ex Federal Information Minister Pakistan
• Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Pakistan.
• Sheikh Abdullah (1905–1982), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1948–1953), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1975–1977, 1977–1982)
• Sheila Kaul (1915– ), former Indian governor and cabinet minister, social reformer, and educationist
• 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
• Syed Mir Qasim, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1971–1975)
• Usman Dar,Pakistan Tehrek e Insaf leader from Sialkot
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900–1990) Indian diplomat and politician. Sister of Jawaharlal Nehru

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 (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

• Ahmad Hasan Dani (1920–2009), Pakistani intellectual, archaeologist, historian, and prolific linguist
• Balajinnatha Pandita (1916–2007), Sanskrit scholar, expert on Kashmir Shaivism
• Braj Kachru (1932– ), researcher in English linguistics
• Giridhari Lal Pandit, historian of science, professor of philosophy
• Hakeem Ali Mohammad (1906–1987), Unani Medicine scholar, physician expert on Unani Medicine
• Idrees ul haq^[9][10] (1988– ), Electrical engineer, young innovator, Social worker, Educationist.
• Jaishree Odin, post-modern literary theorist, professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Hawaii
• Kailas Nath Kaul (1905–1983), Indian botanist, agricultural scientist, agronomist, and educationist
• Lalita Pandit, poet, professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
• Nyla Ali Khan, Professor, writer, granddaughter of Sheikh Abdullah.
• Omkar N. Koul (1941– ), researcher in linguistics, language education, communication, and comparative literature
• Patañjali, compiler of the Yoga Sūtras, an important collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice
• Ravinder Kumar (1933–2001), historian
• Sa'id al-Afghani (1911–1997), half-Kashmiri half-Syrian professor of Arabic
• Samsar Chand Kaul (1883-1977), teacher, author and ornithologist of Kashmir
• Vijay Vaishnavi - Researcher and scholar in the computer information systems field

Athletes

• Abid Nabi (1985- ), once regarded as fastest bowler in India
• Aleem Dar, International cricket empire
• Amad Butt Pakistani Cricketer
• Asif Dar, boxer
• Awais Zia Pakistani Cricketer.
• Haroon Rasheed Dar (1953– ), former Pakistani cricketer.
• Mehrajuddin Wadoo (1984– ), member of the Indian national football team and East Bengal FC
• Munir Dar (field hockey)
• Munir Dar, Member of Pakistan National hockey Team
• Nauman Anwar Pakistani Cricketer
• Nida Dar, Pakistani cricketer
• Parvez Rasool (1989 -) first Kashmiri cricketer to play for India National Cricket team, India A and for Sahara Pune Warriors and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League
• Salman Butt former Pakistan test captain
• Sana Mir (1986– ), female Pakistani cricketer and captain of the Pakistan women's team
• Sikandar Raza Pakistani-Zimbabwean Cricketer
• Suresh Raina, Indian cricketer
• The Great Gama, famous wrestler
• Usman Khawaja, Pakistani-Australian cricketer
• Usama Mir Pakistani cricketer
• Vivek Razdan (1967– ), member of the Indian Cricket Team

Visual and performing artists

• Aamir Bashir, actor^[11]
• Abhay Sopori, Indian Santoor player, composer & musician
• Abid Kashmiri, actor
• Ali Azmat, Musician
• Alla Rakha, actor
• 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
• D.K. Sapru (1916–1979), actor
• 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
• Katrina Kaif Bollywood Actress
• Khalid Abbas Dar, artist
• Khawaja Khurshid Anwar (1912–1984) filmmaker, writer, director and music composer who gained extreme popularity both in India and Pakistan
• Kiran Kumar, actor
• Kunal Khemu, actor
• Malika Pukhraj (1912–2004), highly popular Ghazal and folk singer in Pakistan
• Mani Kaul (1950–2011), Indian Film Maker,^[12] winner of Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie
• Manohar Kaul (1925– ), painter
• MC Kash Kashmiri hip hop artist
• Mekaal Hasan (1972– ) prominent Pakistani musician and record producer, leader and composer for Mekaal Hasan Band
• Mohit Raina, Indian actor
• Mohit Suri (1981– ) Indian film director, most known for his films Kalyug (2005) and Awarapan (2007)
• Mushtaq Kak (1961– ), theater director
• Muzammil Ibrahim (1984– ), model, actor
• 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
• Omkar Nath Dhar (Jeevan), actor
• Pran Kishore, Kashmiri drama writer
• Priti Sapru, actor
• Pushkar Bhan, Padamashree, a radio actor & drama writer
• Qazi Touqeer (1985– ), singer in Kashmiri and Hindi languages; Fame Gurukul Finalist
• Raj Begum, singer, awarded the Padma Shri in 2002
• Raj Zutshi, Indian Bollywood & TV Actor^[13]
• Ratan Parimoo (1936– ), art historian, and painter
• Samina Peerzada (1955– ) Pakistani television & film actress, director
• Sandeepa Dhar, actor
• Soni Razdan Indian TV actor and director, Bollywood actress^[14]

References

1. naqshbandi, Aurengzeb (18 Feb 2011). "Amitabh Mattoo set to join Congress". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 20 Sep 2013.
2. Tikoo, Colonel Tej K. Kashmir: Its Aborigines and Their Exodus. Lancer Publishers.
3. Mitra, Ashok (12 December 1998). "The P N Haksar story". Rediff. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
4. Sainis, Sunil. "Rameshwar Nath Kao (1918–2002)". Bharak Rakshak. Retrieved 2006-05-14.
5. washington DC (Official Website), Embassy of India (24 Jun 2012). "Ambassadors of India to United States".
6. President of 62nd session, General Assembly of United Nations. "Vijay Lakshmi Pandit (India)". Retrieved 1 July 2012.
7. Pandita, Rahul (2013), Our Moon Has Blood Clots: The Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits, Random House India, pp. 45–, ISBN 978-81-8400-390-1
8. "I am all three ... 'aari, Haah-ri, Hari". tehelka. Retrieved 21 July 2012. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
9. "Budding Innovator". Kashmir Life. Archived from the original on 2013-05-30.
10. "Guest Lecture on How to begin with new innovations".
11. "Life after 'A Wednesday'". The Hindu. 6 September 2008.
12. "Noted filmmaker Mani Kaul dead". ibnlive.in. 6 Jul 2011.
13. "Raj Zutshi on TV After 15 years". Times of India. 29 May 2012.
14. "Woman of many parts". The Hindu. 30 Dec 2008.