Mitra is an Indian family name and surname found mostly amongst

Bengali Hindus Bengali Hindus ( bn, বাঙ্গালী হিন্দু/বাঙালি হিন্দু, translit=Bāṅgālī Hindu/Bāṅāli Hindu) are an ethnoreligious population who make up the majority in the Indian states of West Beng ...

. This surname also has prevalence in Iran and is a popular Persian last name found in America. The surname may have been derived either from the word ''mitra'' meaning friend or ally or from the name of an important Indo-Iranian deity in the

Vedas upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute th ...

and in

ancient Iran The history of Iran is intertwined with the history of a larger region known as Greater Iran, comprising the area from Anatolia in the west to the borders of Ancient India and the Syr Darya in the east, and from the Caucasus and the Eurasian Step ...

. Mitras belong to Kayastha caste in Bengal.

Bengali Kayastha A Bengali Kayastha is a Bengali Hindu who is a member of the Kayastha community. The historical caste occupation of Kayasthas throughout India has been that of scribes, administrators, ministers and record-keepers; the Kayasthas in Bengal, along ...

s evolved as a caste from a category of officials or scribes, between the 5th/6th century CE and 11th/12th century CE, its component elements being putative

Kshatriya Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...

s and mostly

Brahmins Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests ( purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (guru ...

. Mitras are considered as

Kulin Kayastha Kulin Kayasthas are a sub-caste of the Kayastha caste in West Bengal, India. They are also known as the Kulina Kayasthas. The Kayasthas are regarded in Bengal, along with the Bengali Brahmins, Brahmins and Baidyas, as being the "highest Hindu ca ...

s of Vishvamitra gotra, along with Bose, Guha and

Ghosh Ghosh (or Ghose) is an Indian and Bangladeshi surname found among Bengali Hindus. Ghoshes mostly belong to Kayastha caste in Bengal. The Bengali Kayasthas evolved as a caste from a category of officials or scribes, between the 5th/6th century AD ...

Notables

Amit Mitra Dr. Amit Mitra is an Indian economist and politician and the current Special Advisor to Chief Minister of West Bengal on Finance. Previously he was the Finance, Commerce & Industries Minister of the government of Indian state of West Bengal. ...

(অমিত মিত্র), politician and current Finance Minister of

West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fou ...

* Abhik Mitra, Indian cricketer *

, Indian politician *

Amitabh Mitra Amitabh Mitra ( bn, অমিতাভ মিত্র) is an Indian-born South African physician, poet and artist, whose paintings depict dramatised stick figures. Education and career Mitra studied medicine and did postgraduate studies in ort ...

, Poet / Artist, South Africa *

Antara Mitra Antara Mitra (born 10 July 1987) is an Indian playback singer. Mitra came to limelight when she became a contestant in the popular singing reality show '' Indian Idol 2'' in 2006. Mitra become more well-known and got recognition after the relea ...

, Indian singer *

Arun Mitra Arun Mitra (2 November 1909 – 22 August 2000) was an Indian poet of Bengali, who also translated French literature. Selected bibliography English translations of titles are literal in most instances. Transcription of Bengali titles try t ...

(অরুণ মিত্র) (1909–2000), Bengali poet * Bimal Mitra (1912–1991), Bengali author * Chandan Mitra (born 1955), Indian journalist, editor/managing director of The Pioneer newspaper * Chittaranjan Mitra (1926–2008), Indian scientist and director of BITS Pilani *

Debasis Mitra Debasis Mitra (born November 3, 1944 in Kolkata) is an Indian-American mathematician, known for his numerous contributions to the theory of communication systems, control theory and queueing theory. He got his B.Sc. (1964) and Ph.D. (1968) in e ...

(born 1944), Indian mathematician * Debu Mitra, Indian cricketer * Digambar Mitra (1817–1879), Derozian and Bengali Sheriff of Kolkata * Dinabandhu Mitra (দীনবন্ধু মিত্র) (1830–1873), Bengali dramatist (given name: Gandharva Narayan) * Hiran Mitra (born 1945), Bengali actor *

Kamal Mitra Kamal Mitra was an Indian actor who appeared in more than 90 films spanning more than four decades. Along with Chhabi Biswas (1900–1962) and Pahari Sanyal (1906–1974) he dominated the Bengali silver screen as a character actor. Mitra playe ...

(1912–1993), Bengali actor * Koena Mitra (born 1981), Indian actress and former model * Lopamudra Mitra, Kolkata-based Bengali singer-songwriter *

Nabagopal Mitra Nabagopal Mitra ( bn, নবগোপাল মিত্র; 1840– 9 February 1894) was an Indian playwright, poet, essayist, patriot and one of the founding fathers of Hindu nationalism. He founded the Hindu Mela (which was inaugurated by R ...

(1840–1894), Indian playwright, poet, essayist, patriot * Narendranath Mitra (নরেন্দ্রনাথ মিত্র) (1916–1975), Bengali writer, poet * Panchanan Mitra (1892–1936), professor of anthropology in India * Premendra Mitra (প্রেমেন্দ্র মিত্র) (1904–1988), Bengali poet and author *

Prabir Mitra Prabir Mitra (born 18 August 1941) is a Bangladeshi film actor. He won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film '' Boro Bhalo Lok Chhilo'' in 1982. He also won the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award. ...

(প্রবীর মিত্র) (born 1941), Bangladeshi movie and TV actor * Rajendralal Mitra (1823/24-1891), the first modern Indologist of Indian origin *

Ramon Mitra, Jr. Ramon Villarosa Mitra Jr. (February 4, 1928 – March 20, 2000) was a Filipino statesman, diplomat, and pro-democracy activist. He served as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines from 1987 to 1992. Prior to that, he was C ...

, Filipino statesman, diplomat, and a renowned pro-democracy activist * Raul Mitra, Filipino composer, arranger, songwriter, musical director, pianist, and keyboardist *

Rhona Mitra Rhona is the name of: * Rhona Adair (1878–1961), British golf champion * Rhona Bennett (born 1976), American singer, actress and model * Rhona Brankin (born 1950), Labour Co-operative politician and Member of the Scottish Parliament * Rhona B ...

(born 1976), English actress of Indian descent *

Samarendra Kumar Mitra Samarendra Kumar Mitra (14 March 1916 – 26 September 1998) was an Indian scientist and mathematician. He designed, developed and constructed, in 1953-54, India's first computer (an electronic analog computer) at the Indian Statistical Instit ...

, Bengali scientist and mathematician who created India's first computer * Shyam Mitra, Indian cricket *

Shyamal Mitra Shyamal Mitra (14 January 1929 – 15 November 1987) was an Indian versatile playback singer and music director along with Hemanta Mukherjee and Manna Dey. Mitra had also worked in many Hindi and Bengali films as a music director and film produce ...

(1929–1987), Bengali singer *

Sisir Kumar Mitra Sisir Kumar Mitra (or ''Shishirkumar Mitra'') MBE, FNI, FASB, FIAS, FRS (24 October 1890 – 13 August 1963) was an Indian physicist. Early life and education Mitra was born in his father's hometown of Konnagar, a suburb of Kolkata (then C ...

(শিশির কুমার মিত্র) (1890–1963), Indian physicist * Sombhu Mitra (1915–1997), Indian film and stage actor, director, playwright *

Sreelekha Mitra Sreelekha Mitra (Bengali: শ্রীলেখা মিত্র) is an Indian actress who is known for her work in Bengali cinema. Winner of a BFJA Award and an Anandalok Award, Mitra is best known for her roles in films such as ''Hothat B ...

(শ্রীলেখা মিত্র) (born 1975), Indian actress of TV and films *

Subrata Mitra Subrata Mitra (12 October 1930 – 7 December 2001) was an Indian cinematographer. Acclaimed for his work in ''The Apu Trilogy'' (1955–1959), Mitra often is considered one of the greatest Indian cinematographers. Early life and educati ...

(সুব্রত মিত্র) (1930–2001), Indian cinematographer * Subhrajit Mitra, (born 1976), Indian film maker * Suchitra Mitra (1924–2011), Indian singer-composer

Fictional characters

* Pradosh Chandra Mitter (Feluda), a fictional

private investigator A private investigator (often abbreviated to PI and informally called a private eye), a private detective, or inquiry agent is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private investigators of ...

created by Satyajit Ray * Tapesh Ranjan Mitter (Topse), cousin of

Feluda Feluda, or Prodosh Chandra Mitra itter'', is a fictional detective, Private investigator created by famous Indian director and writer Satyajit Ray. Feluda resides at 21 Rajani Sen Road, Ballygunge, Calcutta, West Bengal. Feluda first made his ap ...

, created by Satyajit Ray

References

{{surname Bengali Hindu surnames Indian surnames Kayastha

Notables

Fictional characters

See also

References