Śrēṣṭha ( new, श्रेष्ठ) is a Nepalese surname meaning "noble” or "great” in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

. Shrestha is one of the

eponym An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Usage of the word The term ''epon ...

surnames used by those belonging to the caste of

Shresthas The Śreṣṭha ( ne, श्रेष्ठ) or () is the second largest Newar caste group, occupying around 21% of overall Newar population, or about 1.1% of Nepal’s total population. It is believed that the word ''Srēṣṭha'' is derived ...

who prior to the unification of modern Nepal formed the ruling and administrative

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 ...

castes in the court of the

Malla Malla may refer to: Places ;Bolivia *Malla, Bolivia, a locality * Malla Jawira, a river * Malla Jaqhi, a mountain * Malla Municipality * Malla Qullu, a mountain ;India * Mallapuram, Tamil Nadu *Malla (tribe), an ancient republic, one of the s ...

kings of Nepal. They also counted among them the trading and business

Vaishya Vaishya (Sanskrit: वैश्य, ''vaiśya'') is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order in India. Vaishyas are classed third in the order of caste hierarchy. The occupation of Vaishyas consists mainly of agriculture, taking care ...

castes, and were the pre-eminent traders in between Nepal and

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa, Taman ...

. After the unification of Nepal, Shresthas took up business and trading since their former positions as administrators and courtiers of the royal

court was supplanted by the invading

Gorkha The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (), with endonym Gorkhali ), are soldiers native to the Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India. The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Indian Gorkhas and are recruit ...

forces mainly of the

Khas Khas people (; ne, खस) popularly known as Khas Arya are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the Himalayan region of South Asia, what is now present-day Nepal, Indian states of Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Sikkim. Historical ...

tribe. Page 86.

Language, Culture and Religion

The word "Shrestha" was derived from Sanskrit term ''Shista'' meaning 'noble' or 'decent'. "Syasya" also means 'warrior' in

Nepal Bhasa Newar (), or Newari and known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nepa ...

. Shresthas (or Syasya) served as administrators and courtiers during the rule of the Malla Newar kings that ruled Nepal for six hundred years – known as the "Golden Era" of Nepal – when much of the cultural and architectural development of Nepal took place. They took a prominent role in the governance and administration of the nation and fought against the

invasion. They also bravely contributed to protect their country Nepal from external powers like the Mughal.

Notable people

Politics and civil administration

* Ganga Lal Shrestha – Politician, One of the four famous Martyr of Nepal *

Gopal Man Shrestha Gopal Man Shrestha ( Nepali/Nepal Bhasa:गोपालमान श्रेष्ठ) is a Nepalese politician. He was elected to the Pratinidhi Sabha in the 1999 election on behalf of the Nepali Congress.Krishna Mohan Shrestha Krishna Mohan Shrestha ( ne, कृष्णमोहन श्रेष्ठ) was the first Inspector General of Armed Police Force (Nepal) The Armed Police Force, Nepal is a paramilitary land force tasked with counter-insurgency opera ...

– First Inspector General of Armed Police Force (Nepal) *

Marich Man Singh Shrestha Marich Man Singh Shrestha (; 1 January 1942 – 15 August 2013) was a Nepali politician and former Prime Minister of Nepal. He was born in 1942 in Khalanga Bazar, Salyan, Nepal. He served as the Prime Minister of Nepal from 15 June 1986 to 6 ...

– Prime Minister of Nepal, 1986–90 * Narayan Kaji Shrestha – Politician, Deputy Prime Minister, 2011–12 *

Krishna Kumar Shrestha Krishna Kumar Shrestha () is a Nepali politician belonging to CPN (Unified Socialist). He most recently served for 8 months as Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security of Nepal in the ruling coalition government led by Nepali Congre ...

– Politician, Member of the House of Representatives

Arts, literature and culture

Siddhicharan Shrestha Siddhicharan Shrestha (Devanagari: सिद्धिचरण श्रेष्ठ; 21 May 1912 – 4 June 1992) was one of the most prominent writers of Nepal. He contributed to the struggle against the autocratic Rana regime (1846–1951) thr ...

– "Yuga Kavi", one of the most prominent literary figures of Nepal * Rakesh Shrestha – Celebrity Photographer in India *

Durga Lal Shrestha Durga Lal Shrestha (born July 1935) is a Nepalese poet of Nepal Bhasa and Nepali. He was conferred with the title of ''Janakavi'' ( lit. people's poet) by Nepal Bhasha Parishad in 2003. He is considered as a progressive litterateur. He was award ...

– Poet, lyricist * Ganesh Lal Shrestha – Poet, lyricist * Jagat Lal Shrestha – Educator, author *

Madan Krishna Shrestha Madan Krishna Shrestha ( ne, मदन कृष्ण श्रेष्ठ; ) is a Nepali actor, comedian, writer, singer, song writer, director and producer. He is one of the most successful and respected comedians in the Nepali entertainm ...

– Comedian, actor, singer *

Shiva Shrestha Shiva Sundar Shrestha ( ne, शिवसुन्दर श्रेष्ठ), known professionally as Shiva Shrestha, is a Nepali actor best known for his work in action films. He is renowned as the "action king" of Nepali cinema. He has star ...

– Actor *

Shree Krishna Shrestha Shree Krishna Shrestha ( ne, श्रीकृष्ण श्रेष्ठ; April 19, 1967 – August 10, 2014) was a Nepalese actor and producer known for his work in Nepali cinema. One of the most popular and celebrated stars of Nepali ...

– Actor *

Namrata Shrestha Namrata Shrestha is a Nepalese actress and model. Since debuting in Alok Nembang's Sano Sansar in 2008, Shrestha has gone on to appear in a number of commercial Nepali-language films as a sought-after model and actor. Career In 2008, Shrest ...

– Actress, model * Sushma Shrestha – known by stage name "Poornima", Bollywood singer * Sadichha Shrestha – Miss Nepal 2010 *

Shristi Shrestha Shristi Shrestha ( ne, श्रीस्टी श्रेष्ठ, ), is a Nepalese model, actress and the winner of the Miss Nepal World 2012 pageant. She works in Nepali cinema. Career Miss Nepal Shrestha represented her hometown of ...

– Miss Nepal World 2012 *

Ishani Shrestha Ishani Shrestha ( ne, इशानी श्रेष्ठ ) (born 5 May 1991) is a Nepalese beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Nepal World 2013. She represented Nepal in Miss World 2013 in Bali, Indonesia where she made history b ...

– Miss Nepal World 2013 *

Asmi Shrestha Asmi Shrestha (born 30 June 1993) is a Nepalese model and the 2016 Miss Nepal titleholder. She won the Miss Nepal 2016 beauty contest and represented Nepal at Miss World 2016. Prior to participating in the Miss Nepal competition, Shrestha won th ...

– Miss Nepal World 2016 *

Anushka Shrestha Anushka Shrestha ( ne, अनुष्का श्रेष्ठ) (born 18 December 1996) is a Nepalese beauty pageant title holder who was crowned Miss World Nepal 2019 on 9 May 2019. Shrestha also won Miss Nepal Oceania 2018. She was crowne ...

– Miss Nepal World 2019

Others

* Nani Kaji Shrestha, also known as Bauddha Rishi Mahapragya, well known in the revival of Nepali Theravada Buddhism in the 1920s * Bishnu Shrestha – Nepali soldier in Indian Army * Purnima Shrestha, Nepalese mountaineer and photojournalist

References

{{surname Newar Newar caste system People from Kathmandu Social groups of Nepal Newari-language surnames Surnames of Nepalese origin