Pandey, Pande, or Panday (

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

: पाण्डेय/पाण्डे/पाँडे/पाण्डेय) ( Nepali: पाण्डे/पाँडे/पाण्डेय) is primarily a

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

Brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

surname commonly found in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

and

Nepal Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China Ch ...

. The term is used to refer to an individual with specialized knowledge in any of the domains of

Hinduism Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

, particularly the

Vedas FIle:Atharva-Veda samhita page 471 illustration.png, upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the ''Atharvaveda''. The Vedas ( or ; ), sometimes collectively called the Veda, are a large body of relig ...

. In

, in addition to being a surname, ''pāṇḍe'' is used to denote

Pandit A pandit (; ; also spelled pundit, pronounced ; abbreviated Pt. or Pdt.) is an individual with specialised knowledge or a teacher of any field of knowledge in Hinduism, particularly the Vedic scriptures, dharma, or Hindu philosophy; in colonial-e ...

or expert and derived from the

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

term ''Pandita.''

India

Most people with this surname in India are classified under the

varna. It is mainly found in people of the north Indian states of

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...

Uttarakhand Uttarakhand (, ), also known as Uttaranchal ( ; List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2007), is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. The state is bordered by Himachal Pradesh to the n ...

Bihar Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...

, and

Madhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh (; ; ) is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and the largest city is Indore, Indore. Other major cities includes Gwalior, Jabalpur, and Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, Sagar. Madhya Pradesh is the List of states and union te ...

, but also in

Karnataka Karnataka ( ) is a States and union territories of India, state in the southwestern region of India. It was Unification of Karnataka, formed as Mysore State on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, States Re ...

South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...

Nepal

People with this surname are found in the

Madhesi people Madheshi people () is a term used for several ethnic groups in Nepal living in the Terai region of Nepal. It has also been used as a political pejorative term by the Pahari people of Nepal to refer to Nepalis with a non-Nepali language as ...

and the

Chhetri Chhetri (Kshetri, Kshettri, Kshetry or Chhettri), ( ; IAST: ''Kṣetrī'') historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali language, Nepali speaking people historically associated with the warrior class and administration, some of ...

Kshatriya Kshatriya () (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority"; also called Rajanya) is one of the four varnas (social orders) of Hindu society and is associated with the warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...

communities of

. The famous

Pande dynasty The Pande family or Pande dynasty (also spelled as Pandey or Panday) (; or ) was a Chhetri political family with ancestral roots from Gorkha Kingdom that directly ruled Nepali administration affairs from the 16th century to 19th century as ...

of Nepal were a Chhetri aristocratic family that dominated the Nepalese administration and military up until the 19th century as

Mulkaji ''Mulkaji'' () was the position of head of executive of Kingdom of Nepal The Kingdom of Nepal was a Hindu monarchy in South Asia, founded in 1768 through the unification of Nepal, expansion of the Gorkha Kingdom. The kingdom was also k ...

and

Mukhtiyar Mukhtiyar () was the position of head of government, head of executive of Kingdom of Nepal between 1806 and 1843. It was equivalent to Prime Minister of Nepal. There were 7 Mukhtiyars appointed between 1806 and 1843. Meaning ''Mukhtiyar'' is for ...

Notable people

Aditya Pande Aditya Pande (born 1976) is an Indian contemporary artist. His technique often involves a layering of surfaces along with mixed, diverse media ranging from vector drawing, digital photography, ink, acrylic paint to tinsel. His work combines the sk ...

, (born 1976) Indian contemporary artist *

Alok Pandey Alok Pandey (born 30 April 1989) is an Indian actor and model who is best known for playing MS Dhoni’s best friend in the former Indian Cricket Team captain’s biopic '' M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story''”, a negative role with John Abraham i ...

(born 1989), Indian actor *

Ananya Panday Ananya Panday (born 30 October 1998) is an Indian actress who primarily works in Hindi cinema, Hindi films. Born to actor Chunky Panday, she began her acting career in 2019 with roles in the romantic comedies ''Student of the Year 2'' and ''Pa ...

(born 1998), Indian actress *

Basdeo Panday Basdeo Panday (; 25 May 1933 – 1 January 2024) was a Trinidadian statesman, lawyer, politician, trade unionist, economist, and actor who served as the fifth List of Prime Ministers of Trinidad and Tobago, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago ...

(1933–2024), 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 *

B. D. Pande Bhairab Dutt Pande (17 March 1917 – 2009) was a member of the Indian Civil Service and Union Cabinet Secretary of the Government of India under Indira Gandhi. He served as the Governor of West Bengal (1981–1983), and Punjab (1983–1 ...

(1917–2009), former governor of Punjab and West Bengal *

Bhim Bahadur Pande Bhim Bahadur Pande () was a Nepalese diplomat, bureaucrat and historian. He served as Nepalese Ambassador to India from May 21, 1969 to May 24, 1972. ''Sardar'' Bhim Bahadur also served to Juddha Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana during his youth. He help ...

(1915–1992), Nepalese aristocrat, diplomat and historian, awarded title of Sardar *

Brij Bihari Pandey Brij Bihari Pandey is an Indian politician known for being most close associate of Vinod Mishra who founded Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation. He is a Central Committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Lenin ...

, Indian political leader *

Chhavi Pandey Chhavi Pandey is an Indian television actress known for playing Tara in Life OK's ''Ek Boond Ishq'', Namrata Singh in Star Bharat's mystery thriller ''Kaal Bhairav Rahasya'' and Prarthana Kashyap in Sony TV's '' Ladies Special 2'' and Uttara/M ...

(born 1994), Indian actress and anchor *

Chittu Pandey Chittu Pandey (10 May 1895 – 6 December 1946), popularly referred to as the ''Sher-e Ballia'' (Lion of Ballia), was an Indian independence activist and revolutionary. Pandey was born in Rattuchak, a village in Ballia District of what was then ...

(1865–1946), Freedom fighter from Baliya *

Chunky Panday Suyash Panday (born 26 September 1962), better known by his stage name Chunky Panday, is an Indian actor who works in Hindi-language films. Early life Chunky Panday was born as Suyash Panday on 26 September 1962 in Bombay, to Sharad Panday ...

(born 1962), Bollywood film star *

Dalbhanjan Pande Dalbhanjan Pande or Dalabhanjan Pande () was a Nepalese minister, politician and military officer of the aristocratic Pande family. He had held ministerial positions and military offices. He jointly headed the military administration of Nepal in ...

(died 1846), Nepalese politician, military officer and senior minister from Gora Pande clan *

Damodar Pande Damodar Pande () (1752 – March 13, 1804) was the Mulkaji, Mulkaji of Nepal (equivalent to Prime Minister of Nepal) from 1803 until March 1804 and the most influential Kaji from 1794 to his execution on March 13, 1804. He is also arguably ref ...

(1752–1804), ''

'' (Prime Minister) of Kingdom of Nepal; Son of Kaji Kalu Pande *

Ganesh Pandey Ganesh Pandey or Ganesa Pande (Nepali: गणेश पाण्डे वा गणेश पाँडे) Coronation of Dravya Shah Dravya Shah was the youngest son of Yasho Brahma Shah, Raja (King) of Lamjung and grandson of Kulamandan Sha ...

, first ''Kaji'' of Gorkha Kingdom * Ganpath Rai Pandey (1809–1858), Indian revolutionary, rebel leader and zamindar * Ghanshyam Pande (1781–1830), religious leader, commonly known as Swaminarayan; believed to be a deity by followers *

Govind Chandra Pande Govind Chandra Pande (30 July 1923 – 21 May 2011) was a well-known Indian scholar, philosopher and historian of the Vedic and the Buddhist periods. He served as professor of ancient history and vice-chancellor at Jaipur and Allahabad universi ...

(1923–2011), Indianhistorian * Gyanendra Pandey (cricketer) (born 1972), Indian cricketer *

Kabinga Pande Kabinga Jacus Pande (born 5 March 1952) is a Zambian politician. Pande was appointed to the position of foreign minister in August 2007, replacing Mundia Sikatana. Pande had previously been the tourism minister. He held the Foreign Minister port ...

(born 1952), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zambia *

Kalu Pande Vamshidhar Pande () known by Alias Kalu Pande () was a Nepalese politician and general who was appointed as Kaji of The Gorkha Kingdom. He was born in 1713 A.D. in a Gorkha family. He was the commander of the Gorkhali forces during the Un ...

(born Vamshidhar Pande, 1713–1713); Kaji of Gorkha Kingdom, one of the Nepalese military leaders of Unification of Nepal, leader of aristocratic Pande family of Nepal *

Kedar Pandey Kedar Pandey (14 June 1920 – 3 July 1982) was an Indian freedom fighter and Indian National Congress politician, who remained the Chief Minister of Bihar from March 1972 to 2 July 1973 and Minister of Railways in the Union Cabinet from 12 Nov ...

(1920–1982), politician, Chief Minister of Bihar *

Kedar Nath Pandey Kedar Nath Pandey (1 January 1943 – 24 October 2022) was an Indian politician and leader of Communist Party of India The Communist Party of India (CPI) is a political party in India. The CPI considers the Foundation of the Communist P ...

(1943–2022), Indian politician and leader of Communist Party of India *

Rahul Sankrityayan Rahul Sankrityayan (born Kedarnath Pandey; 9 April 1893 – 14 April 1963) was an Indian author, essayist, playwright, historian, and scholar of Buddhism who wrote in Hindi and Bhojpuri. Known as the "father of Hindi travel literature", Sankrit ...

(Kedarnath Pandey, 1893–1963), polyglot writer, Padma Bhushan, Sahitya Academy Award winner * Mahendra Bahadur Pandey (born 1948), Nepali politician *

Mangal Pandey Mangal Pandey (died 8 April 1857) was an Indian soldier who played a key role in the events that led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which resulted in the dissolution of the East India Company and the beginning of the British Raj through the ...

(died 1857), Indian soldier who played a key part in the events immediately preceding the outbreak of the Great Rebellion of 1857 *

Manish Pandey Manish Krishnanand Pandey (; born 10 September 1989) is an Indian international cricketer. He is primarily a right-handed middle-order batsman representing India national cricket team, Karnataka in domestic cricket and Kolkata Knight Riders in t ...

(born 1989), Indian cricketer * Manish Raj Pandey (born 1970), Nepalese cricketer * Capt. Manoj Kumar Pandey (1975–1999), Indian Army officer from 11th Gorkha Rifles; winner of Param Vir Chakra, India's highest bravery award * Mike Pandey, Indian wildlife film maker *

Mrinal Pande Mrinal Pande (born 26 February 1946) is an Indian television personality, journalist and author, and until 2009 chief editor of Hindi daily ''Hindustan''. Early life and education Pande was born in Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, 26 February 1946. ...

(born 1946), Indian journalist, editor, columnist *

Neeraj Pandey Neeraj Pandey (born 17 December 1973) is an Indian film director, producer and screenwriter who works in Hindi cinema. Pandey made his directoral debut in ''A Wednesday!'', which was largely praised by critics and which later became a recipien ...

(born 1973), Bollywood film director, writer & producer *

Nirmal Pandey Nirmal Pandey (10 August 1962 – 18 February 2010) was an Indian Bollywood actor who was known for his roles of Vikram Mallah in Shekhar Kapur's '' Bandit Queen'' (1994), and Dajjal in television series ''Hatim''. He portrayed a transvestite ...

(1962–2010), Bollywood actor from Nainital in Uttarakhand *

Nitesh Pandey Nitesh Pandey (17 January 1972 – 23 May 2023) was an Indian film and television actor. Career Pandey began doing theatre in 1990. In 1995, he got his first acting opportunity in a show called ''Tejas'' in which he played a detective, however ...

(born 1973), Indian TV/films actor *

Piyush Pandey Piyush Pandey is an advertising professional and the Chief Creative Officer Worldwide (2019) and Executive Chairman India of Ogilvy (agency). He is the recipient of the LIA Legend Award (2024), and the Padma Shri award (2016). Pandey is also c ...

, advertising executive, Mumbai, India *

Poonam Pandey Poonam Pandey (born 11 March 1991) is an Indian media personality and actress. She debuted in Hindi cinema with the erotic film '' Nasha'' in 2013. She was also a contestant in '' Khatron Ke Khiladi 4'' (2011) and ''Lock Upp'' season 1 (2022). ...

(born 1991), Bollywood actor, Mumbai, India *

Pradeep Pandey Pradeep Pandey "Chintu" is an Indian actor mainly active in Bhojpuri language films. In 2009 Pandey made his acting debut in the Bhojpuri film ''Deewana'', for which he won the Juri Mention Award. Early life and education Pandey was born on ...

, Indian film actor *

Prem Chand Pandey Prem Chand Pandey is an Indian space scientist, planetary scientist, and academic in the fields of satellite oceanography, remote sensing, atmospheric science, the Antarctic and climate change, and also he is the founding director of the Nation ...

(born 1945), scientist and founder director, NCAOR-Indian Antarctic Program *

Prithvi Bahadur Pande Prithvi Bahadur Pandé () is the chairman of Nepal Investment Mega Bank Limited (NIMB). He is one of the most renowned bankers of Nepal, a pioneer in the commercial banking sector, who took over the French managed Indo-Suez Bank and successfully o ...

, Chairman of Nepal Investment Mega Bank Limited *

Rahul Pandey Rahul Pandey (Devanagari: राहुल पाण्डेय) is an Indian Bollywood Playback singer and Songwriter. He debuted in the Indian Film industry with the song ''Haseena Tu kameena Mein'' from the movie Happy Ending in 2014. In 2015 ...

, Indian playback singer * Raj Mangal Pande (1920–1993), politician, former Central HRD Cabinet Minister, Government of India * Rajkumar R. Pandey (born 1972), Indian film director, producer, music composer and screenwriter *

Rana Jang Pande Rana Jang Pande () was the 3rd Prime Minister of the government of Nepal and the most powerful person in political scenario in three decades from the aristocratic Pande clan. He was one of the sons of Mukhtiyar Kaji Damodar Pande. He served as t ...

(1789–1843) (''Mukhtiyar''), Prime Minister of Nepal, Son of Kaji Damodar Pande *

Ranajit Pande Ranajit Pande () was a Nepalese politician, military personnel and courtier in the Kingdom of Nepal. He was a member of the Gora Pande clan of Gorkha. He became Mulkaji of Nepal for a brief period in 1804 A.D. Family He was born as the second ...

, Nepalese ''Mulkaji'' from aristocratic Pande family *

Rangaraj Pandey Rangaraj Pandey Ragunathacharya is an Indian journalist and actor. He started his career at Dinamalar and Visual Media Career at Thanthi TV. Later he started his YouTube channel Chankyaa Network. Early life and education He was born in a Br ...

(born 1975), Tamil journalist, political analyst, actor, TV anchor *

Rati Pandey Rati Pandey is an Indian actress known for her performances in ''Hitler Didi'', ''Miley Jab Hum Tum'', ''Porus (TV series), Porus'', ''Devi Adi Parashakti'', ''Begusarai (TV series), Begusarai'', ''Har Ghar Kuch Kehta Hai'' and ''Shaadi Mubarak' ...

(born 1982), Indian actress and anchor *

Ravish Kumar Ravish Kumar (born Ravish Kumar Pandey; 5 December 1974) is an Indian journalist, author, media personality and YouTuber. He was the Senior Executive Editor of NDTV India. He hosted a number of programmes including the channel's flagship wee ...

(full name Ravish Kumar Pandey, born 1974), Journalist at NDTV * Ritesh Pandey (born 1981), Indian politician *

Ritesh Pandey (singer) Ritesh Pandey (born 14 May 1991) is an Indian playback singer, model and actor, who works in Bhojpuri cinema. He got fame after his work in the films titled ''Balma Bihar Wala 2'' (2016) and ''Tohre Me Basela Pran'' (2017). His song "Hello Kau ...

(born 1991), Indian singer *

Rohini Pande Rohini Pande is an economist who is currently the Henry J. Heinz II Professor of Economics and Director of the Economic Growth Center at Yale University. She was previously the Rafik Hariri Professor of International Political Economy and Moha ...

, American economist *

Sandeep Pandey Sandeep Pandey (born 22 July 1965) is an Indian social activist and the present General Secretary of the Socialist Party (India). He co-founded Asha for Education with Dr. Deepak Gupta (presently Professor at IIT Kanpur) and V.J.P Srivastav ...

(born 1965), Indian social activist * Santosh Pandey (Uttar Pradesh politician) (born 1975) * Santosh Pandey (Chhattisgarh politician) (born 1967) *

Saroj Pandey Saroj Pandey (born 22 June 1968) is an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She is the National Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party. Previsously, she served as member of the Rajya Sabha, upper house of the Indian ...

(born 1968), Indian politician and member of the Bharatiya Janata Party *

Shikha Pandey Squadron Leader Shikha Pandey (born 12 May 1989) is an Indian cricketer and former officer in the Indian Air Force. She plays for the India women's national cricket team, national cricket team as a right-arm medium pacer and middle-order batter, ...

(born 1989), Indian female cricketer *

Sudip Pandey Sudip Pandey (died 15 January 2025) was an Indian film actor and producer, primarily known for his contributions to Bhojpuri cinema and Bihar tourism. Pandey debuted in 2007 with the film ''Bhojpuriya Bhaiya'', which he also produced, and ...

(died 2025), Indian film actor and producer * Sunil Pandey, Indian politician *

Surendra Pandey Surendra Prasad Pandey is a nepalese politician and current vice chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).He was recently past Chairman of Nepal-Japan Friendship Parliamentary Association (2017-2023). He was a member of th ...

(born 1958), Nepali politician *

Tansen Rāmtanu ( – 26 April 1589), popularly referred to as Mian Tānsen (), or Sangeet Samrāt (), was a Hindustani classical musician. Born into a Hindu Gaur Brahmin family in Gwalior, he learnt and perfected his art in the northwest regio ...

(Ramtanu Pandey), one of navratnas of Akbar and scholar of ragas and India's great musician * Tarkeshwar Pandey (1910–1989), former Indian Member of Parliament * V. C. Pande (1932–2005), former Cabinet Secretary and former governor, Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh *

Vamsharaj Pande Vamsharaj Pande (a.k.a. Bamsa Raj Pande, Vansha Raj Pande, or Bangsha Raj Pande) (; translit. ''vaṃśarāja pām̐ḍe'') was a Nepalese politician, military officer and minister of state. He was a significant army commander of Kingdom of Nepa ...

(1739–1785), Dewan (Prime Minister) of Kingdom of Nepal *

Vijay Kumar Pandey Vijay Kumar Pandey is a media personality of Nepali television. He hosts a program called ''Dishanirdesh''. Career Pandey's career begun with the Nepal Television show ''Andhyaro Ujyalo'' in 1987, followed by several other television projects, ...

, Nepali media personality * Vijay S. Pande (born 1970), Trinidadian–American protein biochemist *

Vinod Pande Vinod Pande (also known as Vinod Pandey) is an Indian film director, actor, producer and writer. Biography Pande was born in the state of Uttar Pradesh, where his father was working as a doctor at a government dispensary. Pande studied social wo ...

, Indian film maker and author * Members of

Pande family The Pande family or Pande dynasty (also spelled as Pandey or Panday) (; or ) was a Chhetri political family with ancestral roots from Gorkha Kingdom that directly ruled Nepali administration affairs from the 16th century to 19th century as ...

References

Books

* * * * {{India-ethno-stub Social groups of Uttar Pradesh Social groups of Uttarakhand Garhwal division Surnames of Indian origin Nepali-language surnames Khas surnames

India

Nepal

Notable people

See also

References

Books