Sehgal, also spelled Segal, Saigol or Saigal, is a Punjabi

Khatri Khatri () is a caste system in India, caste originating from the Malwa (Punjab), Malwa and Majha areas of Punjab region of South Asia that is predominantly found in India, but also in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Khatris claim they are war ...

surname, originating from

Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

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

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

Origins and history

The surname Sehgal is traditionally associated with the Punjabi Khatri community, a prominent mercantile and warrior class in North India, particularly in Punjab. Following the Partition of India in 1947, many families bearing the surname Sehgal migrated to India, while others remained in Pakistan. This period was particularly challenging for the Arora-Khatri and Sikh communities, who faced displacement and had to rebuild their lives in new environments.

Cultural significance

Individuals with the surname Sehgal have made notable contributions to the cultural and intellectual heritage of the Indian subcontinent. They have excelled in diverse fields such as arts, literature, business, and science, reflecting the community's emphasis on education and societal development. For instance, Kundan Lal Sehgal was a renowned singer and actor, leaving a lasting impact on Indian cinema and music.

Notable people

Art

Amarnath Sehgal Amar Nath Sehgal (5 February 1922 – 28 December 2007) was a noted Indian modernist sculptor, painter, poet and art educator. He started his career as an engineer in Lahore, and later turned to art. He shifted to Delhi after partition of ...

, Indian sculptor * Deep Sehgal, British filmmaker * Kabir Sehgal, American composer, navy officer and financial executive * Kiran Segal, Indian classical dancer * Ikram Sehgal, Pakistani Army officer and defence analyst *

Ramesh Saigal Ramesh Saigal was an Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor in Hindi language films. Professional life His major work includes ''Railway Platform'' (1955), ''Shola Aur Shabnam'' (1961) and ''Ishq Par Zor Nahin'' (1970). He w ...

, Indian film director, producer, screenwriter and actor *

Nayantara Sahgal Nayantara Sahgal (née Pandit; born 10 May 1927) is an Indian writer who writes in English. She is a member of the Nehru–Gandhi family, the second of the three daughters born to Jawaharlal Nehru's sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit. She was award ...

, Indian author *

Tino Sehgal Tino Sehgal (; ; born 1976) is an artist of German and Indian descent, based in Berlin, who describes his work as "constructed situations". He is also thought of as a choreographer who makes dance for the museum setting. Personal life Sehgal was ...

, Indian British-German artist

Business

* Azam Saigol (1951-2018), Pakistani businessman and politician * Rafique Saigol (1933-2003), Pakistani businessman and politician * Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Indian-Australian billionaire businessman

Entertainment

* Aditi Saigal, Indian actress *

Akashdeep Saigal Akashdeep Saigal is an Indian actor who works in Hindi television. He is best known for his portrayal of Ansh Gujral and Ekalavya Gujral in Star Plus's soap opera ''Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'' as well as participating in the reality show ...

, Indian TV actor, BiggBoss contestant * Amit Saigal, Indian rock musician *

Baba Sehgal Harjeet Singh "Baba" Sehgal, is an Indian rapper. He is widely acclaimed to be the first Indian rapper. He is also involved in various other areas of the entertainment industry and works across media in several different languages. He was a cont ...

, rapper and actor * Dhruv Sehgal, actor and director *

K. L. Saigal Kundan Lal Saigal, often abbreviated as K. L. Saigal (11 April 1904 – 18 January 1947), was an Indian singer and actor who worked in Hindi cinema, which was centred in Calcutta (Kolkata) during his time, but is currently based in Bombay (Mumba ...

(1904-1947), Indian actor and singer * Mohit Sehgal, Indian actor * Monica Sehgal, Indian actress *

Parvati Sehgal Parvati Sehgal (born 23 August 1980) is an Indian television actress who appeared in the Hindi television drama series like '' Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya'', in which she played the main character of ''Komal Singh Thakur Saxena''. She also appeare ...

, Indian actress *

Sayyeshaa Saigal Sayyeshaa Saigal (born 12 August 1997), known mononymously as Sayyeshaa, is an Indian actress who primarily works in Tamil films. She made her acting debut with the Telugu film '' Akhil'' (2015), for which she received SIIMA Award for Best Fe ...

, Indian actress * Sharmin Segal, Indian actress * Shashikala Saigal, Indian actress *

Sonal Sehgal Sonal Sehgal (born 13 July 1981) is an Indian actress who debuted on the silver screen with the critically acclaimed ''Aashayein (film)'' directed by the national award-winning director Nagesh Kukunoor where she was cast opposite John Abraham ...

, Indian actress *

Sumeet Saigal Sumeet Saigal (born 18 February 1966) is an Indian former actor and producer who was active in Bollywood from 1987 to 1995, appearing in over 30 films. Career Saigal made his debut in the 1987 film ''Insaniyat Ke Dushman'' and played leading o ...

, Indian actor *

Zohra Sehgal Zohra Mumtaz Sehgal (born Sahibzadi Zohra Mumtazullah Khan Begum; 27 April 1912 – 10 July 2014) was an Indian actress, dancer, and choreographer. Having begun her career as a member of a contemporary dance troupe, she transitioned into acting ...

(1912-2014), Indian actress and choreograph

Freedom struggle

Lakshmi Sahgal Lakshmi Sahgal () (born Lakshmi Swaminathan; 24 October 1914 – 23 July 2012) was an Indian politician and activist. She was a revolutionary of the Indian independence movement, an officer of the Indian National Army, and the Minister of Women ...

(1914-2012), Indian Independence revolutionary * Manmohini Zutshi Sahgal (1909-1994), Indian freedom fighter * Prem Sahgal (1917-1992), Indian independence activist, served in the Azad Hind Fauj

Law and journalism

Gita Sahgal Gita Sahgal (born 1956 or 1957) is a British writer, journalist, film director, Feminism, feminist activist, and Human rights, human rights activist, whose work focusses on the issues of feminism, fundamentalism, and racism. She has been a co-f ...

, Indian writer and journalist *

Parul Sehgal Parul Sehgal (born ) is an American literary critic. She worked as an editor at NPR and '' The New York Times Book Review'', and later was one of the book critics at the ''New York Times''. She was a staff writer at ''The New Yorker'' from 2021 ...

, editor and columnist at ''The New York Times Book Review'' * Rubina Saigol (1955-2016), Pakistani feminist scholar and activist * Sabina Sehgal Saikia (1963-2008), Indian food journalist * Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, Indian judge

Politics

* Amar Singh Sahgal, Indian politician

Science

* Amita Sehgal, molecular biologist at University of Pennsylvania * Narender K. Sehgal, Indian physicist, scientific administrator, and science populariser. * Sunil Saigal, Indian-born American engineer, dean of the Newark College of Engineering * Suri Sehgal, crop scientist, seedsman, philanthropist

Sports

* Ravi Sehgal, Indian cricketer

References

Pakistani names Punjabi-language surnames Surnames of Indian origin Khatri surnames Surnames of Hindu origin {{surname