Śrēṣṭha ( new, श्रेष्ठ) is a Nepalese surname meaning "noble” or "great” in Sanskrit. Shrestha is one of the eponym surnames used by those belonging to the caste of Shresthas who prior to the unification of modern Nepal formed the ruling and administrative Kshatriya castes in the court of the Malla kings of Nepal. They also counted among them the trading and business Vaishya castes, and were the pre-eminent traders in between Nepal and Tibet. After the unification of Nepal, Shresthas took up business and trading since their former positions as administrators and courtiers of the royal Malla court was supplanted by the invading Gorkha forces mainly of the Khas 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. 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 Gorkha invasion. They also bravely contributed to protect their country Nepal from external powers like the

Mughal Mughal or Moghul may refer to: Related to the Mughal Empire * Mughal Empire of South Asia between the 16th and 19th centuries * Mughal dynasty * Mughal emperors * Mughal people, a social group of Central and South Asia * Mughal architecture * Mug ...

Notable people

Politics and civil administration

* Ganga Lal Shrestha – Politician, One of the four famous Martyr of Nepal * Gopal Man Shrestha – Politician, Deputy Prime Minister 2017-18 * Krishna Mohan Shrestha – First Inspector General of Armed Police Force (Nepal) * Marich Man Singh Shrestha – Prime Minister of Nepal, 1986–90 *

Narayan Kaji Shrestha Narayan Kaji Shrestha ( ne, नारायणकाजी श्रेष्ठ), alias Prakash, is a Nepali communist politician. He has been affiliated with a number of communist parties throughout his political career, holding leadership p ...

– Politician, Deputy Prime Minister, 2011–12 * Krishna Kumar Shrestha – 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 awar ...

– Poet, lyricist * Ganesh Lal Shrestha – Poet, lyricist *

Jagat Lal Shrestha Jagat Lal Master ( ne, जगतलाल मास्टर) (1902 – 19 January 1967) (alternative name: Jagat Lal Shrestha) was a Nepalese educator and writer. He advocated the teaching of English and ran a school at his home, risking stat ...

– Educator, author * Madan Krishna Shrestha – Comedian, actor, singer * Shiva Shrestha – Actor * Shree Krishna Shrestha – 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 Poornima Shrestha (born 6 September 1960 as Sushma Shrestha), is an Indian playback singer. Starting as a child singer, she later reinvented into a leading playback singer in Hindi Film Industry, Bollywood during the 1990s. She started her ...

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

Miss Nepal World 2012 Hidden Treasures Miss Nepal 2012, the 18th Miss Nepal beauty pageant, was held on May 6, 2012 at the Hotel Del Annapurna in Kathmandu. Miss Nepal 2011 Malina Joshi crowned Shristi Shrestha as Miss Nepal World 2012, who represented Nepal at Miss ...

* Ishani Shrestha –

Miss Nepal World 2013 Hidden Treasures Fanta Miss Nepal 2013, the 18th Miss Nepal beauty pageant, was held on March 20, 2013 at the Nepal Academy Hall in Kathmandu. Miss Nepal 2012 Shristi Shrestha crowned her successor Ishani Shrestha as Miss Nepal World 2013, she repr ...

* Asmi Shrestha – Miss Nepal World 2016 * Anushka Shrestha – 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 Bishnu Shrestha (born 1975) is a Nepalese–Gurkha soldier in the Indian Army (7th battalion the 8th Gorkha Rifles) and recipient of the Sena Medal for bravery, and the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak medal, both awarded for his gallant conduct durin ...

– Nepali soldier in Indian Army *

Purnima Shrestha Purnima Shrestha () is a Nepalese mountaineer and photojournalist is the first Nepalese woman to successfully climb the peak of Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest mountain in the world. Early life Shrestha was born in Arughat, Gorkha, Ganda ...

, Nepalese mountaineer and photojournalist

References

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