Desai

Etymology

The word is derived from the Sanskrit deśa (country) and svāmī (lord).

Desai as a title

Desai was a title given to lords, and others who were granted a village or group of villages in Maharashtra, and North Karnataka. The title Desai should not be associated with a particular religion or caste, though a Desai would use the title of Rao or Rai or Raje as a suffix to his name denoting he is a king of those villages, The "Desai" title was given by Maratha emperors, Mughal emperors and by the Deccan sultanates.

In Maharashtra, the title Desai is conferred to feudal lords and village council members. Most of them are either Gaud Saraswat Brahmins, Deshastha Brahmins, Karhade Brahmins, Prabhus (CKP- Davane Prabhus and Pathare Prabhus), Lingayats, Patidars and Marathas.

Desais were the rulers of Kudal (Sindhudurg) in Maharashtra.

Desai, or a loftier compound, was a rare title for rulers of a few princely states, notably - Raja Sar Desai in the Maratha Savantvadi State from 1627 until the adoption of "Raja Bahadur" in 1763.

Desai Shri in Patdi (the former Viramgam State), in Eastern Kathiawar, where Desai was also the name of the ruling family, which belongs to the Desai clan of Kadwa Patidar.

In Gujarat, Desai is honoured to Anavil Brahmin, Khedaval Brahimins, Vaishnav Vanik and Rabari and Patidars caste people. The title was also given to feudal lords and revenue collectors

Desai as a surname

Desai as a surname is used by Gaud Saraswat Brahmin, Deshastha Brahmin, Karhade Brahmin, Marathas, Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu, Pathare Prabhu, Panchkalshi, Anavil Brahmin, Khedaval Brahmin, Rabari, Leva Patel, Patidar, and Jain communities of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Lingayat communities of Karnataka.

People with the surname

Notable people with the surname Desai include:

Public officers

Gopaldas Ambaidas Desai – politician; former Prince of Dhasa

Babubhai Desai – Ex MLA of kankrej

Kantilal Thakoredas Desai – second Chief Justice of Gujarat

Kevit Desai – Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education state department for Vocational and Technical Training, Kenya

Krishna Desai – CPI politician

Morarji Desai – Prime Minister of India (1977–79)

Mahadev Desai – Secretary to Mahatma Gandhi

S. T. Desai – first Chief Justice of Gujarat

Haridas Viharidas Desai – Diwan of Junagadh state (1883–95)

Prakash K. Desai – Air Marshal of Indian Air Force

Arts, sciences and business

Anita Desai – Author; mother of author Kiran Desai

Bhairavi Desai – American labor union leader

Bindu Desai – Actress

C. D. Desai – Banker and philatelist

Ebrahim Desai – Islamic scholar

Kiran Desai – Author; 2006 Man Booker Prize winner

Kishwar Desai – Author

Manmohan Desai – Director

Mavjibhai Desai – Vice Chairman of Banas Dairy

Meghnad Desai, Baron Desai – economist

Mihir A. Desai – American economist and professor at Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School

Nishtha Desai – Scholar and children's rights activist

Nitin Chandrakant Desai – Art director

Padma Desai – American economist and professor at Columbia University

Ramanlal Desai – Gujarati writer

Ranjit Desai – Marathi writer

Salil Desai – Author

Sapan Desai – American physician; publisher and discredited researcher

Umedram Lalbhai Desai – Physician

Culture and sports

Anang Desai - Indian actor

Anoop Desai – American singer

Gunwant Desai – Indian cricketer

K. R. Desai – Cricketer; philanthropist; educator

Prachi Desai – Actress

Ramakant Desai – Cricketer; India's first fast bowler

Rashami Desai – Actress

Ravish Desai – Actor

Renu Desai – Actress

Satyaki "Sattu" Desai – Environmental officer

Sean Desai – American football coach; Defensive Coordinator for the Chicago Bears

Subhash Desai – Shiv Sena leader

Tina Desai – Actress

Rajdeep Sardesai – News anchor