Sethi
Encyclopedia
Sethi is a common Khukhrain
surname among Punjabi
people. Sethis are found in Punjab
, India
and Pakistan
and are mainly Hindu
s, Sikh
s
The Sanskrit term "sresthin" and the Pali term "setthi" are similar yet distinct. While the Sanskrit term found in the Brahmanas means "the best, then a leader, a nobleman, and a man of honour," the Pali term is associated with the beginning of commerce in the first third of the millennium before the common era.
Sethi was later referred to one who was a head of a tribe or businesses. Sethis are believed to be one of the bravest clans of Khatri's.The clan was developed as warriors and defenders of their land and they have also been in the civil, government, and military administration roles for centuries. They have also expanded into trade and mercantile businesses.
clan, (Warrior Clan) a regional sub caste of ten clans of Punjab
. Style of living in the 1930-40's was simple (similar to depicted in the Hindi TV serial "Buniyaad")with active participation from the Sethi youth in the Independence struggle against the British rule.
Originally from the town of Bhera in the Jech doab (Jhelum - Chenab interfluve) region of Sargodha district of Pakistani Punjab. Bhera was an important trading outpost on the road to Kabul
, and a 'taksal' (mint) during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Bhera has two Sethian de Mohallas (Vadda Sethia da Mohalla) that starts from Jethu di Khuee and the other, (Chhota Sethian da Mohalla), that takes off near Kacheri Bazaar and terminates near Circular Road close to the pre-partition-era Ram Leela Grounds. The houses in the main mohalla were famous for their carved doors.
Sethi's are Indo-Scythian people and have originally followed Hinduism
, however a significant number adapted Sikhism
during the 18th and 19th centuries. This, and also because many Hindu Sethi families, as well as other Khatri
(Khukhrain
) clans, raised at least one Sikh
son after the formation of the Khalsa
. Khukhrain's were one of the foremost followers of the Sikh Gurus, and traditionally brought up one son as a Keshdhari Sikh. This resulted in Khukhrain family names being present in both Hindu and Sikh communities worldwide.
A predominant section of the Hindu Khukhrain continue to follow dual religious traditions of both Sikh as well as Arya Samaj mores. This has been in spite of the religo-political competitive zeal of both the Arya Samaj and Tat Khalsa effort at creating purified identities.
Khukhrain
The Khukhrain are an ancient group of eight specific clans of the Khatri caste who originally hailed from the areas of the Salt Range and particularly the town of Bhera in Punjab...
surname among Punjabi
Punjabi people
The Punjabi people , ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ), also Panjabi people, are an Indo-Aryan group from South Asia. They are the second largest of the many ethnic groups in South Asia. They originate in the Punjab region, which has been been the location of some of the oldest civilizations in the world including, the...
people. Sethis are found in Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and are mainly Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
s, Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
s
Etymology
Sethi was derived from the Sanskrit word "Sresthi" which means Shreshth "The Best Among all".The Sanskrit term "sresthin" and the Pali term "setthi" are similar yet distinct. While the Sanskrit term found in the Brahmanas means "the best, then a leader, a nobleman, and a man of honour," the Pali term is associated with the beginning of commerce in the first third of the millennium before the common era.
Sethi was later referred to one who was a head of a tribe or businesses. Sethis are believed to be one of the bravest clans of Khatri's.The clan was developed as warriors and defenders of their land and they have also been in the civil, government, and military administration roles for centuries. They have also expanded into trade and mercantile businesses.
Origin
Sethi is a KhukhrainKhukhrain
The Khukhrain are an ancient group of eight specific clans of the Khatri caste who originally hailed from the areas of the Salt Range and particularly the town of Bhera in Punjab...
clan, (Warrior Clan) a regional sub caste of ten clans of Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
. Style of living in the 1930-40's was simple (similar to depicted in the Hindi TV serial "Buniyaad")with active participation from the Sethi youth in the Independence struggle against the British rule.
Originally from the town of Bhera in the Jech doab (Jhelum - Chenab interfluve) region of Sargodha district of Pakistani Punjab. Bhera was an important trading outpost on the road to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
, and a 'taksal' (mint) during the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Bhera has two Sethian de Mohallas (Vadda Sethia da Mohalla) that starts from Jethu di Khuee and the other, (Chhota Sethian da Mohalla), that takes off near Kacheri Bazaar and terminates near Circular Road close to the pre-partition-era Ram Leela Grounds. The houses in the main mohalla were famous for their carved doors.
Sethi's are Indo-Scythian people and have originally followed Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, however a significant number adapted Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
during the 18th and 19th centuries. This, and also because many Hindu Sethi families, as well as other Khatri
Khatri
Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...
(Khukhrain
Khukhrain
The Khukhrain are an ancient group of eight specific clans of the Khatri caste who originally hailed from the areas of the Salt Range and particularly the town of Bhera in Punjab...
) clans, raised at least one Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
son after the formation of the Khalsa
Khalsa
+YouWebImagesVideosMapsNewsMailMoreTranslateFrom: ArabicTo: EnglishEnglishHindiEnglishAllow phonetic typingHindiEnglishArabicAssumptionGoogle Translate for Business:Translator ToolkitWebsite TranslatorGlobal Market Finder...
. Khukhrain's were one of the foremost followers of the Sikh Gurus, and traditionally brought up one son as a Keshdhari Sikh. This resulted in Khukhrain family names being present in both Hindu and Sikh communities worldwide.
Sethi Saga
The present day Sethi's are descendents of Raja Khokard Maal who ruled a part of West Punjab with his seat at Bhera. He was instrumental in forging unity of all other sections and laid the foundation of a single powerful kingdom, which came to be known as Khukhrain clan. The various constituents were so brave a people that Mehmood Ghaznavi while invading India was always scared of the Sethi clan and had instructed his generals not to antagonise them and keep off their territories while conducting their campaigns.Religion
Sethi's of India are pre dominantly Hindu and Sikhs where as Sethi's of Pakistan follow Islam.A predominant section of the Hindu Khukhrain continue to follow dual religious traditions of both Sikh as well as Arya Samaj mores. This has been in spite of the religo-political competitive zeal of both the Arya Samaj and Tat Khalsa effort at creating purified identities.
Notable Sethis
- Geet SethiGeet SethiGeet Siriram Sethi of India is a professional player of English billiards who dominated the sport throughout much of the 1990s, and a notable amateur snooker player. He is a six-time winner of the professional-level and a three-time winner of the amateur World Championships, and holder of two...
(born AInsert footnote text herepril 17, 1961) is an Indian billiards player who dominated the sport of billiards throughout much of the 1990s. - Najam SethiNajam SethiNajam Sethi is an award-winning Pakistani journalist and the editor-in-chief of The Friday Times, a Lahore-based political weekly. He was previously the editor of Daily Times and Daily Aajkal newspapers. He also hosts a popular political program in Urdu, called Aapas ki Baat, on GEO News...
, a Pakistani journalist, editor, and media personality, is the editor-in-chief of The Friday Times - Prem Gopal "Biloo" Sethi, (born Karnal), the only amateur who won Indian Open Golf Championship in 1965 at Delhi.
- Pramod Karan Sethi (23 November 1927 – 5 January 2008) was the coinventor of the Jaipur footJaipur legThe Jaipur Leg also known as the Jaipur Foot is a rubber-based prosthetic leg for people with below-knee amputations, produced under the guidance of Dr. P. K...
- Rajendra SethiRajendra SethiRajendra Sethi is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films.He is married to Sushma Sethi. They have two children, daughter Gayantika and Son Sarthak.-Filmography:* Delhi Belly ...Jeweler...
is an Indian BollywoodBollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
actor who appears in BollywoodBollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
films. - Ram SethiRam SethiRam Sethi is an Indian actor.-Biography:Sethi entered the Indian film industry in 1969, and started off his career as an assistant to Ravi Tandon . After doing some free-lance work, he joined Prakash Mehra, and was employed as his right-hand man for over 20 years...
is a prominent BollywoodBollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
actor-director-writer who is also known as pyarelaal in the film industry. - Ramesh SethiRamesh SethiRamesh Kumar Sethi is a former Kenyan cricketer who represented East Africa in one first-class match and three One-Day Internationals in the 1975 World Cup. He was in the combined East African team for every match the team played in the World Cup. Sethi was primarily selected as an all rounder...
(born Nakuru, Kenya) represented East Africa in the inaugural Cricket World Cup (1975). - Ravi SethiRavi SethiRavi Sethi is an Indian computer scientist retired from Bell Labs and president of Avaya Labs Research. He is best known as one of three authors of the classic computer science textbook Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools, also known as the Dragon Book.Sethi was born in 1947 in Murdana,...
(born 1947) is an Indian Computer scientistComputer scientistA computer scientist is a scientist who has acquired knowledge of computer science, the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their application in computer systems....
retired from Bell Labs and now president of Avaya Labs Research - Ricky J SethiRicky J SethiRicky J. Sethi is a Director of The Madsci Network and has been chosen as a Computing Innovation Fellow, a highly prestigious award given by the CCC and the CRA...
is an Indian-American Computational scientistComputational scientistA computational scientist is a person skilled in scientific computing. This person is usually a scientist, an engineer, or an applied mathematician who applies high-performance computers in different ways to advance the state-of-the-art in their respective applied disciplines in physics, chemistry...
, Director of the MadSci NetworkMadSci NetworkThe Madsci Network is a website known primarily for its Ask-A-Scientist forum where users can ask questions to a panel of volunteer scientists. Each question, submitted via a Web interface, is reviewed by a volunteer moderator...
, and has also been named a Computing Innovation Fellow. - Simran SethiSimran SethiSimran Preeti Sethi is an Emmy award-winning Indian American journalist and associate professor at the University of Kansas.-Career:...
(born October 12, 1970, in Munich, Germany) is an American journalist, television producer and activist. - Suresh P. SethiSuresh P. SethiSuresh P. Sethi is Charles & Nancy Davidson Distinguished Professor of Operations Management and Director of the Center for Intelligent Supply Networks at The University of Texas at Dallas. He has contributed significantly in the fields of manufacturing and operations management, finance and...
is Charles and Nancy Davidson Professor of Operations managementOperations managementOperations management is an area of management concerned with overseeing, designing, and redesigning business operations in the production of goods and/or services. It involves the responsibility of ensuring that business operations are efficient in terms of using as little resources as needed, and...
and Director of the Center of Intelligent Supply Networks at University of Texas at DallasUniversity of Texas at DallasThe University of Texas at Dallas, also referred to as UT Dallas or UTD, is a public research university in the University of Texas System. The main campus is in the heart of the Richardson, Texas, Telecom Corridor, north of downtown Dallas...
. - Rajiv Sethi is a professor of economics at Barnard CollegeBarnard CollegeBarnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
, Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, who made significant contributions to financial economicsFinancial economicsFinancial Economics is the branch of economics concerned with "the allocation and deployment of economic resources, both spatially and across time, in an uncertain environment"....
and economics of inequality - Anil Sethi is a Motivator .Counsellor & Trainer , www.askanilsethi.com Founder of GK Group,
- Mudti Sethi is a DJ in Chicago Land Area and Owner of MSD Electronic Inc.