- Source: Pant (surname)
Pant (Sanskrit: पंत) or Panta (Nepali: पन्त) is a last name, commonly found in Nepal and in the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Maharashtra. It is a traditional surname used by Brahmins, a priestly community. Foremostly involved in the activities of the state, they were generally found involved in activities such as academics, religion, management, politics and warfare.
In India
Pant was used as a last name, suffix or title commonly by priests, as well as the officers, commanders, ministers and leaders of high influence in the affairs of the state. In Uttarakhand, many Brahmin communities use this as surname. In Maharashtra, Brahmin groups who have used the term as part of their names usually belong to either of the 3 Brahminical groups such as Deshastha, Chitpavan and Karhade.
In Nepal
Pant people are also found in good numbers in Nepal. They are ethnically same as the Pant people of Uttarakhand. Usually being amongst the chief-office bearers in the kings courts along with the majority Pande rank holders, they were foremostly involved in affairs that concerned with education (also medicine), administration and warfare.
Notable people
Aditi Pant First Indian Lady to visit Antarctica
Aditya Bhushan Pant, Indian toxicologist, neurobiologist and a scientist
Anju Panta, Nepalese Pop and Folk Singer
Apa Pant, Indian diplomat and freedom fighter
Bahiroji Pingale (1708–1711) – the fourth Peshwa of the Maratha Empire and the younger son of Moropant Trimbak Pingle
Dasopant (1551–1615) – Marathi poet-saint and prolific writer of Varkari sect.; also known as Daso Digambar
Diksha Panth, Indian actress
Garima Panta, Nepalese Actress
Govind Ballabh Pant, the first Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
Govind Ballal Kher (Govind Pant Bundela) (1710–1760), general and trustee of Peshwa Bajirao I 's territories in Bundelkhand
Hargovind Pant Indian Freedom Fighter
Hari Pant General of the Maratha Empire
Hemad Pant, Prime Minister of Seuna (Yadava) dynasty
Ila Pant, Indian politician
Jayatirtha (Dhondopant Raghunath Deshpande) (1345–1388) – a Hindu philosopher, dialectician, and polemicist
K. C. Pant, former Indian Member of Parliament
Kamla Pant, Women Activist, part of Uttarakhand Mahila Manch, played a prominent role in the creation of Uttarakhand state
Maheshwar Panta (18th century), Army General of Gorkha Kingdom and Guru of King Prithvi Narayan Shah
Manoj Pant Director, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
M. C. Pant, Indian radiation oncologist and Padma Shri recipient
Meghna Pant, fiction author and financial journalist
Moropant Ramachandra Paradkar (1729–1794), Marathi poet who was the last among those classified by Marathi literary scholars as pandit poets.
Moropant Trimbak Pingle (1657–1683) – the first Peshwa in Shivaji Maharaj's Asthapradhan Mandal
Muktesh Pant, Indian–born businessman
Naya Raj Pant (1913–2002), Nepalese historian, astronomer, poet
Nilakanth Moreshvar Pingale (1683–1689) – the second Peshwa of the Maratha Empire and elder son of Moropant Trimbak Pingle
Parshuram Pant Pratinidhi and his descendants were the hereditary Pratinidhi's of the Maratha Empire and also the rulers of Aundh and Vishalgad
Pitambar Pant, Indian independence activist, civil service officer and writer
Prafulla Chandra Pant, former judge Supreme Court of India.
Prakash Pant, Uttarakhand Politician
Pushpesh Pant, academic, food critic and historian
Raghuji Pant, CPN-UML politician
Ram Raj Pant, Linguist of the Nepali language, literary writer and promoter of legal education in Nepal
Ramchandra Pant Amatya (1689–1708) – Amatya, Peshwa and Hukumat Panah of the Maratha Empire during the reign of Shivaji and Rajaram I
Ranjan Pant, CEO Advisor and Global Strategy Management Consultant
Rishabh Pant, Indian cricketer
Samarth Ramdas (Narayan Suryajipant Thosar) (1608–1681) – Hindu Vaishnava saint from Maharashtra
Santosh Panta, Nepalese actor, comedian, screenwriter, and director
Sheila Irene Pant, 10th Governor of Sindh, wife of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan.
Shivani, Gaura Pant, story writer for women's magazines
Sorabh Pant Indian standup comic and writer
Sumitranandan Pant, poet and philosopher
Sunil Babu Pant, LGBT social activist In Nepal
Surakshya Panta, Nepalese actress
Yadav Pant, Nepalese economist, politician and former Governor (Fifth) of Nepal Rastra Bank
