Saha (surname)

Saha (Bengali: সাহা), occasionally also spelt Shaha, is a Bengali surname, commonly used by the Bengali Hindus in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura, and in Bangladesh.^[1] The surname is commonly found among the Baishya Saha, Shunri, Karmakar, Subarna Banik, Gandhabanik, Namasudra, Baishya Kapali, Tili and some other castes of Bengal.^[2]

Meghnad Saha, an Indian astrophysicist and politician

Saha

Origin
Word/name	Bengali
Region of origin	Bangladesh India (West Bengal, Assam and Tripura)
Other names
Variant form(s)	Sādhu, Sāhu (obsolete)

Origin

In early twelfth century the Chandimau image inscription of the time of Rāmapāla, year 42, mentions a donor vanika (lit. merchant) sādhu Saharaņa, the son of sādhu Bhādulva originating from Rājagrha and residing in Etrahāgrāma.^[3]

Notable people

Artists and performers

• Anamika Saha, Indian actress
• Arun Saha, Bangladeshi actor and musician
• Ashim Saha, Bangladeshi poet and recipient of the Ekushey Padak
• Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, Bangladeshi actress
• Debattama Saha, Indian actress
• Debojit Saha, Indian singer
• Emon Saha, a Bangladeshi composer, musician and singer. He earned 7 Bangladesh National Film Awards for his music composition and direction.
• Ena Saha, Indian actress and producer
• Ishaa Saha, Indian actress
• Karuna Shaha, Indian artist
• Pijush Saha, Indian film director
• Sajeeb Saha, a Bangladeshi producer.
• Satya Saha, Bangladeshi music director and recipient of the Independence Day Award (posthumous)
• Shithi Saha, Bangladeshi singer and four-time recipient of the national award for best Tagore singer
• Surjit Saha, Indian actor, model, and social media influencer
• Swapan Saha, Indian film director
• Trina Saha, Indian actress

Politicians

• Ashish Kumar Saha, an Indian politician from Tripura, India. He is currently serving as President of Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee.
• Arunoday Saha, Indian Politician
• Bhanu Lal Saha, Former finance minister of Tripura
• Dhirendra Nath Saha, a Bangladesh Nationalist Party politician and a member of parliament from Narail-1.
• Gopal Chandra Saha, an Indian politician from Bharatiya Janata Party. In May 2021, he was elected as a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Maldaha (constituency).
• Mala Saha, an Indian politician from West Bengal. She is a former two time member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Kashipur Belgachia Assembly constituency.
• Manabendranath Saha, an Indian teacher and politician belonging to Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
• Manik Saha, Chief Minister of Tripura since 2022.
• Nilabati Saha, an Indian politician. She was elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Sainthia.
• Pundarikakshya Saha, an Indian politician from West Bengal. He is serving as a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Nabadwip constituency from 2001.
• Subrata Saha, an Indian eminent politician who served Minister of State for Public Works in the Government of West Bengal.
• Tapas Kumar Saha, an Indian politician from West Bengal. He was a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Tehatta Assembly constituency in Nadia district.

Scientists and academics

• Barna Saha, Indian-American computer scientist
• Bhaskar Saha, Indian biologist and recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
• Chandrima Shaha, Indian biologist and recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
• Kanak Saha, Indian astrophysicist and recipient of the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
• Meghnad Saha, Indian astrophysicist, developer of the Saha ionization equation
• Samir Kumar Saha, Bangladeshi scientist and recipient of the Ekushey Padak
• Saurabh Saha, an American biotech entrepreneur.
• Senjuti Saha, Bangladeshi scientist
• Sanat Kumar Saha, Bangladeshi economist and recipient of the Ekushey Padak

Sportsmen

• Aniruddha Saha, an Indian first-class cricketer who plays for Tripura.[1] He made his first-class debut for Tripura in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy.
• Arati Saha, First Asian woman to swim across the English Channel and first Indian woman sportsperson to receive the Padma Shri award
• Nandita Saha, Indian table-tennis player, Commonwealth bronze medalist (2006)
• Nilamber Saha, an Indian former cricketer. He played two first-class matches for Bengal between 1998 and 2000.
• Proloy Saha, an Indian footballer who played for East Bengal and the national team, as a defender.
• Sanjit Saha, a Bangladeshi cricketer who plays for Rangpur Division. He made his first-class debut on 8 February 2015 in the National Cricket League
• Subhajit Saha, Indian table tennis player, Commonwealth gold medalist
• Sudhir Saha, a wrestler, coach and wrestling administrator in India.
• Viki Saha, an Indian first-class cricketer who plays for Tripura.
• Wriddhiman Saha, Indian cricketer

Social workers and reformers

• Chittaranjan Saha, Bangladeshi educationist, publisher, and social worker, recipient of the Ekushey Padak
• Gopinath Saha, Bengali activist and Indian independence movement member
• Gour Gopal Saha, a retired Justice of the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court and a Hindu community activist.
• Nityanand Saha, Indian revolutionist
• Rai Bahadur Ranada Prasad Saha, Bangladeshi businessman, philanthropist, and recipient of the Independence Day Award (posthumous)

Others

• Munni Saha, a Bangladeshi journalist and television host.

Families

• Saha zamindar bari in Danga

See also

• Baishya Saha, trading caste dissident from Shunri
• Shunri, Bengali vintner caste
• Saha for other uses