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.
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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 (born 1943), Indian oceanographer
Aditya Bhushan Pant, Indian toxicologist and neurobiologist
Anju Panta, Nepali singer
Apa Pant (1912–1992), Indian diplomat, Prince of Aundh, Gandhian, writer and freedom fighter
Bhimdatta Panta (1926–1953), Nepalese revolutionary leader and martyr
Buddhi Prasad Pant, Nepalese politician
Chandra Pant (born 1968), Indian politician and former teacher
Devidutt Pant (1907–1982), Indian freedom fighter
Dilli Raj Pant, Nepalese politician
Garima Panta, Nepalese actress
Govind Ballabh Pant (1887–1961), Indian politician and independence activist
Hargovind Pant (1885–1957), Indian politician
Hari Pant, General of the Maratha Empire
Ila Pant (born 1938), Indian politician
K. C. Pant (1931–2012), Indian politician
Kailash Chandra Pant (born 1936), Indian writer and journalist
Kamala Panta, Nepali politician
Kamla Pant (born 1956), Indian feminist, politician, and activist
Lokeshwar Singh Panta (born 1944), Indian judge
M. C. Pant (1956–2015), Indian radiation oncologist
Maheshwar Panta (18th century), Nepalese Army chief
Manoj Pant, Indian economist
Maya Panta, Nepalese politician
Meghna Pant, Indian author, journalist and speaker
Muktesh Pant (born 1954), Indian businessman
Naresh Dev Pant (born 1974), Graphic designer and artist
Naya Raj Pant (1913–2002), Nepalese polymath
Nilamber Pant (born 1931), Indian scientist
Pitambar Pant (died 1973), Indian independence activist
Prafulla Chandra Pant (born 1952), Indian judge
Prakash Pant (1960–2019), Indian politician and pharmacist
Pushpesh Pant (born 1947), Indian food critic and historian
Raghuji Pant, Nepalese politician
Rajiv Pant (born 1974), Executive, product designer, and engineer
Ram Raj Pant (1920–1993), Nepalese linguist
Ranjan Pant (born 1959), Indian advisor
Rishabh Pant (born 1997), Indian cricketer
Santosh Panta, Nepalese actor, comedian, screenwriter, and director
Sharmila Kumari Panta, Nepalese politician
Sorabh Pant (born 1981), Indian stand-up comedian and writer
Sudhansh Pant, Former Chief Secretary of Rajasthan
Sumitranandan Pant (1900–1977), Indian writer
Sunil Babu Pant (born 1972), Nepali human rights activist, monk and politician
Surakshya Panta, Nepalese actress
Urbadutta Pant, Nepalese politician
Yadav Pant (1928–2007), Nepali politician