List of Kashmiri people

This is an incomplete list of notable persons of Kashmiri origin.

Administrators, diplomats, bankers and jurists

• Munir Butt (1940- ), former British diplomat
• Birbal Dhar (early 19th century), invited Maharaja Ranjit Singh to Kashmir
• Durga Prasad Dhar (1918–1975), ambassador of India to the Soviet Union, and politician
• Mirza Pandit Dhar, prominent Kashmiri during the rule of Azim Khan
• Mufti Baha-ud-Din Farooqi (1923- ), the twelfth Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir
• Purushottam Narayan Haksar (1913–1998), political strategist
• Rameshwar Nath Kao (1918–2002), first chief of the Research and Analysis Wing, India's intelligence agency (from 1969–1977)
• Neel Kashkari (1973- ), Interim Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability in the United States Department of the Treasury
• Farooq Kathwari (1944- ), Chief Executive, Ethan Allen Inc, USA
• Mohammad Amin Mir, Deputy Director Fisheries Jammu and Kashmir
• Mohan Kaul (1953- ), Director General, Commonwealth Business Council, London
• P. K. Kaul, ambassador of India to the United States (1986–1989)
• Triloki Nath Khoshoo (1927–2002), secretary of the Department of Environment in the Indira Gandhi Government, and environmentalist
• Mohan Lal (1812–1877), diplomat in the First Anglo-Afghan War, and writer
• Mehraj Mattoo (1961- ), Global Head, Commerzbank AG, London
• Amitabh Mattoo (1962- ), Vice Chancellor, Jammu University
• Braj Kumar Nehru (1909–2001), ambassador of India to the United States (1961–1968) and Governor of Assam (1968–1973)
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900–1990), ambassador of India to the United States (1949–1952), President of the United Nations General Assembly (1953), politician, sister of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Farah Pandith (1969- ), U.S. State Department Special Representative
• Tej Bahadur Sapru (1875–1949), lawyer, political and social leader during the British Raj

Politicians

• Ruhollah Khomeini Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Mostafavi Moosavi Khomeini (1902–1989 ) 1st Supreme Leader of Iran, His Grandfather was from Kashmir
• Farooq Abdullah (1936- ), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1982–1984, 1986–1990, 1996–2002), son of Sheikh Abdullah
• Omar Abdullah (1970- ),Current Chief Minister Jammu And Kashmir member of the 14th Lok Sabha, son of Farooq Abdullah, grandson of Sheikh Abdullah
• Sheikh Abdullah (1905–1982), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1948–1953), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1975–1977, 1977–1982)
• Nazir Ahmed (1958- ), member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom
• Sadiq Ali (1952- ), politician, poet, writer, and environmentalist
• Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, educator, reformer, a founder of the University of Kashmir
• Ghulam Nabi Azad (1949- ), former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
• Muzaffar Baig (1946- ), Deputy Chief Minister, Finance Minsister, Law Minister, Tourism Minister of Jammu & Kashmir (2002–2008)
• Maqbool Butt (1938–1984), co-founder of the JKLF Party
• Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq (d. 1990), chairman of the Aawami Action Committee
• Indira Gandhi (1917–1984), Prime Minister of India, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991), Prime Minister of India, son of Indira Gandhi, grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Sheila Kaul (1915- ), former Indian governor and cabinet minister, social reformer, and educationist
• Deepa Kaul (1944- ), former minister, social worker and human rights defender
• Kailash Nath Katju (1887–1968), freedom fighter, a prominent lawyer who participated in the INA trials, former governor and chief minister of several Indian states, cabinet minister under Jawaharlal Nehru
• Ram Chandra Kak (1893–1983), archaeologist and politician
• Syed Ali Shah Geelani (1929- ),Most prominent figure in Jammu & Kashmir, Member of Jamait e Islami, Founder and Chairman of Tehreek e Hurriyat J&K, Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (G)
• Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan (1915–2003), founder and first President of Azad Kashmir
• Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan (1934- ), politician, former prime minister and former president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
• Sardar Sayab Khalid (1940- ), former Speaker of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
• Saifuddin Kitchlew (1888–1963), freedom fighter and politician
• Abdul Ghani Lone (1932–2002), lawyer, politician and founder of the People's Conference
• Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad (1907–1972), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1953–1963)
• Bilal Nazki (1947- ), Chief Justice in India
• Mehbooba Mufti (1959- ), female politician, member of the 14th Lok Sabha
• Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964), first Prime Minister of independent India
• Motilal Nehru (1861–1931), Indian independence activist, president of the Indian National Congress
• Syed Mir Qasim, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1971–1975)
• Hashim Qureshi, (1953-), Chairman Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party
• Shakeel Bakshi, (1963-), Freedom fighter, Chairman and one of the founder member of Islamic Students League(ISL).
• Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, (1929- ), former governor of Bihar and of Madhya Pradesh, State Railway Minister
• Raja Mummtaz Hussain Rathore (d. 1999), former Prime Minister and Speaker of Azad Kashmir
• Muhammad Farooq Rehmani (1938-), Chairman of the Peoples Freedom League, former Convener of the Hurriyat Conference
• Ghulam Muhammad Sadiq, Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1964–1965), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1965–1971)
• Mufti Muhammad Sayeed (1936- ), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (2002–2005)
• Ghulam Mohammad Shah (1920–2009)), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1984–1986)
• Shabir Shah (1953- ), Founder of the Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party. Known as Nelson Mandela of India
• Khwaja Shams-ud-Din (1922–1999), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1963–1964)
• Nawaz Sharif (1949- ), former Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Saif-ud-din Soz (1937- ), long-time member of the Parliament of India, former Union Minister of Environment & Forests, former Minister of Water Resources,President JKPCC
• Abdul Qayyum Khan Former Chief minister NWFP Pakistan
• Mehtab Ahmed Khan Ex Chief Minister NWFP Pakistan
• Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad Ex Federal Information Minister Pakistan
• Ishaq Dar Ex federal minister Pakistan
• Khawaja Saad Rafique ex Federal Minster Pakistan
• Khawaja Muhammad Asif MNA Sailkot PML-N

Armed forces

• Kapil Kak, Air Marshal in the Indian Air Force
• Mohammed Amin Naik, Major General in the Indian Army
• Brij Mohan Kaul, commanded the Indian forces in the Sino-Indian War
• S. K. Kaul (1934- ), Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force, former Chief of Air Staff (India) (1993–1995)
• Raja Habib ur Rahman Khan (1913–1978), freedom fighter, officer in the Indian National Army, known as Fateh-e-Bhimber (Liberator of Bhimber)
• Aziz Khan (1947- ), General in the Pakistan Army, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Sardar Muhammad Anwar Khan (1945-), retired Major General of the Pakistan Army
• Tapishwar Narain Raina (1921–1980), Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army (1975–1978)

Kings and royals

• Raja Sukh Jivan, king of Kashmir (1754–1762)
• Lalitaditya Muktapida, emperor of Kashmir (724-760)
• Maharaja Hari Singh (1895–1961), the last ruling Maharaja of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir
• Karan Singh (1931- ), son of Maharaja Hari Singh, diplomat, and politician

Artists

• Manohar Kaul (1925- ), painter
• Ratan Parimoo (1936- ), art historian, and painter
• Ghulam Rasool Santosh (1929–1997), painter

Performing artists

• Omkar Nath Dhar (Jeevan), actor
• Maanvi Gagroo (1985- ), actor
• Muzammil Ibrahim (1984- ), model, actor
• Katrina Kaif (1984- ) model, actress
• Kiran Kumar, actor
• Mushtaq Kak (1961- ), theater director
• Bansi Kaul (1949 - ), theater director
• Hina Khan (1986 - ), actress
• Anupam Kher (1955 -), actor
• Abid Kashmiri, actor

Authors and poets

• Muhammad Iqbal (1877 –1938) was a Muslim poet and philosopher. Commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal
• Ghulam Ahmad (1885–1952), poet, better known by the pen name Mahjoor
• Agha Shahid Ali (1949–2001), poet
• Pamposh Bhat, (1958- ), author and environmentalist
• Chandrakanta (1938- ), novelist and short story writer
• Mahmud Gami (1765–1855), composed a version of the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha
• Krishna Hutheesing (1907–1967), author, and sister of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Manju Kak, short story writer
• Zinda Kaul (1884–1965), poet, also known as masterji
• Moti Lal Kemmu (1933- ), playwright
• Maqbool Shah Kralawari (1820–1876), lyricist
• Hari Kunzru (1969- ), British novelist of Kashmiri descent
• Saadat Hasan Manto (1912–1955), short story writer
• Basharat Peer (1977- ), author
• Javaid Rahi (1970- ), poet, and expert on Gujjar affairs
• Santha Rama Rau (1923- ), travel writer
• Salman Rushdie (1947- ), novelist and essayist
• Gita Sahgal, (1956- ) writer, journalist, film director, human rights activist.
• Nayantara Sahgal (1927- ), Indo-Anglian writer, novelist
• Jaspreet Singh, novelist and playwright
• Moti Lal Saqi (1936–1999), poet, writer, folklorist and researcher
• S.L. Sadhu (1917–), Scholar,Professor,poet, writer, folklorist and Historian
• Prof. Rehaman Rahi Poet
• Mohammad Yousuf Teng (Writer)
• Prof. Hamidi Kashmiri (Writer & Poet)
• Zareef Ahmad Zareef (Poet)
• Prof. Hajeni (Writter & Poet)
• Shafaq Sopore (Writter)
• Prof. G.M Shad ( Author)
• Nazir Kulgami (Poet)
• G.N Aatish (Author)
• Zahid Mukhtar (Writter)
• Prof. Shad Ramzan (Writter)
• Nor Shah (Writter)
• M. Shafi Ayaz (Author)
• Sajad Hussain ( Writter)
• DR. Bashir Nehvi (Writter)
• DR. S.M Iqbal ( Author)
• Syed Rasool Pampori (poet)
• Ali Shaida (poet)
• Syed Yaqoob Dilkash (Writter)
• Bashir Dada (Author)
• Prof. R.L Shant (Author)

Philosophers and historians

• Abhinavagupta, (ca. 950-1020), philosopher, mystic and aesthetician
• Anandavardhana (820-890), philosopher and author of the Dhvanyaloka
• Bhaskara
• Prajna Bhatta (16th century), historian
• Jonaraja (15th century), historian
• Subhash Kak (1947- ), writer, philosopher, and computer scientist
• Kalhana (12th century), historian and author of Rajatarangini
• Bhatta Kallata, a notable Shaivite thinker
• Gopi Krishna (1903–1980), writer and mystic
• Kshemaraja (10th century), philosopher
• Lalleshwari (1320–1392), saint-poetess
• Shrivara (15th century), historian
• Somananda (875-925) a teacher of Kashmir Shaivism
• Utpaladeva, a teacher of Kashmir Shaivism
• Vasugupta (860-925), author of the Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta

Saints

• Ruhollah Khomeini Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ruhollah Mostafavi Moosavi Khomeini (1902–1989 ) 1st Supreme Leader of Iran, His Grandfather's Origin is from Kashmir
• Hamza Makhdum (d.1563), poet, Sufi saint and social reformer
• Mian Muhammad Bakhsh (1830–1907), Sufi saint, and poet
• Swami Lakshman Joo Raina (1907–1991), scholar of Kashmir Shaivism
• Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali (1377–1440), poet and social reformer

Scholars and Educationists

• Kailas Nath Kaul (1905–1983), Indian botanist, agricultural scientist, agronomist, and educationist
• Braj Kachru (1932- ), researcher in English linguistics
• Omkar N. Koul (1941- ), researcher in linguistics, language education, communication, and comparative literature
• Ravinder Kumar (1933–2001), historian
• Jaishree Odin, post-modern literary theorist, professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Hawaii
• Giridhari Lal Pandit, historian of science, professor of philosophy
• Lalita Pandit, poet, professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
• Balajinnatha Pandita (1916–2007), Sanskrit scholar, expert on Kashmir Shaivism

Singers and Musicians

• Raj Begum, singer, awarded the Padma Shri in 2002
• Malika Pukhraj (1912–2004), singer
• Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz, proponent of Kashmiri Sufi music
• Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, singer and composer
• Bhajan Sopori, santoor player, awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1993 and the Padma Shri in 2004
• Qazi Touqeer (1985- ), singer in Kashmiri and Hindi languages; Fame Gurukul finalist
• Neerja Pandit, singer, Kashmiri Folk Music, Hindi Film & Television Music

Sportsmen

• Ishfaq Ahmed (1983- ), football player with Mohun Bagan
• Rumeli Dhar (1983- ), Indian cricket player
• Wasim Feroze (1986- ), football player with East Bengal FC
• Kamaljeet Kumar (1988- ), football player with Mumbai FC
• Abid Nabi (1985- ), member of the Indian Cricket Team
• Suresh Raina (1986- ), member of the Indian national cricket team
• Vivek Razdan (1967- ), member of the Indian Cricket Team
• Mehrajuddin Wadoo (1984- ), member of the Indian national football team and East Bengal FC

See also

• List of Kashmiri Pandits