Kanitkar

Kanitkar is one of the many last names used by [Konkanastha Chitapavan][1] subcaste of Brahmins in India. Kanitkars, like most other Konkanastha Chitpavan Brahmins, originate in the Konkan strip located on the western seacoast of India - about 300-500 kilometers south of Mumbai. Kanitkars (other names: Satkar) were from original five towns and 23 descendant families, spread to 110 towns by 1988. Kanitkars belong to Kaushik Gotra, and consider Shri Vyadeshwar at Guhaghar, Maharashtra, India as their primary "family god" [Kul Daivat].

A large majority of Kanitkars still live in Pune, Maharashtra, India - with the rest in Mumbai, Vadodara and many other cities. Several Kanitkars have also migrated to foreign countries - United States, Australia and Singapore, to name a few.

Genealogy of Kanitkars is documented in "Kanitkar Kul Vrutanta", the latest (second) edition was published on January 26, 1988. At that time, there were around 780 Kanitkar males and 530 females living:

Gharane No.	Gharane Name	Total Males	Living Males	Living Females	Popular Cities	Contact
1	Basani - Ganeshwadi	283	124	70	Mumbai, Pune	Jayant Mahadeo
2	Basani - Sakharpe	128	43	30	Mumbai
3	Basani - Dhom	77	27	34	Pune, Mumbai	Vasudeo Janardan
4	Basani - Vetoshi	43	16	10	Pune, Kolhapur
5	Palshet - Adoor	191	65	38	Mumbai, Pune	Rajan Yashwant
6	Palshet - Junnar	202	101	66	Mumbai, Pune	Girish Sudhakar
7	Palshet - Bavdhan	237	110	78	Pune, Vadodara	Maheshwar Ramchandra
8	Palshet - Kothure	38	3	5	Sangli
9	Palshet - LimbaGanesh	77	37	28	Limbaganesh
10	Palshet - Chandwad	34	5	4	Mumbai
11	Palshet - Shirdhon	103	50	39	Pune, Mumbai
12	Palshet - Padli	39	15	5	Pune
13	Palshet - Bhadkambe	137	54	36	Mumbai, Gwalior	Guruprasad Dattatray
14	Palshet - Aachre	31	0	1
15	Palshet - Siddheshwar	46	18	14	Mumbai
16	Palshet - Guttal	74	33	16	Hubli
17	Palshet - Guhaghar	34	12	8	Mumbai
18	Palshet - Ambegaon	27	0
19	Palshet - Tarapur	34	5	5	Tarapur
20	Palshet - Chinchner	21	6	2	Pune, Satara
21	Bhatgaon - Aanjarle	43	21	17	Mumbai, Mahad
22	Nandiwade - Vileparle	29	14	11	Mumbai	Mandar Chintamani
23	Weldoor - Bhiwandi	45	21	13	Mumbai, Pune

These 1300+ Kanitkars live in 102 different cities/towns in 475 families. Most are in Greater Mumbai (129), Pune (106), Sangli (19), Vadodara (18) and Kolhapur (14).

Most popular Male names were Dattatray (15), Vinayak (12), Madhav, Milind, Vishwanath and Yashwant (11 each), and Gajanan, Gopal, Laxman and Prabhakar (10 each.) Popular female names were Usha (16), Jayashree (11), Anjali and Vijaya (10 each.)

The editors of the second edition envisioned a third edition around year 2010. To that end, [www.kanitkar.com][2] website is under construction and will have information of interest to all Kanitkars around the world. May be in today's electronic age, the next Kul Vruttanta would reside in the cyberspace.

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Alternatively, you may contact each Gharane's contact person directly.

Prominent Kanitkars

Shrimati Anjali Kanitkar - founder of famous marriage bureau Anuroop Wiwaha Sanstha[4]. She managed to tie knot of over 15.000 marriages over her stunning 25 years devoted to Anuroop. Further Anuroop is known for Brahmin and Chitpavan match making.

Shri Hrishikesh Kanitkar - famous cricketer. Specially known for his last bowl boundary against Pakistan in Bangladesh, for Asia Cup.

Shri Janardan Mankeshwar Kanitkar (APPA) has been in lifetime involved in the field of Library Development over five decades retired as Librarian of IIPA Delhi in late Sixties He along with his multi talented have been actively involved in amateur Marathi Stage at Delhi for over five decades popularly known as APPA and Vahini in Maharashtrian circle in Delhi.

Shrimati Kashibai Govindrao Kanitkar 1861-1948 is considered to be the first female writer in Marathi literature. Her main claim to fame came from her book on "Dr. Anandibai Joshi's biography and letters."

Prof. Keshav Ramchandra Kanitkar during his lifetime in twentieth century has been eminent educationist active in Pune. Involved in nurturing and development of Fergusson College has been Principal of the college for a long time.

Shri Madhav Kanitkar is a noted Marathi playwright and writer. His contributions include books like Mahabharath in Marathi, and monthly magazines Manini and Prapancha.

Shri Manko Mahadeo Kanitkar has been active in moneylending business at Pune during regime of Peshwas in mid eighteenth century. He subsequently led his retired life at Dhom near Wai in Satara District. His successors have continued this business until end of twentieth century.

Shri Narhari Keshav Kanitkar popularly known as AnnaSaheb first qualified engineer in the family graduated from College of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering in 1920s got his specialisation in UK and served the then GIP Railways and retired as Chief of Mechanical Engineering in late 1950s.

Shri Vinayak Gajanan Kanitkar is a famous writer with books like Nazi Bhasmsuracha Udayast, Israel yudha yudhya aNi yudha and many more to his credit.