List of Kashmiri people

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

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

Activists

• Parveena Ahanger Co-founder and chairman of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP), nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005.
• Khurram Parvez,Kashmiri human rights activist.
• Parvez Imroz, Kashmiri human rights lawyer and a civil rights activist.
• Mushtaq Pahalgami, Social Activist, Environmentalist, President Himalayan Welfare Organization, Pahalgam

Administrators, diplomats, bankers and jurists

• Amitabh Mattoo (1962– ), Vice Chancellor, Jammu University, thinker & writer, Padma Shri awardee
• Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad Prime Minister Jammu and Kashmir 1953 to 1964.
• Birbal Dhar (early 19th century), invited Maharaja Ranjit Singh to Kashmir
• Braj Kumar Nehru (1909–2001), ambassador of India to the United States (1961–1968) and Governor of Assam (1968–1973)
• Durga Prasad Dhar (1918–1975), ambassador of India to the Soviet Union, and politician
• Farah Pandith (1969– ), U.S. State Department Special Representative
• Farooq Abdullah, former Cabinet Minister and Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
• Haji Gokool Meah, industrialist and businessman in Trinidad and Tobago
• M. L. Madan, Veterinarian, Scientist, Administrator.
• Masood Khan, Career Diplomat and President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
• Markandey Katju, (1946-), Former Judge at the Supreme Court of India
• Mehraj Mattoo (1961– ), British Investment Banker, Economist, Harvard Fellow
• Mirza Pandit Dhar, Kashmiri during the rule of Azim Khan
• Mohan Lal (1812–1877), diplomat in the First Anglo-Afghan War, and writer
• Neel Kashkari (1973– ), Interim Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Stability in the US Treasury
• P. K. Kaul (1929-2007), ambassador of India to the United States (1986–1989)
• 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)
• Shah Faesal IAS topper (2009),One of the youngest and most dynamic minds in state bureaucracy, an iconic figure among Kashmiri youth
• Sheikh Abdullah (5 December 1905 – 8 September 1982), Leader of the National Conference, Prime Minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir after its accession to India in 1947.
• T.N. Kaul (1913–2000), ambassador of India to USA (1973–1976), Soviet Union & Iran. Foreign Secretary, Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
• V. N. Kaul Comptroller and Auditor General of India (2002-2008).
• Tej Bahadur Sapru (1875–1949), lawyer, political and social leader during the British Raj
• Triloki Nath Khoshoo (1927–2002), secretary of the Department of Environment in the Indira Gandhi Government, and environmentalist
• 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

Armed forces

• Brij Mohan Kaul, commanded the Indian forces in the Sino-Indian War
• Asghar Khan, Pakistan First Air Force Chief Air Marshal
• General Aziz Khan, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee in the Pakistan Army
• Colonel Anil Kaul, VrC, Indian Army
• Mahendra Nath Mulla
• Mohammed Amin Naik, Major General in the Indian Army
• Mushaf Ali Mir, Air Chief Marshal (1947–2003) Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force (2000–2003)
• S. K. Kaul (1934– ), Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force, former Chief of Air Staff (India) (1993–1995)
• Tahir Rafique Butt, Air Chief Marshal is the current Chief of the Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force (2012 -)
• Tapishwar Narain Raina (1921–1980), Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army (1975–1978)

Authors and poets

• Abdul Ahad Azad, Kashmiri poet
• Agha Shahid Ali, (1949-2001) Poet
• Amin Kamil (1924-2014), Kashmiri poet & short story writer
• Basharat Peer (1977– ), author
• Bilhana, 11th century poet
• Marghoob Banihali, Kashmiri poet from Banihal, Kashmir.
• Chandrakanta (1938– ), novelist and short story writer
• Dina Nath Walli alias Al-mast Kashmiri (1908–2006), poet as well as renowned water color artist
• Ghulam Ahmad (1885–1952), poet, better known by the pen name Mahjoor
• Ghulam Nabi Firaq (1922-), poet, writer and educationist
• Habba Khatun 16th century poet, known as Zoon (the Moon) because of her immense beauty
• Hakeem Manzoor (1937–2006) an Urdu writer, poet & administrator. He has written more than 15 booksincluding Na Tamaam, Barf Ruton Ki Aag and Lahu Lamas Chinar.
• Hari Kunzru (1969– ), British novelist of Kashmiri descent
• Khalid Hasan (1935–2009) writer, senior Pakistani journalist and diplomat.
• Krishna Hutheesing (1907–1967), author, and sister of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Mahmud Gami (1765–1855), composed a version of the story of Yusuf and Zulaikha
• Manju Kak, short story writer
• Maqbool Shah Kralawari (1820–1876), lyricist
• Meeraji (1912–1949) Urdu poet, lived the life of a bohemian and worked only intermittently
• Momin Khan Momin (1800–1851) Indian poet known for his Urdu ghazals
• Moti Lal Kemmu (1933– ), playwright
• Muhammad Din Fauq (1877-1945) writer and first journalist of Kashmir.
• Muhammad Iqbal (1877–1938) Muslim poet and philosopher. Commonly referred to as Allama Iqbal
• Nayantara Sahgal (1927– ), Indo-Anglian writer, novelist
• Nyla Ali Khan, Professor, writer, granddaughter of Sheikh Abdullah.
• Pamposh Bhat, (1958– ), author and environmentalist.
• Rasul Mir, also known as the John Keats of Kashmir.
• Rehman Rahi, Kashmiri poet
• S.L. Sadhu (1917–), Scholar, Professor, poet, writer, folklorist and Historian
• Saadat Hasan Manto (1912–1955), short story writer, member Progressive Writers' Movement
• Salman Rushdie (1947– ), novelist and essayist
• Santha Rama Rau (1923– ), travel writer
• Sheikh Showkat Hussain (1954– ), author and political analyst
• Shivkumar Sharma (1938– ) Indian Santoor player, Santoor being a folk instrument from Kashmir
• Zinda Kaul (1884–1965), poet, also known as Masterji
• Zulfiqar Naqvi Urdu poet and English lecturer, from Mendhar Tehsil, Jammu and Kashmir
• Bill Koul (1962- ), author, philosopher, columnist, editor and professional engineer

Philosophers and historians

• Abhinavagupta, (ca. 950–1020), one of India's greatest philosophers, mystics and aestheticians
• Ahmad Hasan Dani (1920–2009), intellectual, archaeologist, historian, linguist
• Anandavardhana (820–890), philosopher and author of the Dhvanyaloka
• Bhaskara, writer on the Kashmir Shaivism
• Bhatta Kallata, a Shaivite thinker
• Gopi Krishna (1903–1980), writer and mystic
• Prem Nath Bazaz Kashmiri politician, scholar and author
• Jonaraja (15th century), historian and poet
• Kalhana (12th century), historian and author of Rajatarangini
• Kshemaraja (10th century), philosopher and a disciple of Abhinavagupta
• Kumarajiva (4th n 5 century CE), Buddhist scholar in China
• Lalleshwari (1320–1392), saint-poet
• Prajna Bhatta (16th century), historian
• Shrivara (15th century), historian
• Somananda (875–925) a teacher of Kashmir Shaivism
• Subhash Kak (1947– ), writer, philosopher, and computer scientist
• Utpaladeva, a teacher of Kashmir Shaivism
• Vasugupta (860–925), author of the Shiva Sutras of Vasugupta

Politicians

• Abdul Ghani Lone (1932–2002), lawyer, politician and founder of the People's Conference
• Abid Hassan Minto Pakistani lawyer and politician
• Agha Shorish Kashmiri scholar, writer, debater, and leader of the Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam, figure of the freedom movement of undivided India
• Asiya Andrabi (1963), Chief Of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Kashmiri separatist leader
• Baba-e-Poonch Khansahb Col. Khan Muhammad Khan, member of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly from 1934 to 1946. Chairman War Council of Azad Jammu & Kashmir in 1947 and then member Defence Council. Founder of Sudhan Educational Conference.
• Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad (1907–1972), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1953–1963)
• Begum Akbar Jahan Abdullah, Politician, wife of Sheikh Abdullah
• Birbal also Maheshdas Bhat (1528–1586), the Grand Vizier (Wazīr-e Azam) of the Mughal court in the administration of Emperor Akbar
• Birbal Dhar leader in the Kashmiri resistance to Afghan rule in the early 19th century
• Deepa Kaul (1944– ), former minister, social worker and human rights defender
• Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan, Politician MLA and Minister for Finance, Health and P&D
• G. N. Ratanpuri (1954–), Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) from J&K National Conference
• Ghulam Ahmad Ashai, educator, reformer, a founder of the University of Kashmir
• Ghulam Mohammad Shah (1920–2009)), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1984–1986)
• Ghulam Muhammad Sadiq, Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1964–1965), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1965–1971)
• Ghulam Nabi Azad (1949– ), former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir
• Hashim Qureshi, (1953–), Chairman Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party
• Indira Gandhi (1917–1984), Prime Minister of India, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister of Pakistan
• Jawaharlal Nehru (1889–1964), first Prime Minister of independent India
• Kailash Nath Katju (1887–1968), freedom fighter, lawyer, participated in INA trials, former governor, chief minister of several Indian states, cabinet minister under Jawaharlal Nehru
• Khan of Mong
• Khawaja Muhammad Asif MNA Sailkot PML-N
• Khawaja Saad Rafique Pakistani Minister of Railways
• Khwaja Shams-ud-Din (1922–1999), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1963–1964)
• Khurshid Hasan Khurshid, First elected President of Azad Kashmir (1924-1988)
• Kiran Imran Dar, Politician and MNA Of PMLN
• Maqbool Butt (1938–1984), co-founder of the JKLF Party
• Masarat Alam, Separatist leader
• Maulana Mazhar Ali Azhar (1895–1974) one of founders, leader of Majlis-e-Ahrar-ul-Islam, political figure in the history of Sub-Continent
• Mehbooba Mufti (1959– ), female politician, member of the 14th Lok Sabha
• Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq (d. 1990), chairman of the Aawami Action Committee
• Mohammad Abbas Ansari (1936– ) Founder and Chief Patron of J&K Ittihadul Muslimeen, Ex-Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference
• Mohammad Abdul Qayyum Khan President and Prime minister of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
• Muhammad Ibrahim Khan (1915 – 2003), founder and first President of Azad Kashmir.
• Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, (1929– ), former governor of Bihar and of Madhya Pradesh, State Railway Minister
• Motilal Nehru (1861–1931), Indian independence activist, president of the Indian National Congress
• Mufti Muhammad Sayeed (1936– 2016), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (2002–2005)
• Muzaffar Baig (1946– ), Deputy Chief Minister, Finance Minister, Law Minister, Tourism Minister of Jammu & Kashmir (2002–2008)
• Nasir Aslam Wani, Provincial President JKNC and former Home Minister of Jammu & Kashmir
• Nawaz Sharif (1949– ), incumbent Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Neel Kashkari (1973- ), American banker and politician
• Omar Abdullah (1970– ), former Chief Minister Jammu And Kashmir, member of the 14th Lok Sabha, son of Farooq Abdullah
• Rajiv Gandhi (1944–1991), Prime Minister of India, son of Indira Gandhi, grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru
• Ram Chandra Kak (1893–1983), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir during 1945–47 and an archaeologist
• Sadiq Ali (1952– ), politician, poet, writer, and environmentalist
• 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
• Saifuddin Kitchlew (1888–1963), freedom fighter and politician
• Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan President and Prime Minister Of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
• Sardar Khalid Ibrahim Khan, Politician
• Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Politician, Freedom Fighter and Former President of Azad Jammu & Kashmir
• Shabir Shah (1953– ), Founder of the Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party. Known as Nelson Mandela of Indian Administered Kashmir
• Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad Ex Federal Information Minister Pakistan
• Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Pakistan.
• Sheikh Abdullah (1905–1982), Prime Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1948–1953), Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1975–1977, 1977–1982)
• Sheila Kaul (1915– ), former Indian governor and cabinet minister, social reformer, and educationist
• Sher Ahmed Khan, Guerrilla fighter and also served as the President of Azad Kashmir
• Syed Ali Shah Geelani (1929– ) Member Jamait-e-Islami, Founder and Chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat J&K, Chairman All Parties Hurriyat Conference
• Syed Mir Qasim, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (1971–1975)
• Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (1900–1990) Indian diplomat and politician. Sister of Jawaharlal Nehru

Royalty

• Avantivarman, King of Kashmir
• Didda, Ruler of Kashmir
• Khwaja Abdul Ghani and his Dhaka Nawab Family reigned in Dhaka from mid 19th century to mid 20th century
• Lalitaditya Muktapida, emperor of Kashmir (724–760)
• Sankaravarman, King of Kashmir

Saints, mystics and philosophers

• Bhagwan Gopinath (1898–1968), a mystic and saint
• Lal Ded (1320–1392), a Shaivite saint
• Mian Muhammad Bakhsh (1830–1907), kashmiri Gujjar a Sufi saint and poet
• Rupa Bhawani (ca. 1620 – ca. 1720), a mystic from the Saahib clan of Kashmiri Pandits
• Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali (1377–1440), a saint who belonged to the Rishi order
• Swami Lakshman Joo (1907–1991), a scholar of Kashmir Shaivism

Scholars and educationists

• Ahmad Hasan Dani (1920–2009), Pakistani intellectual, archaeologist, historian, and prolific linguist
• Balajinnatha Pandita (1916–2007), Sanskrit scholar, expert on Kashmir Shaivism
• Braj Kachru (1932– ), researcher in English linguistics
• Hakeem Ali Mohammad (1906–1987), Unani Medicine scholar, physician expert on Unani Medicine
• Jaishree Odin, post-modern literary theorist, professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of Hawaii
• Kailas Nath Kaul (1905–1983), Indian botanist, agricultural scientist, agronomist, and educationist
• Nyla Ali Khan, Professor, writer, granddaughter of Sheikh Abdullah.
• Omkar N. Koul (1941– ), researcher in linguistics, language education, communication, and comparative literature
• Patañjali, compiler of the Yoga Sūtras, a collection of aphorisms on Yoga practice
• Ravinder Kumar (1933–2001), historian
• Sa'id al-Afghani (1911–1997), half-Kashmiri half-Syrian professor of Arabic
• Salman Rushdie - Fiction writer and academic
• Samsar Chand Kaul (1883-1977), teacher, author and ornithologist of Kashmir
• Vijay Vaishnavi - Researcher and scholar in the computer information systems field

Separatist leaders & militants

• Afzal Guru, convict in 2001 Delhi parliament attack
• Ashfaq Majeed Wani
• Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, Pro-Pakistan militant leader
• Asiya Andrabi
• Burhan Wani, former commander and militant of Hizbul Mujahideen
• Farooq Ahmed Dar, former militant and current chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
• Masarat Alam
• Mirwaiz Umar Farooq
• Mohammad Abbas Ansari, a Kashmiri separatist, ex-chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference
• Muhammad Ahsan Dar, founder and ex Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen
• Syed Ali Shah Geelani
• Yasin Malik, president of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front
• Zakir Rashid Bhat, commander of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind
• Sayeed Salahudeen, the head of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, pro-Pakistan Kashmiri separatist militant organisation operating in Kashmir.

Sportspeople

• Abid Nabi (1985- ), once regarded as fastest bowler in India
• Adil Rashid English Cricketer
• Aleem Dar, International cricket Umpire
• Amad Butt Pakistani Cricketer
• Asif Dar, boxer
• Awais Zia Pakistani Cricketer.
• Haroon Rasheed Dar (1953– ), former Pakistani cricketer.
• Iqra Rasool (2000-), cricketer
• Mehrajuddin Wadoo (1984– ), member of the Indian national football team and East Bengal FC
• Moeen Ali English Cricketer
• Munir Dar (field hockey)
• Munir Dar, Member of Pakistan National hockey Team
• Nauman Anwar Pakistani Cricketer
• Nida Dar, Pakistani cricketer
• Parvez Rasool (1989 -) first Kashmiri cricketer to play for India National Cricket team
• Salman Butt former Pakistan test captain
• Sana Mir (1986– ), female Pakistani cricketer and captain of the Pakistan women's team
• Sikandar Raza Pakistani-Zimbabwean Cricketer
• Suresh Raina, Indian cricketer
• The Great Gama, wrestler
• Usman Khawaja, Pakistani-Australian cricketer
• Usama Mir Pakistani cricketer
• Vivek Razdan (1967– ), member of the Indian Cricket Team

Visual and performing artists

• Aamir Bashir, actor
• Abhay Sopori, Indian Santoor player, composer & musician
• Abid Kashmiri, actor
• Ahad Raza Mir, Pakistani actor
• Ali Azmat, Musician
• Alla Rakha, actor
• Anupam Kher (1955 -), actor
• Anwar Shemza (1928–1985) artist and writer in Pakistan, later in UK. Published Urdu novels, poetry and plays
• Asif Raza Mir, Pakistani actor
• Bansi Kaul (1949 – ), theater director
• Bhajan Sopori, Indian Santoor player
• D.K. Sapru (1916–1979), actor
• Emmad Irfani (1980), model/actor
• Ghulam Hassan Sofi (1932–2009) singer and harmonium player
• Ghulam Mohammad Saznawaz, proponent of Kashmiri SufiMusic
• Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, singer and composer
• Ghulam Rasool Santosh (1929–1997), painter
• Hina Khan (1986)
• Kshmr Indian American DJ with Kashmiri ethnicity
• Khalid Abbas Dar, artist
• Khawaja Khurshid Anwar (1912–1984) filmmaker, writer, director and composer
• Kiran Kumar, actor
• Kunal Khemu, actor
• Malika Pukhraj (1912–2004), highly popular Ghazal and folk singer in Pakistan
• Mani Kaul (1950–2011), Indian Film Maker
• Manohar Kaul (1925– ), painter
• MC Kash Kashmiri hip hop artist
• Mekaal Hasan (1972– ) Pakistani musician and record producer, leader and composer for Mekaal Hasan Band
• Mir Sarwar, Bollywood actor
• Mohit Raina, Indian actor
• Mohit Suri (1981– ) Indian film director
• Muhammad Younis Butt Pakistani screenwriter
• Muneeb Butt, Pakistani actor
• Mushtaq Kak (1961– ), theater director
• Nanabhai Bhatt (1915–1999) film director and producer of Bollywood and Gujarati cinema
• Neerja Pandit, singer, Kashmiri Folk Music, Hindi Film & Television Music
• Omkar Nath Dhar (Jeevan), actor
• Pran Kishore, Kashmiri drama writer
• Priti Sapru, actor
• Pushkar Bhan, Padamashree, a radio actor & drama writer
• Qazi Touqeer (1985– ), singer in Kashmiri and Hindi languages
• Raj Begum, singer
• Raj Zutshi, Indian Bollywood & TV Actor
• Ratan Parimoo (1936– ), art historian and painter
• Samina Peerzada (1955– ) Pakistani television and film actress, director
• Sandeepa Dhar, actor
• Shaheer Sheikh, actor from Bhaderwah,Doda District of J&K
• Soni Razdan Indian TV actor and director

Journalists

• Nidhi Razdan, award-winning television journalist.
• Aamir Rafiq Peerzada, award winning journalist and documentary filmmaker.
• Fahad Shah , Kashmiri journalist and founder of The Kashmir Walla a monthly digital magazine and a daily news website.
• Kamran Yousuf Freelance Kashmiri photojournalist .