Kaul (also spelled Koul; ks, कौल ( Devanagari)) is a surname used by the Kashmiri Pandit community in India., ''...looms rose to 24,000 by 1813. Despite the religious oppression that many hindus were subjected , they were however, useful to the Afghans because of their administrative experience. Kashmiri Pandits were not prevented into entering into government service & there were some families whose names consistently appear in public service - the Dhars, Kauls, Tikkus & Saprus.'' The word ''Koul'', meaning ''well born'', is derived from ''Kula'', the Sanskrit term for family or clan.

Origins

There are several theories regarding the origins of Kaul as a surname.

Koul from Mahakoul

One says that it is associated with the word ''Mahakoul'', an

epithet An epithet (, ), also byname, is a descriptive term (word or phrase) known for accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, di ...

for Shiva. ''Shiva'' followers were thus called '' Kaula''. Koul therefore means a devotee of Shiva.

Koul/Kaul from Shakta worship

Another states that since the Saraswat Brahmins of Kas'mira were believers in Shaivism and Shakta, the peak of Shaivism in Kashmir around the 9th–12th century gave rise to use of the name. This has led many scholars to believe that almost all Kashmiri Pandits were Kauls/Koul and they were later subdivided into different nicknames, then with the passage of time these nicknames became surnames. In recent years the use of the nicknames is being progressively discarded and the surname Kaul/Koul is being adopted by almost all such people. The word Kaul/Koul is associated with being an ''aghoreshwara'' or enlightened. The practitioners ''(sadhaks)'' of the ''Tantra'', associated with Shakti worship, are believed to reach the top of the spiritual ladder, and thus become a ''Kaul/Koul''.

Notable people with Kaul surname

Anita Kaul Anita Kaul (née Kripalani;19 September 1954 – 10 October 2016) was an Indian Administrative Service officer best known for her contributions to the Indian education sector. She was a defining voice of the Right to Education movement and one ...

(1954–2016), Indian Administrative Service officer * Bansi Kaul (born 1949), Indian writer and theatre director * Bharat Kaul, Bengali Actor *

Brij Mohan Kaul Brij Mohan Kaul (1912-1972) was a Lieutenant General in the Indian Army. He served as the Chief of General Staff during 1961–1962 and was regarded as a key architect of Indian military response to the Chinese challenge. In October 1962, h ...

, commanded the Indian forces in the Sino-Indian War * Ekta Kaul (born 1987), Indian television actress * Hari Kishan Kaul (1869–1942), Kashmiri politician and author * Josh Kaul (b. 1980), 45th Attorney General of Wisconsin *

Kailas Nath Kaul Kailas Nath Kaul (1905–1983) was an Indian botanist, naturalist, agricultural scientist, horticulturist, herbalist, plant collector and herpetologist, and a world authority on Arecaceae. He founded India's National Botanical Research Institut ...

(1905–1983), Indian botanist and agricultural scientist, brother of Kamala * Kamala Kaul Nehru (1899–1936), Indian freedom fighter and wife of first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru * Kanchi Kaul, Indian TV actress and model * Krishna Kaul , Indian rapper, known as KR$NA, and formerly as Prozpekt * Mahendra Kaul (1922–2018), British BBC broadcaster and television presenter * Manav Kaul, Indian theatre director, playwright, actor and film-maker * Mani Kaul (1944–2011), Indian film director * Manohar Kaul (1925–1999), Indian painter *

Matthias Kaul Matthias Kaul (29 January 1949 – 1 July 2020) was a German percussionist and composer of classical music. Life and career Born in Hamburg, West Germany, Matthias Kaul studied percussion at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg an ...

(1949–2020), German musician * P. K. Kaul (1929-2007), ambassador of India to the United States (1986–1989) * Raj Kaul, Nehru family patriarch *

Robert H. Kaul Robert H. Kaul (August 28, 1911 – March 13, 2000) was a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court from September 27, 1965, to September 17, 1977. Kaul was appointed to the supreme court to take the place of Clair E. Robb who had died in the post. P ...

(1911–2000), Associate Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court * Siddarth Kaul (born 1990), Indian cricketer, medium pace bowler * Sheila Kaul (1915–2015) Indian politician, cabinet minister *

S. K. Kaul Air Chief Marshal Swaroop Krishna Kaul, PVSM, MVC, ADC (born 20 December 1935) is a former Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. Kaul served as the Air Chief from 1993 to 1995. Personal life Swaroop Krishna Kaul was born in Lucknow ...

(born 1934), Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force, Chief of Air Staff (India) 1993–1995 *

Triloki Nath Kaul Triloki Nath Kaul (1913 – January 16, 2000) was one of India's foremost diplomats in the 20th century. A member of the Indian Civil Service (ICS), he served in the foreign service branch, culminating in his being appointed Foreign Secretary twic ...

(1913–2000), Indian diplomat, Indian Foreign Secretary 1967–1972 *

V. N. Kaul Vijayendra Nath Kaul was the tenth Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) from 2002 to 2008. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2014. Early life and background Vijayendra Nath Kaul was born to Satindra Nath Kaul and his wife Padmavati ...

(born 1943), Indian civil servant, Comptroller and Auditor General 2002–2008 * Sanjay Kaul (born 1962), Indian businessman and founder of the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies * Sanjay Kishan Kaul (b.1958), Judge, Supreme Court of India and former lawyer

Notable people with Koul surname

* Anil Koul (born 1972), Indian pharmacologist *

Omkar Nath Koul Omkar Nath Koul (7 January 1934 – 7 Dec 2019) was a Kashmiri linguist. As a researcher, his interests included the areas of linguistics, language education, communications management, and comparative literature. Since the 1970s he has held s ...

(1941–2018), Indian linguist * Scaachi Koul (born 1991), Canadian journalist and writer *

Shadi Lal Koul Shadi Lal Koul (4 January 1954 – 12 July 2020) was a Kashmiri actor, best known for his comedy roles. He was also famous for his dialogues ''Begum salal tche kyazi goye malal'', '' Gonaye wanye chakha bonaye'' , '' Chaki pechni rass Yass posh ...

(1954–2020), Kashmiri actor

References