Shakya (surname)

Not to be confused with Shakya.

Shakya[1][2] is an Indian surname and is part of the broader Kushwaha community including other surnames like Maurya, Kachhi, Saini, Koeri[3] etc, who collectively assert descent from Kusha, a son of the avatar of Vishnu, Rama. This caste group is considered as one of the most numerous OBC castes in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It is estimated that they are distributed across the states, in almost all assembly constituencies.[4][5][6][7] In Uttar Pradesh, they have preponderance in Etah Lok Sabha constituency.[8]

  1. ^ "Swami Prasad Maurya's exit: BSP loses OBC face, Mayawati's voice before the media". Indian express. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  2. ^ "BJP bets big on non-Yadav OBCs in UP Assembly polls". Economic Times. Archived from the original on 28 April 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Peasants and Monks in British India". publishing.cdlib.org. Original Text from Peasants and Monks in British India "Kushvaha-kshatriya identity was espoused by agricultural communities well known throughout the Gangetic north for an expertise in small-scale vegetable and poppy cultivation. Prominent among them were Kachhi and Murao agriculturalists of central Uttar Pradesh, Kachhvahas of western Uttar Pradesh, and Koiris of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh."
  4. ^ "Will the caste arithmetic add up as planned?". thehindubusinessline. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Swami Prasad Maurya: 7 things about former BSP leader who is creating ripples before UP polls". Financial Express. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023. Maurya belongs to the biggest caste group among OBCs after Yadavs and Kurmis. Known by the surnames Kachhi, Maurya, Kushwaha, Saini and Shakya, this group is present in most assembly seats from east to west UP.
  6. ^ "Uttar Pradesh elections: Swami Prasad Maurya says no intention to go back to BJP; court issues arrest warrant". Times of India. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Haryana government adds Kushwah, Koeri, Maurya caste to Backward Caste list". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Suraj Singh Shakya a spent force in politics, says Etah MP". Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.