Kashmiri Pandit Surnames

"Arazbegi" is not a surname. This designation during the Maharaja's rule in J & K state referred to the senior officer who would present the peoples petitions(araz)to the maharaja for his consideration - in present day times it would be more like the Secretary to maharaja. The first Arazbegi was Pt. Ramji Laul & it was a mere coincidence that his second son Pt. Raja Kaul (1825 to 1900 AD)later also became an "Arazbegi" & also headed CID Police. Pt. Raja Kaul was a great literary scholar & his book of persian poetry "Diwan -e- Diary" was published by Cultural Academy, Govt. of J&K a rare collection of persian poetry eminating from Kashmir. Pt. Raja Kaul was a Chess champion of his times & besides had interests in astrology & sign languages. He invented a sign language called "Abjad".

The "Arazbegi" family house is at Sathu, Barbarshah (on the bund)- this is the only arazbegi family in Kashmir & besides the one there are no other Arazbegi families in J&K . The surname of the Arazbegi family is Kaul & the gotra is "Dattatriya".

"arazbegi" is in fact a designation/post held or a title given by his highness the then maharaja of Jammu& kashmir to Pt. Raja kaul "Arazbegi" .He was private secretary and police/CID chief of then Mahraja of jammu & kashmir.In addition Pt. Raja kaul was a great persian poet , his collections can be seen under the pen name "Dairi"in J&K cultural Academy memoirs.The cultural academy has published his works "Diwan -I- Dairi" under pub no 78.His youngest son was late pt.Hari chand kaul (living at sathu barbarshah), who in fact helped in writing Diwan -i- Dairi. The family tree of Pt Raja kaul arazbegi IS RECORDED AS UNDER:- 1.Late Pt. Gopi Kishen Kaul S/O Late Pt.Hari chand kaul
2.vijey, s/o Pt. Gopi Kishen Kaul
3.sushil -do-
4.Yogesh -do-
5.Sanjay -do-