https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=MarajMaraj - Revision history2026-07-30T16:13:55ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Maraj&diff=460215&oldid=prevDiazonium at 09:09, 15 January 20262026-01-15T09:09:19Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{wikt|Maraj}}<br />
'''Maraj''', '''Maharaj''', '''Maharajh''', '''Maragh''', or '''Maharagh''' is a [[Hindu]] [[Indian people|Indian]] [[surname]] derived from the Sanskrit word [[Maharaja]] meaning "great leader", "great ruler", or "great king". Originally used as an honorific suffix to a [[Hindu priest]]'s name, it became the surname of many Hindu priests who immigrated to different European colonies during the [[Indian indenture system]] and their descendants because when stating their names to the respective local colonial authorities they would state their whole name and many would include the honorific suffix of Maharaj, which the authorities erroneously documented as their surname. Notable individuals bearing the surname include:<br />
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*[[Badri Maharaj]], an [[Indo-Fijian]] politician<br />
* [[Bhadase Maraj|Bhadase Sagan Maraj]] (1919–1971), an [[Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian|Indo-Trinidadian]] politician, [[Hindu]] religious leader, founder of the [[Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha]], wrestler, author, and businessman<br />
*[[Davan Maharaj]], an [[Indo-Caribbean Americans|Indo-Trinidadian American]] journalist and former [[editor-in-chief]] and publisher of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''<br />
*[[Devant Maharaj]], an [[Indo-Trinidadian]] politician <br />
* [[Ishwar Maraj]] (b. 1969), an [[Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian|Indo-Trinidadian]] member of the [[Sport in Saint Lucia|St Lucia cricket]] team<ref name=Ishwar><br />
{{cite web|author=ESPN Cricinfo|title=Ishwar Maraj|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/23846.html|accessdate=29 February 2012}}</ref><br />
*[[Keshav Maharaj]] (b. 1990), an [[Indian South Africans|Indo-South African]] cricketer<br />
*[[Krishna Maharaj]] (1939–2024), a [[British Indo-Caribbean people|British Indo-Trinidadian]] businessman convicted of murder in [[South Florida]]<br />
*[[Nicki Minaj|Onika Maraj]] (b. 1982), a [[Trinidadians|Trinidadian]]-born American rapper known professionally as Nicki Minaj<br />
*[[Rabi Maharaj]] (b. 1947), a [[Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian|Trinidadian]] bestselling author <br />
*[[Rajiv Maragh]] (b.1985), an [[Indo-Jamaican]] [[jockey]]<br />
* [[Ralph Maraj]] (b. 1949), an [[Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian|Indo-Trinidadian]] politician, actor, playwright, and teacher<br />
*[[Ramesh Maharaj]], an [[Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian|Indo-Trinidadian]] politician and former [[Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago|Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago]]<br />
*[[Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj]], Bahraini economist and banker <br />
*[[Sadanand Maharaj]], an [[Indo-Fijian]] politician (1876-1962)<br />
*[[Satnarayan Maharaj]] (1931–2019), an [[Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian|Indo-Trinidadian]] [[Hindu]] religious leader, son-in-law of [[Bhadase Maraj|Bhadase Sagan Maraj]], and [[Secretary-General]] of the [[Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha]]<br />
*[[Mac Maharaj|Sathyandranath Ragunanan "Mac" Maharaj]], (b. 1935) in Newcastle, Natal), a South African politician, academic and businessman.<br />
*[[Valene Maharaj]] (b. 1986), an [[Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian|Indo-Trinidadian]] model, beauty pageant holder, former Miss Trinidad and Tobago, and former Miss Caribbean of the World<br />
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==See also==<br />
*[[Persaud]]<br />
*[[Rampersad]]<br />
*[[Gobin]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
{{surname}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Surnames of Indian origin]]<br />
[[Category:Hindustani-language surnames]]<br />
[[Category:Surnames of Hindu origin]]<br />
[[Category:Indian diaspora in the Caribbean]]<br />
[[Category:Indian diaspora in Fiji]]<br />
[[Category:Indian diaspora in South Africa]]</div>Diazonium