# Saha (surname)

Saha (Bengali: সাহা), occasionally also spelt Shaha, is a Bengali surname, commonly used by the Bengali Hindus in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura, and in Bangladesh. The surname is commonly found among the Baishya Saha, Shunri, Karmakar, Subarna Banik, Gandhabanik, Namasudra, Baishya Kapali, Tili and some other castes of Bengal.

## Origin

In early twelfth century the Chandimau image inscription of the time of Rāmapāla, year 42, mentions a donor vanika (lit. merchant) sādhu Saharaņa, the son of sādhu Bhādulva originating from Rājagrha and residing in Etrahāgrāma.

## Notable people

* Anamika Saha, Indian actress
* Arati Saha, First Asian woman to swim across the English channel & first Indian woman sportsperson to receive the Padma Shri award
* Arun Saha, Bangladeshi actor and musician
* Ashim Saha, Bangladeshi poet & recipient of the country's second-highest civilian award Ekushey Padak
* Barna Saha, Indian-American computer scientist
* Bhanu Lal Saha, Former finance minister of Tripura
* Bhaskar Saha, Indian biologist & recipient of the country's highest science award Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
* Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, Bangladeshi actress
* Chandrima Shaha, Indian biologist & recipient of the country's highest science award Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
* Chittaranjan Saha, Bangladeshi educationist, publisher, social worker & recipient of the country's second-highest civilian award Ekushey Padak
* Debattama Saha, Indian actress
* Debojit Saha, Indian singer
* Emon Saha, Bangladeshi composer
* Ena Saha, Indian actress & producer
* Gopinath Saha, Bengali activist for Indian independence and member of the Indian independence movement
* Ishaa Saha, Indian actress
* Kanak Saha, Indian astrophysicist & recipient of the country's highest science award Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize
* Mahadev Saha, Bangladeshi poet & recipient of the country's highest civilian award Independence Day Award
* Manik Chandra Saha, Bangladeshi journalist & recipient of the country's second-highest civilian award Ekushey Padak (posthumous)
* Manik Saha, Indian politician serving as the 11th and current Chief Minister of Tripura since 2022
* Meghnad Saha, Indian astrophysicist & developer of the famous Saha ionization equation
* Nityanand Saha, Indian revolutionist
* Pijush Saha, Indian film director
* Rai Bahadur Ranada Prasad Saha, Bangladeshi businessman, philanthropist & recipient of the country's highest civilian award Independence Day Award (posthumous)
* Samir Kumar Saha, Bangladeshi scientist & recipient of the country's second-highest civilian award Ekushey Padak
* Sanat Kumar Saha, Bangladeshi economist & recipient of the country's second-highest civilian award Ekushey Padak
* Satya Saha, Bangladeshi music director & recipient of the country's highest civilian award Independence Day Award (posthumous)
* Senjuti Saha, Bangladeshi scientist
* Shithi Saha, Bangladeshi singer & recipient of Bangladesh national awards - best Tagore singer (4 times)
* Subhajit Saha, Indian table tennis player & recipient of a gold medal at the 19th Commonwealth Games
* Subrata Saha, Indian politician
* Surjit Saha, Indian actor, model & social media influencer
* Swapan Saha, Indian film director
* Trina Saha, Indian actress
* Wriddhiman Saha, Indian cricketer