Dutta, also spelled Datta, Dutt and Datt, is an Indian family name and surname that is found primarily among Bengali and Punjabi Hindus, also present among Assamese, and Haryanvi Hindus. Datta means "given" or "granted" in Sanskrit. It is also an alternative name for the Hindu deity Dattatreya.
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Assam
In Assam, Duttas/Dattas belong to Other Backward Classes(OBC) or upper caste and are associated with Koch Rajbongshi and Kalitas community of Assam. Kalita Dutta's are more inclined towards Eksaran Naam Dharma and thus may not religiously follow idol worship unlike most of the traditional Hindus. Assamese Dutta's have made significant contribution to the society of Assam. Koch Rajbongshi Dutta's are found in some parts of Upper Assam.They Called themselves as Koch. Koch Rajbongshi Dutta's are belong to OBC caste.
Punjab and Haryana
Punjabi and Haryanvi Datts or Duttas belong to the Mohyal Brahmins community. According to the gotra system, Mohyal Duttas are the descendants of Rishi Bharadwaj. Some consider Gaj Bhavan, the grandson of Rishi Bharadwaj to be the real founder of their clan.
West Bengal
According to Indian historian Tej Ram Sharma, in Bengal the surname Dutta/Datta is used by Kayastha caste. The office of Kayastha (scribe) was instituted before the Gupta period (c.320 to 550 CE). Originally, Kayastha was composed of people from different Varnas, including Brahmins and Kshatriyas. After the Gupta reign, the Kayasthas in Bengal developed into a caste, and gained a higher status, incorporating the Pala, Sena and Varman Kings and their descendants. In the middle period of the history of Bengal, between 1500 and 1850 CE, the Kayasthas were regarded as one of the highest of Hindu castes in the region. Some members of the Baidya caste use Dutta/Datta as a surname, although they more often use compounded variations such as Duttagupta or Duttasharma instead.
In popular culture
In 2012, a Bengali film Dutta vs Dutta was released, directed by Anjan Dutt, the film captured family drama of three generations of a Bengali Dutta family.