Safdar

Safdar is a masculine given name and surname used in South Asia, especially among Muslims in India and Pakistan, and in diaspora communities. It appears in historical records and contemporary biographies as both a first name and a last name, and it can be part of longer compound names such as Safdar Ali or Safdar Khan in various cultural contexts.

The etymology of Safdar is not universally agreed upon. It draws from Persian and Arabic linguistic traditions, but there is no single definitive origin that applies across all communities. In some sources it is linked to terms associated with leadership or guardianship, while other accounts emphasize martial associations; such interpretations reflect historical usage rather than a settled meaning.

Notable individuals bearing the name include Safdar Hashmi, an Indian theatre activist and leftist organizer who co-founded the Jana Natya Manch, a street theatre collective known for its political performances. Across the 20th and 21st centuries, people named Safdar have appeared in fields such as politics, arts, and academia within South Asia and among its diaspora, illustrating the name’s continued presence in the region’s cultural and social landscapes.