Samithi

Samithi, sometimes transliterated as samiti or samithi, is a term used in several Indian languages to denote a formal or informal body formed to pursue shared goals. Derived from the Sanskrit samithi meaning assembly, council, or committee, the word is employed across languages such as Kannada, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi to name organizational units within communities, institutions, or movements. A samithi can function as a local committee within a larger organization, a voluntary association or NGO, a cultural or religious council, a farmers’ or traders’ union, or a political party unit; it may also refer to a college or school students’ organization often called a students’ samithi.

Governance and structure vary, but many samithis include elected or appointed officers—such as a president or chairperson, secretary, and treasurer—and a governing body or executive committee. Depending on its scope, a samithi may operate under formal rules and be registered under relevant acts (for example, societies or charitable trust legislation) or function informally on a voluntary basis. Common activities include meetings, community service, fundraising, cultural events, advocacy, and mutual aid.

Regional and linguistic notes indicate spelling and usage vary by language. In Kannada and Telugu contexts, samithi is the common form; in Marathi and Gujarati contexts, samiti is also widely used. The term often appears as a prefix or suffix in organization names and does not by itself specify a particular legal form, as a samithi can range from a small neighborhood group to a large, registered association.