Satyajit

Satyajit is a masculine given name of Indian origin, commonly associated with Bengali communities. The name is often traced to Sanskrit elements such as satya meaning truth and jit meaning victory or conqueror, yielding a meaning along the lines of “victory of truth” or “conqueror of truth.” It is used across India and in the Bengali diaspora, and has been given to many individuals in arts, academia, and public life.

The most internationally known bearer of the name is Satyajit Ray (1931–1992), an Indian filmmaker, writer, and illustrator who is regarded as one of the masters of world cinema. Ray directed the acclaimed Apu Trilogy—Pather Panchali, Aparajito, and The World of Apu—and he received numerous national and international honors, including the Academy Honorary Award in 1992. In addition to filmmaking, he wrote stories and created characters such as Feluda, a popular detective, and Professor Shonku, a science-fiction inventor, contributing to Bengali literature as well as cinema.

Beyond Ray, the name Satyajit is used by other individuals in India and among the Bengali-speaking diaspora, spanning fields from the arts to academia and public life. While Ray is the most prominent figure associated with the name, Satyajit remains a recognizable given name in Indian cultural and social contexts.