83-646: The Rana dynasty ([राणा वंश] Error: {{Langx}}: invalid parameter: |IAST= ( help ) Sanskrit: [raːɳaː ʋɐ̃ɕɐ] , Nepali: [raɳa bʌŋsʌ] ) was a Chhetri dynasty that imposed authoritarianism in the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1951, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making the Prime Minister and other government positions held by the Ranas hereditary. The Rana dynasty
166-609: A division of the Khas people with Khas Brahmin (commonly called Khas Bahun). They make up 16.45% of Nepal's population according to the 2021 Nepal census , making them the most populous caste or ethnic community in Nepal . Chhetris speak an Indo-Aryan Nepali language ( Khas-Kura ) as mother tongue. Chhetri is considered a direct derivative of the Sanskrit word Kshatriya from the root kṣatra meaning "rule or authority" which
249-593: A later stage. In an attempt to disassociate himself with his Khas past, the Rana prime minister Jung Bahadur decreed that the term Gorkhali be used instead of Khas kurā to describe the language. Meanwhile, the British Indian administrators had started using the term Nepal (after Newar) to refer to the Gorkha kingdom. In the 1930s, the Gorkha government also adopted this term to describe their country. Subsequently,
332-423: A military command, as follows: Chhetri Chhetri ( Kshetri , Kshettri , Kshetry or Chhettri ), ( Nepali : क्षेत्री pronounced [tsʰetri] ; IAST : Kṣetrī ) historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali speaking Rajputs historically associated with the warrior class and administration, some of whom trace their origin to migration from medieval India . Chhetri
415-636: A result of the old Gorkhali aristocracy. Gorkha-based aristocratic Chhetri families included the Pande dynasty , the Basnyat dynasty , the Kunwar family (and their offspring branch, the autocratic Rana dynasty ) and the Thapa dynasty . From 1806 to 1951, Chhetri prime ministers wielded absolute rule in the country and the monarchy was reduced to a powerless figurehead. Khas Chhetris were traditionally considered
498-457: A son of Rāut Kunwar, was invited by the King of Kaski and was made a nobleman with a birta or jagir of Dhuage Saghu village. The King of Kaski asked for the hand of Ahirāma's daughter, who was a great beauty, through only Kalas Puja, to which Ahirāma replied to give his daughter only through lawful marriage. The King brought his troops and tried to take on the village by force. Ahirāma was supported by
581-475: A sub-clan of Aida, an "Aryas” clan that originated at Idavritt (modern day Kashmir to Nepal ). Khas were living in the Idavaritt in the 3rd millennium BCE. and the original meaning of the term Khas was Raja or Kshatriya (Yoddha). He further speculates that Kashmir has been named from its local residents Khas as Khasmir . In the 2nd millennium B.C.E., one group of Khas migrated towards Iran while
664-514: Is a Shaka legacy and perhaps the standing Surya images with long boots which was commonly found at the Khasha belt of Himalaya. Some examples of it are the Bara-Aditya at Katarmal and Surya images of Baijnath , Bageshwar and Dwarahat . Khasas are believed to have arrived in the western reaches of Nepal at the beginning of first-millennium B.C. or middle of first-millennium A.D. from
747-601: Is almost obsolete, and people resent being addressed as Khas because of the negative stereotypes associated with this term. Furthermore, the Kanets of Kangra and Garhwal , Khasa of Jaunsar-Bawar and the bulk population of Garhwal and Kumaon (referred as "Khasia") are descended from the Khasas . Generally, the Khas people are referred as Rajputs or Kanets in the Himachal Pradesh . According to E.T. Atkinson,
830-541: Is historically known for their iron-fisted rule in Nepal. This changed after the Revolution of 1951 with the promulgation of a new constitution, when power shifted back to the monarchy of King Tribhuvan . The Rana dynasty were descended from the Kunwar family , a nobility of the Gorkha Kingdom . Due to their marital lineages with the politically reigning Thapa dynasty (of Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa ) from
913-484: Is shown in the table: As per the Public Service Commission of Nepal, Brahmins (33.3%) and Chhetris (20.01%) were the two largest caste groups to obtain governmental jobs in the fiscal year 2017–18, even though 45% governmental seats are reserved for women, Madhesis , lower caste and tribes , and other marginalized groups. The frequency of Chhetris was higher than national average (16.4%) in
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#1732772428299996-611: The Bahun (Brahmin) priests to initiate them into the high-caste Chhetri order and adopted high-caste manners. Other Khas families who could not afford to (or did not care to) pay the Bahun priests also attempted to assume the Chhetri status but were not recognized as such by others. They are now called Matwali (alcohol-drinker Khas) Chhetris. Because of the adoption of the Chhetri identity,
1079-615: The Gorkhali warriors. Historian-linguist E.T. Atkinson in his 1886 CE Kumaon gazetteer, mentions that there are 250 'septs among Khasiya Brahmins' and 280 'septs among Khasiya Rajputs' who represent the Khasa tribe. He states that the 90% of the Brahmins of Kumaon belong to the Khas tribe. The Khasiya Brahmins are mentioned to have been chiefly cultivators and agriculturalists and most of them worship chiefly Bhairava , Shiva , Vishnu ,
1162-622: The Himachal Pradesh . The Khasas of Jaunsar-Bawar who are represented by the Jaunsari Rajputs and Brahmins ) practiced polyandrous marriages. Irish Linguist George Abraham Grierson in his Linguistic Survey of India stated that the Khas tribe were the earliest recorded speakers of the Western Pahari languages . He further asserted that the Khas people made the bulk population of the Indo-Aryan speakers throughout
1245-653: The Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent , in what is now the South Asian country of Nepal , as well as the Indian states of Uttarakhand , Himachal Pradesh , West Bengal , Assam and Sikkim . Khas consists of many subtribes like Kshetri , Thakuri , Bahun , khas dalit and Sanyasis and all spread across the Himalayas . Historically, Khas were the speakers of an ancient Khas language from
1328-522: The Indian Army and the British Army . Surnames of Chhetris include, among others: The Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies Chhetris as a subgroup within the broader social group of Khas Arya (together with Thakuri and Sanyasi/Dasnami). The 2021 census recorded Chhetri population of Nepal as the largest community with a population of 4,796,995 (16.4% of Nepal). Previously,
1411-712: The Indo-Aryan language family and the earliest recorded speakers of the Western Pahari languages . The large portion of the Indo-Aryan speakers throughout lower Himalayas were the Masto people. An intrusion of this tribe from the Western and Northwestern Himalayas into Central Himalayas is substantiated by the early linguistic evidences related to the Nepali language . They were also known as Parbatiyas/Parbates and are currently known as Paharis/Pahadis. (literally, "from
1494-494: The Jaunsar-Bawar is the representative Khasiya tract and it "..forms a very important links between the almost Hinduized Khasiyas of Kumaon and their brethren converts to Islam on the ethnical frontier of the mountains of Hindu Kush and apparently gives customs and practices of Khasiya race in full force at the present day which distinguished them thousands of years ago." Historian Sir Marc Aurel Stein identified
1577-513: The Khasas mentioned in the ancient Hindu literature. Irish linguist Sir G.A. Grierson asserted that "..the great mass of the Aryan speaking population of the lower Himalaya from Kashmir to Darjeeling is inhabited by tribes descended from the ancient Khasas of Mahabharata ." Historian Bal Krishna Sharma and Dor Bahadur Bista speculates that the Khas people were of Indo-European origin . Historian Baburam Acharya speculates that Khas are
1660-625: The Nepalese Army (formerly known as Gorkha Army), goddess Bhadrakali , an auspicious form of Kali , was the patron deity of the army and her worship was necessary before and during wars. The war cry, " Jay Mahakali, Ayo Gurkhali " meaning " Glory to the Great Kali, the Gurkhas have come", invoked the sense of protection from Goddess Kali during battles and today is the war slogan of the Nepalese Army as well as Gurkha regiment of
1743-473: The Prime Minister of Nepal between 1768 and 1950 were Chhetris with the exception of Ranga Nath Poudyal , being a Bahun , and Fateh Jung Shah , being a Thakuri . These number varied after the democratization of Nepal . Between 1951 and 1997, out of the 16 Prime Ministers of Nepal, 5 of them were Chhetris. 1965-1969, 1979-1983, 1997-1998, 2003-2004 1977-1979 2004-2005, 2017-2018, 2021-2022 Chhetri had dominated high military positions and monopolized
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#17327724282991826-575: The Rana Prime Ministers (1846–1953), the Pande family , the Thapa family , and the Basnyat family , all of whom held prominent positions in the Gorkha kingdom, and increased the Chhetri presence in the armed forces, police, and Government of Nepal . In traditional and administrative professions, Chhetris were given favorable treatment by the royal government . The nobility of Gorkha were mainly from Chhetri families and they had strong presence in civil administration affairs. All of
1909-581: The Shaka tribe and further identifies Khashas and Shakas to have been two different waves of the same race. The Shakas were in Indian subcontinent before the first century BCE while the Khashas spread over the Himalayas and extensively populated the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand and the later waves of Shakas got diffused into them. Historian Omchand Handa contends that the "sun worship" among Khashas
1992-524: The Vatsa gotra . The founder of this dynasty was Jang Bahadur Kunwar Rana , who belonged to the Kunwar family , which was then considered a noble family of Kshatriya status. Jang Bahadur was a son of Gorkhali governor Bal Narsingh Kunwar and nephew of Mathabarsingh Thapa , the reigning Prime Minister of Nepal (1843–1845) from the Thapa dynasty . Bal Narsingh Kunwar was the son of Kaji Ranajit Kunwar and grandson of Sardar Ram Krishna Kunwar , who
2075-498: The sovereignty over other Gram Rajyas of the entire territory. The Katyuris ruled from Joshimath in the Alaknanda Valley and later they shifted their capital to Baijnath . They have also been connected to the medieval Khasa Malla kingdom . The Khasa kings of West Nepal-Uttarakhand formed the famous Malla Kingdom, which ruled Humla from the eleventh century before collapsing and splintering into local chiefdoms during
2158-1203: The 2011 Nepal census showed Chhetris as the largest Hindu adherents in the nation with 4,365,113 people which was 99.3% of total Chhetri population. In Nepal's hill districts the Chhetri population rises to 41% compared to 31% Brahmin and 27% other castes. This greatly exceeds the Kshatriya portion in most regions with predominantly Hindu populations. As per 2021 census, Chhetris are largest caste group in 27 districts of Nepal , increase from 21 districts of 2001 Nepal census and 24 districts of 2011 Nepal census . These twenty seven districts are - Sankhuwasabha district , Okhaldhunga district , Dhankuta district , Morang district , Udayapur district , Dolakha district , Ramechhap district , Gulmi district , Dang district , Salyan district , Western Rukum district , Surkhet district , Dailekh district , Jajarkot district , Dolpa district , Jumla district , Mugu district , Humla district , Bajura district , Bajhang district , Achham district , Doti district , Dadeldhura district , Baitadi district , Darchula district , Kalikot district , and Kanchanpur district . The district with
2241-599: The Brahmin, Kshetri, Thakur and Sanyasi (Dashnami) communities. But they are allowed reservation in federal parliament and provincial legislature. The European Union has been accused of direct interference, creating ethnic strife and negative discrimination towards Khas Arya due to their recommendation to remove the reservation for Khas Aryas. Khas people Khas peoples or Khas Tribes , ( English: / k ɑː s / ; Nepali : खस ) popularly known as Khashya are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to
2324-750: The British forces and the army of Kingdom of Nepal was commanded by Bhimsen Thapa , Amar Singh Thapa , Ujir Singh Thapa , Ranabir Singh Thapa , Dalbhanjan Pande , Bakhtawar Singh Thapa and Ranajor Singh Thapa from 1814 to 1816 and led to a peace treaty with the British and maintained the independence of Nepal during the British Company rule and British Raj in South Asia from 18th to 20th century. Nepal-Tibet War (1855-1856) , commanded by Bam Bahadur Kunwar , Sanak Singh Khatri, Prithvi Dhoj Kunwar, Dhir Sumsher and Krishna Dhoj Kunwar under
2407-522: The Buddha being worshipped as the ninth avatar of god Vishnu . Chhetris have historically practiced Hindu polytheism which included the worship of Khas Masto sect of Shaivism , clan deity ( Kuldevta ), their personal favorite deity ( Ishta-devata ), fierce forms of Shiva (such as Virabhadra and Rudra ) and goddesses such as Adi Shakti , Kali and Bhadrakali . Owing to the extensively large number of Chhetri generals and commader-in-chiefs in
2490-474: The Chhetri community. For 104 years since the middle of the 19th century until 1951, hereditary Rana prime ministers wielded absolute rule in the country relegating the monarchy to a mere figurehead. During the monarchy, Chhetris continued to dominate the ranks of the Nepalese government , Nepalese Army , Nepalese Police and administration. The most prominent feature of Nepalese Chhetri society has been
2573-679: The Gorkha Kingdom, as well as the succeeding Rana dynasty , spoke the Khas language (now called the Nepali language). However, they claimed to be Rajputs of western Indian origin, rather than the native Khas Kshatriyas. Since outside Nepal, the Khas social status was seen as inferior to that of the Rajputs, the rulers started describing themselves as natives of the Hill country, rather than that of
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2656-481: The Khas country. Most people, however, considered the terms Khas and Parbatiya ( Pahari/Pahadi or Hill people) as synonymous. Jung Bahadur also re-labeled the Khas jāt as Chhetri in present-day Nepal. Originally, the Brahmin immigrants from the plains considered the Khas as low-caste because of the latter's neglect of high-caste taboos (such as alcohol abstinence). The upper-class Khas people commissioned
2739-510: The Khas language also came to be known as Nepali language . It has become a national language of Nepal and lingua franca among the majority of population of Northern region of West Bengal , Sikkim and Bhutan . Historian Balkrishna Pokhrel contends that the Khas language of Nepal belonged to neither the Iranian language family, nor the Indian languages , but to the mid Indo-Iranian languages . Deuda song and folk dance performed on
2822-467: The Khasas were one of the warrior "Kshatriya tribe of Aryan origin" with linguistic connections to both Sanskrit and Iranian languages , who lost claim to Vedichood due to non-observance of Vedic rules. Roman geographer Pliny The Elder described the ancient Khasas/Khasiras (referred as 'Casiri') as one of the Indian ethnicity. Historian Rahul Sankrityayan proposes the origin of the Khasha tribe from
2905-444: The Khasas". The Khasa chiefs of Rajapuri freely intermarried with Kshatriya rulers of Kashmir while the Khasa chief of Lohara, Simharaja, married a daughter of Shahi Kings of Kabul . The descendants of the royal family of Rajauri later became Muslim Rajput chiefs and they retained the rulership of the territory till 19th century. The inhabitants of Karnah region in northwestern Kashmir, were Khasas and they were represented by
2988-725: The King of Bettiah. After knowing about the presence of the King and the Queen in Benaras, Guru Prasad went there and started to congregate an army and a plan to execute Jung Bahadur started to be formed. On 12 May 1847, Jung Bahadur gave a speech in Tundikhel . There he accused the King of the attempted assassination of the Prince and the Prime Minister. The Council then decided to dethrone King Rajendra deeming him mentally ill, and on
3071-681: The Kot. Queen Rajya Lakshmi demanded the execution of Kaji Bir Keshar (Kishor) Pande on alleged suspicion to which General Abhiman Singh Rana Magar looked towards King for confirmation. Jang misinformed Queen that Abhiman Singh's troops were arriving for overpowering the Queen's faction and demanded an immediate arrest. Abhiman tried to force his way out and was killed by Jung's soldier. In the chaos followed, Jung and his brothers began bloodshed and many rival nobles and courtiers were eliminated by them. The letter to British Resident Henry Montgomery Lawrence stated that there were 32 Bharadars (courtiers) killed in
3154-475: The Nepali Army comprising 74.4% of total senior officers in 1967. Similarly, Chhetris composed 38.1%, 54.3% and 55.3% of the senior officers in the year 2003, 2004 and 2007 respectively. Anglo-Nepalese War and Nepal-Tibet War Chhetri commanders and generals of the military campaigns of the kingdom of Nepal have shaped the political course of the country overwhelmingly. Anglo-Nepalese War fought between
3237-611: The Royal Orders. All were crowned as the Maharaja of Lamjung and Kaski . Succession to the role of the Prime Ministers and the title of Shree Teen Maharaja of Nepal and Maharaja of Lamjung and Kaski was by agnatic seniority , by which the oldest male heir among the sons of equal (a-class) marriages in a generation would succeed. The order of succession was determined by seniority, with each eligible male heir holding
3320-410: The alcohol drinker Khas group, i.e. Thakuri and Chhetri, but in other contexts may also include the low status (occupational Khas groups such as Kāmi (blacksmiths), Damāi (tailors), and Sārki (shoemakers and leather workers). Khas people are addressed with the term Khayan or Parbatiya or Partyā , Parbaté meaning hill-dweller by Newars . The hill Khas tribe are in large part associated with
3403-605: The authority of Jung Bahadur Rana , resulted in the victory of Nepalese troops whereby the Tibetans had to pay an annual subsidy of ten thousand rupees to Nepal and were made to allow the establishment of a Nepalese trading station and agency in Lhasa. Almost all the Chhetris are Hindus , and form the largest Hindu adhering sub-group of Nepal representing 99.3% of their population, and those who are Hindus may also follow Buddhism;
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3486-436: The book "Rana's Of Nepal" where the preface is written by Arvind Singh Mewar . The Rana dynasty claimed to be Rajputs of western Indian origin, rather than the native Khas Kshatriyas despite the fact that they spoke Khas language and attempted to disassociate from their Khas past. Also, many historians are of the opinion that ruling families in Nepal often claim Indian Rajput descent for political purposes. The Ranas claimed
3569-433: The chief conspirator, Birdhwaj Basnyat on the way, and marched towards Bhandarkhal where seeing Jang Bahadur approach fully armed with his troops, the other conspirators started to flee. 23 people were killed in the massacre while 15 escaped. In the 23rd of September 1846, all officers of military and bureaucracy were called upon to their respective offices within 10 days. Then, Jung Bahadur appointed his brothers and nephews to
3652-461: The early 19th century, the Ranas gained entry to central Darbar politics. The Ranas were also linked to a minor faction of the Pande dynasty of Gorkha through the Thapa dynasty. Please note that the following genealogy by Daniel Wright was most likely fabricated during the nineteenth century, and there is no historical evidence before that time to back it up. Chronicler Daniel Wright has published
3735-419: The following districts: Chhetri together with Bahun and Thakuri fall under Khas Arya , who are denied quota and reservations in civil services and other sectors due to their history of socio-political dominance in Nepal. There are no quotas for the Khas community who fall under Bahun-Chhetri-thakuri hierarchy. As per the explanation of legal provisions of Constitution of Nepal , Khas Arya comprises
3818-404: The fourteenth century. In the initial phase, majority of Khas people became Brahmins and others became Kshatriyas. The ruling Lohara dynasty (1003-1320 CE) of Kashmir were from the Khas tribe as per the 12th century text Rajatarangini written by the local Kashmiri Pandit historian Kalhana . Furthermore, Rajatarangini describes the rulers of Rajapuri (modern Rajauri ) as the "lord of
3901-596: The genealogy of Jang Bahadur Kunwar Rana . The genealogy begins with Tattā Rāṇā as Raja (King) of Chittaurgarh . His nephew Fakht Siṃha Rāṇā had a son named Rāma Siṃha Rāṇā, who came to the hills after the siege of Chittaur. He was employed by a hill Raja for ten or twelve months who wanted to retain Rāma Siṃha in his country. The hill Raja asked for the daughter of the Raja of Bīnātī, a Bagāle Kṣetrī , and married her to Rāma Siṃha. They had six sons over 10–12 years, one of whom
3984-653: The highest ranks of the government. He consolidated the position of premiership after conducting Kot massacre (Kot Parva) and Bhandarkhal Parva on the basic templates provided by his maternal grand-uncle Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa . After the massacres of Kot and Bhandarkhal, the Thapas , Pandes , Basnyats and other citizens had settled in Banaras . Similarly, some citizens had gone to settle in Nautanwa and Bettiah . Chautariya Guru Prasad Shah too had gone to live with
4067-485: The hill married a daughter of Bagale Kshetri might have directed their family links to Bagale Thapa , the clan of Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa . The Rana dynasty descended from Kunwar Kumbhakaran Singh, younger brother of Guhila King of Mewar , Rawal Ratnasimha . During the first siege of Chittorgarh in 1303 A.D., Kumbhakaran Singh's descendants left Mewar to the north, towards the Himalayan foothills, according to
4150-693: The hills"). They were also referred to as Yartse in Tibet and are also known as Khasan by Bhotia people. The term Khas has now become obsolete, as the Khas people have adopted communal identities because of the negative stereotypes associated with the term Khas . In Nepal the native speaker of Nepali language are known as Khas people. According to the Constitution of Nepal , Bahun Nepali Dalit , Kshetris , Thakuris , and Sanyasis (Dashnami) who are citizens of Nepal should be considered as "Khas Arya" for electoral purposes. They have been connected to
4233-436: The inner Himalayan belt up to Nepal. Previously, Khashas had strongly established themselves from Afghanistan to Nepal from ancient period and as per internal evidences, they managed the village level theocratic republics like Gram-Rajya and Mandals under various local clans and identities. The ruling Katyuri dynasty (700-1065 CE) of Kumaon who were of Khas origin, was one of the ruling houses of Joshimath that claimed
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#17327724282994316-699: The largest Chhetri population is Kathmandu district with 424,172 (i.e. 20.7% of the total district population). Chhetris form the second largest demographic group after Newars in the Kathmandu Valley , together with Lalitpur (Patan) and Bhaktapur , with a population of 621,346. Other districts with more than 150,000 Chhetri population are Kailali , Kanchanpur , Dang , Jhapa and Morang . Province wise, Chhetris are majority demography in Koshi Province , Karnali Province and Sudurpashchim Province . The frequency of Chhetris by province
4399-403: The leader of Pande faction, was the Prime Minister of Nepal in 1841 A.D. which might have caused an increase in the number of Pande officers at 1841. After the rise Rana dynasty (Kunwars), the number changed to 10 Basnyats , 1 Pandes , 3 Thapas and 26 Kunwar officers totaling to 61 Chhetri officers in the year 1854 A.D. Chhetris dominated the position of the senior officers of
4482-402: The lower Himalaya from Kashmir to Darjeeling . The Khas people of Nepal originally referred to their language as Khas kurā (Khas speech), which was also known as Parbatiya (the language of the hill country). The Newar people used the term Khayan Bhaya , Parbatiya and Gorkhali as a name for this language, Gorkhalis themselves started using this term to refer to their language at
4565-475: The majority of military and political positions have been historically occupied by Chhetris until now. They are thought to be connected to the Khasas mentioned in the ancient Indian literature and the medieval Khasa kingdom . In the early modern history of Nepal, Chhetris played a key role in the Unification of Nepal , providing the core of the Gorkhali army of the mid-18th century. Bir Bhadra Thapa
4648-482: The massacre. When Jang Bahadur refused the Junior Queen's request to place Prince Ranendra in the place of Crown Prince Surendra of Nepal , the Queen secretly contacted the victims of Kot and conspired to assassinate Jung Bahadur in the royal Bhandarkhal garden. After receiving a command from the Queen to come to Bhandarkhal, Jang Bahadur took his fully armed troops and headed towards the garden. The troops killed
4731-495: The military force at the times of Chhetri autocratic administrators like PM Bhimsen Thapa and PM Jung Bahadur Rana . There were 12 Basnyats , 16 Pandes , 6 Thapas and 3 Kunwar officers totalling to 51 Chhetri officers in the year 1841 A.D. The most prominent officers at Shah administration were the Kazis which had control over civil and military functions like a Minister and Military officer combined. Rana Jang Pande ,
4814-513: The modern Bomba (tribe) who independently ruled the northwestern Kashmir till the Sikh conquest of Kashmir . There was also an independent Khasa lord at the castle located in the foot of Banahal Pass in the territory of Visalata and Dengapala ("Thakkura Dengapala" ) was a Khasa chief at the banks of Chandrabhaga (modern Chenab river ). Until the 19th century, the Gorkhali referred to their country as Khas Desh (Khas country). As they annexed
4897-619: The modern Khakha Rajputs of Azad Kashmir as the descendants of Khasas mentioned in the Rajatarangini . The Khasa tribe in Karnah region in northwestern Kashmir were represented by the modern Bomba (tribe) . Historian Balkrishna Pokhrel writes the communities or caste in Khas group were hill Bahun , Chhetri , Thakuri , Gharti , Damai , Kami , Sarki , Hudka, Tamote, Gaine and Sunar , badi , luhar , parki etc . The tribal designation Khas refers to in some contexts only to
4980-464: The more common forms of the Shakti and village deities. Most of them derive their surnames from their village of origin. The Khasiyas of Uttarakhand never attempted to connect themselves with plain regions until recently they found that such connections increases personal dignity. Khas people of the Western Himalayas are considered similar to the Khas people of the Garhwal , Kumaon and Nepal. They are generally referred as Rajputs or Kanets in
5063-421: The mysterious murderer of her aide General Kaji Gagan Singh , to which courtiers hurried to the Kot quickly. Many of the courtiers were unarmed except for a sword, as they had responded immediately to the royal summons. The armies allocated by Jung Bahadur Rana also had taken most of the arms of courtiers who had managed to bring them. Queen Rajya Lakshmi Devi and King Rajendra Bikram Shah were also present in
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#17327724282995146-521: The night of 25 April 1806, King Rana Bahadur was killed by step-brother Sher Bahadur in desperation after which Bal Narsingh immediately killed the King's assassin. He was a close ally of the influential minister Bhimsen Thapa, who initiated a great massacre at Bhandarkhal garden following the chaos from the King's murder. Following closeness to Mukhtiyar Bhimsen, he became the son-in-law of Bhimsen's brother Kaji Nain Singh Thapa of Thapa dynasty . The close relatives and supporters of Thapa faction replaced
5229-467: The north-west. The earliest linguistic evidences related to Nepali language also substantiates the linguistic intrusion of an Indo-Aryan speaking Khasa tribe from the West or Northwest Himalayas into Central Himalayas at the present day regions of Western Nepal. It is likely that they absorbed people from different ethnic groups during this immigration. They had extensively populated the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand and they had entirely dominated
5312-425: The occasion of various festivals in the Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces of Nepal . The majority of Khas profess Hinduism ; some of them also follow Buddhism and some were also converted to Christianity . The Khas people also had their own sect of Shaivism known as Masto religion where 12 Masto gods were worshipped. These gods were said to be sons of Shiva . Masto worship was prevalent throughout all of
5395-497: The old courtiers and administrators. The Kunwar family came to power being relatives of powerful Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa. Similarly, Kunwars were related to Pande dynasty by their maternal grandmother Rana Kumari Pande who was daughter of Mulkaji Ranajit Pande . Bal Narsingh's son Kaji Jung Bahadur Kunwar became a significant person in the central politics of Nepal during the prime ministership of his uncle Mathabar Singh Thapa . On 17 May 1845 around 11 pm, Mathabar Singh
5478-433: The other group migrated east of Sutlej river settling only in the hill regions up to Bheri River . Historian Balkrishna Pokhrel contends that Khas were not the Vedic Aryans but Aryans of the latter periods like the Gurjara , Darada , Shaka , and Pallava . He further asserts that post-Vedic Aryans were akin to Vedic Aryans in terms of language and culture. Irish linguist Sir George Abraham Grierson asserted that
5561-469: The rebellions, arrest Rajendra and bring him to Kathmandu. On 27 July, the Gorakhnath Paltan (Gorakhnath Battalion) reached and rested in a village called Simraungadh , not too far from Alau. The battle of Alau was a decisive one between the forces of King Rajendra and Jang Bahadur. The King lost significantly in the battle. If the massacre of Kot had established Jung Bahadur as a dictator, the battle of Alau had helped him strengthen his dictatorship. Rajendra
5644-422: The rule of the Shumsher Rana family also known as the Satra Bhai (17 brothers) Rana family. They murdered Ranodip Singh Kunwar and occupied the hereditary throne of Prime Minister. After this they added Jang Bahadur to their name, although they were descended from Jang's younger brother Dhir Shumsher. Nine Rana rulers took the hereditary office(s) of Prime Minister, Supreme Commander-in-Chief and Grand Master of
5727-431: The same day Surendra was crowned as the new king of Nepal. Hearing the news of the coronation of Surendra, Rajendra decided to take the responsibility of removing Jung Bahadur upon himself and declaring himself as the leader of the army, he left Benaras. Rajendra then appointed Guru Prasad Shah as the Chief of the Army for the operation of removal of Jung Bahadur Rana from Nepal and started to accumulate weapons and training
5810-459: The term Khas is rapidly becoming obsolete. According to Dor Bahadur Bista (1991), "the Khas have vanished from the ethnographic map of Nepal". Modern-day Khas people are referred to as Hill Brahmin ( Bahun ), Hill Kshatriya ( Thakuri / Chhetri ) and Hill Dalit. Further, historian Pokharel adds the Gharti , Damai , Kami , Sarki , Hudka, Tamote, Gaine and Badi to the Khas communities. In modern times, Khas people are popularly referred by
5893-465: The term "Khas Arya". In Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand in India, too, the term Khas has become obsolete. The Khas people of Kumaon termed as Kumaoni khash jimdar, after being elevated to the Rajput status by the Chand kings . During Chand rule in Kumaon, Khas and Rajput were differentiated by their sacred thread, Khas were allowed to wear only 3 thread (3 palli)sacred thread whereas Rajput used to wear 6 palli sacred thread.The term Khas
5976-632: The troops. Antagonism from the British-India Company forced Rajendra and his troops to enter Nepal. On 23 July, the troops reached a village called Alau in Bara and set a camp there. One spy group of the Government of Nepal was keeping close eyes on the event of the rebel groups at Bettiah . They sent the news to Jung Bahadur, immediately after which he sent a troop in the leadership of Sanak Singh Tandon to Alau. They were told to suppress
6059-585: The various neighboring countries (such as Nepal or Newa of the Newar people ) to the Gorkha kingdom, the terms such as Khas and Newar ceased to be used as the names of countries. The 1854 legal code ( Muluki Ain ), promulgated by the Nepali Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana , himself a Khas, no longer referred to Khas as a country, rather as a jāt (species or community) within the Gorkha kingdom. The Shah dynasty of
6142-529: The villagers belonging to the Parājulī Thāpā caste and a war was initiated. On the same day, Ahirāma took his immediate family including two sons namely; Ram Krishna Kunwar and Jaya Krishna Kunwar, to the King of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan Shah where the lands of Kunwar-Khola were given to them as birta . John Whelpton opines that the Kunwar origin legend which states that the first of their ancestors to enter
6225-440: Was a Thapa of Chhetri group and leading Bharadar during Unification of Nepal . His grandson Bhimsen Thapa became Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister) of Nepal . Swarup Singh Karki , a leading politician and military officer, belonged to Chhetri family. Abhiman Singh Basnyat of Basnyat dynasty , Damodar Pande of Pande dynasty were both members of Chhetri caste. and Jung Bahadur Rana , founder of Rana dynasty also belonged to
6308-408: Was a caste of administrators, governors, warriors and military elites in the medieval Khas Kingdom and Gorkha Kingdom (later unified Kingdom of Nepal ). The nobility of the Gorkha Kingdom mainly originated from Chhetri families. They also had a strong presence in civil administration affairs. The bulk of prime ministers of Nepal before the democratization of Nepal belonged to this caste as
6391-457: Was associated with the ruling and warrior class of Hindu society. According to the 1854 Legal Code ( Muluki Ain ) of Nepal, Chhetris were a social group among the sacred thread bearers ( Tagadhari ) and twice-born people of the Hindu tradition. Almost all Chhetris are Hindu. The term 'Chhetri' was adopted by a lot of the high-ranking Khas after the unification of Nepal , and it
6474-477: Was done through indirect control of the king via his wife Queen Trailokya , and through threats against the king. Before this, the Ranas had merely been regarded as Khas-Chhetris, and had had no pretensions to any kind of royal origin. In 1885, the Shumsher family, the nephews of Jung Bahadur Kunwar Rana , murdered many of the sons of Jung Bahadur and took over Nepal in a military coup d'état thus bringing in
6557-495: Was formalized by an order of Bir Narsingh Kunwar(Jang Bahadur Rana) , who considered their original name (Khasa) to be derogatory. The caste system of Nepal was decided according to the occupation they did from the ancestors of their family, known as Dharma ( Devanagari :धर्म). The family occupation of Brahmin was Guru or the spiritual leader in Hinduism whereas that of Chhetri was military and political leaders . Hence,
6640-610: Was imprisoned in an old palace in Bhaktapur. On 15 May 1848, a lal mohar (royal seal) was issued, issued claiming descent for the Kunwars/self-style Ranas from Ranas of Mewar and authorizing the Kunwar family of Jang Bahadur to style themselves as Kunwar Ranaji . On 6 August 1856, Jang Bahadur Kunwar (now Ranaji) was conferred the title of Maharaja ( Great King ) of Kaski and Lamjung, two former hill principalities, by King of Nepal, Surendra Bikram Shah . This
6723-477: Was prominent military general of King Prithvi Narayan Shah . Ram Krishna Kunwar was born to Ahiram Kunwar. There were ample of rewards and recognitions received by Sardar Ram Krishna Kunwar from the Gorkhali monarch Prithvi Narayan. His grandson Bal Narsingh was initially a follower of the renounced King Rana Bahadur Shah and Kaji Bhimsen Thapa , and followed the King in his exile to Banaras on 1 May 1800. On
6806-400: Was recognized by the title of Kum̐vara Khaḍkā for bravery displayed in the battle against Raja of Satān Koṭ. The title was used by his descendants. Rāma Siṃha was suddenly met by his younger brother who requested him to return Chittaur for once, and Rāma Siṃha died reaching there. The hill Raja made Rāma Siṃha's son Rāut Kunwar a nobleman (Sardār) and commandant of the army. Ahirāma Kunwar,
6889-413: Was summoned to the royal palace and was assassinated in a cold blood by Jung Bahadur on the royal orders. He was considered to have been merciless, ruthless and fatal due to his association with Mathabar Singh. Jung Bahadur was made a Kaji (equivalent to minister) after following the order of assassination of Mathabar. On the night of 14 September 1846, Queen Rajya Lakshmi Devi summoned the courtiers on
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