Family of Amar Singh Thapa (Elder) | |
---|---|
Current region | Gorkha & Kathmandu |
Earlier spellings | Bagale Thapa |
Place of origin | Siranchowk, Gorkha |
Members |
|
Connected members | |
Connected families | Kunwar family |
Traditions | Kshatriya (Chhetri) |
Estate(s) | Siranchowk of Gorkha |
Bagh Bhim Singh Thapa was the first national military commander of this family. |
The family of Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa [note 1] (1751 - 1816) was a noble Chhetri family in the central politics of Kingdom of Nepal as well as former military aristocracy of the Gorkha Kingdom. The family of Bhimsen Thapa and the family of Amar Singh Thapa were two Bagale Thapa families [1] [2] and part of the larger Thapa caucus at the central politics of the Kingdom of Nepal. [3]
The patriarch of this family was Ranjai Thapa of Siranchowk whose son Bagh Bhim Singh Thapa became a military commander of the Gorkha Kingdom and died in the battle of Palanchowk. Bhim Singh's son and the most prominent member of this family, Amar Singh Thapa went on to become the overall commander (in capacity of Mukhtiyar) of Kumaon, Garhwal and its West region in the Kingdom of Nepal. Amar Singh's sons and grandsons were influential Bharadars (state-bearing officers), politicians, ministers and military commanders in the Kingdom of Nepal. The family was also maritally connected with the Kunwar family of Gorkha. Amar Singh Thapa was the father-in-law of Chandrabir Kunwar, the nephew of Gorkhali Sardar Ramakrishna Kunwar. Through Chandrabir, Amar Singh had grandsons of national recognition; Balbhadra Kunwar, a famed warrior of the Battle of Nalapani and Birbhadra Kunwar, a Bharadar (state bearing officer).
This family was another influential Bagale Thapa family serving in the royal court with Bhimsen Thapa family, due to their consolidation of power in the central authority. [4] Bhimsen Thapa, also a member of Bagale Thapa clan, [5] added the sons of Amar Singh Thapa in the royal court to increase the influence of Thapa caucus. [3]
Nepali historian Surya Bikram Gyawali contends that he was married to Dharmabati and had 9 sons namely: Surbir, Randhoj, Ran Singh, Ranjor, Bhakta Bir, Ram Das, Narsingh, Arjun Singh and Bhupal. He further states that all the sons of Amar Singh contributed to the unification of Nepal. [6] Bada Amar Singh had ten sons from four wives as per the Thapa genealogy: Ranabir, Ranasur, Ranadhoj, Ranabhim, Ranajor, Bhaktabir, Ramdas, Narsingh, Arjun Singh, and Bhupal Singh. [7] The Office of the Nepal Antiquary also mentions sons of Amar Singh as Ranajor, Bhaktavir, Ramdas, Ranasur, Ranabir, Arjun, Narsingh and Bhupal. [8] The genealogical table produced by Kumar Pradhan shows the sons of Bada Amar Singh as - Ranadhoj, Bhaktabir, Narsingh, Ramdas and Ranajor, all of whom were Kaji at some point. [9]
Ranadhoj Thapa was deputy Prime Minister of Nepal during the administration of Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa. [11] As per Historian Dilli Raman Regmi, he was the eldest son of Bada Kaji Amar Singh Thapa, supreme commander of Western front. [11] He was functioning deputy to Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister) during the well known Anglo-Nepalese war. [10] Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa had to share administrative authority with him. [11] He retired as Kaji of Nepal in the year 1831 A.D. [9]
He was governor of Kumaun and Garhwal and commander of Jaithak Fort during Anglo-Nepalese war at Battle of Jaithak. [12] [13] He was born to General Bada Kaji Amar Singh Thapa. [9]
Arjun Singh Thapa referred as Arjan Singh was a son of Amar Singh and a military Captain. He took retirement in 1838 and returned to Nepal. [14]
Bhupal Singh Thapa was a son of Amar Singh. [14] In April 1840, Bhupal Singh Thapa who was in command of Nepalese troops at Doti. [15] He was ordered to lead a diplomatic mission to Lahore. [15]
The number of grandchildren of Amar Singh is unknown. However, some of his grandsons were prominent in Nepalese politics, administration and military commandership. His grandson through Ranadhoj Thapa were Ripu Mardan Thapa and Badal Singh Thapa, who also served as Kaji of Nepal. [9] His another grandson, Surat Singh Thapa, was appointed to post of Kaji in 1832 A.D. to retaliate growing Darbar politics after which he became joint-chief signatory in each government papers with Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa. [16] [9] His grandsons through daughter Ambika Devi and son-in-law Chandravir Kunwar were influential Bharadars too. Balabhadra Kunwar, son of Chandravir and national hero of the Battle of Nalapani, was a grandson of Amar Singh. [17] Similarly, Birbhadra Kunwar, a military commander in Kumaun, was also grandson of Amar Singh through Chandravir. [18]
Ripu Mardan Thapa was a commander of Anglo-Nepalese war at Battle of Nalapani. He fought alongside his cousin Balbhadra Kunwar, another grandson of Bada Amar Singh. [19] He sustained an injury in his right arm from an enemy shell. [20] He was later appointed as Commander of a military company in Bhirkot. [21]
Balbhadra Kunwar (30 January 1789 – 13 March 1823) was a Nepalese military commander who popularly led the Battle of Nalapani. [22] Balabhadra Kunwar was highly praised for his military skill for the defence of the Nalapani fort. [23]
Birbhadra Kunwar was military commander in Kumaun [18] and Kangra front (1809 A.D.) [24] as well as governor of Garhwal. [25]
He was a member of Bagale Thapa clan. [2]
Amar Singh's father Bhim Sen, [9] also known as Umrao Bagh Bhim Singh Thapa was a military commander who died in the battle of Palanchowk in 1759 AD. [2] [26] He is also known as Tiger of Siranchowk. [26] His mother as per the Thapa genealogy is Uma Devi.
Amar Singh was grandson of Ranjai [of Sirhanchowk]. [9]
The Thapa genealogy mentions following ancestors of Amar Singh: [7]
16. Anirudra Thapa | |||||||||||||||||||
8. Dhanjai Thapa | |||||||||||||||||||
4. Ranjai Thapa | |||||||||||||||||||
2. Bhim Singh Thapa | |||||||||||||||||||
1. Amar Singh Thapa | |||||||||||||||||||
3. Uma Devi | |||||||||||||||||||
Chandrabir Kunwar married a sister of Kaji Ranajor Thapa [19] and was a son-in-law of Bada Amar Singh Thapa [18] [24] Chandra Bir was appointed as Subba (i.e. governor) of Pyuthan in around 1844/45 Vikram Samvat., [23] governor of hill, Madhesh and Bhot divisions of Doti region 1864 V.S. [27] and Subba (governor) of one-third territories of Garhwal [25] on 1862 Vikram Samvat. [28] [29]
Jharana Thapa, a popular Nepalese actress is married to Sunil Thapa, an eighth patrilineal descendant of Bada Kaji Amar making their daughter Suhana Thapa ninth descendant. [30]
Bhimsen Thapa was a Nepalese statesman who served as the Mukhtiyar and de facto ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. He is widely known as the longest-serving prime minister of Nepal and was inducted into the "National heroes of Nepal" by King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah.
Amar Singh Thapa distinguished as Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa(Nepali: बडाकाजी अमर सिंह थापा), or Amar Singh Thapa The Elder, also known by the honorific name Bada Kaji or Budha Kaji, was a Gorkhali military general, governor and warlord in the Kingdom of Nepal. He was the overall commander of the Nepal Army in the conquest of Western Provinces and authoritative ruler of Kumaon, Garhwal in the Kingdom of Nepal. He was referred by the King of Nepal to have been deployed as Mukhtiyar of Western Provinces of Kumaon, Garhwal. He is often hailed as Living Tiger of Nepal and was posthumously regarded as one of the national heroes of Nepal, who led the Anglo-Nepalese War for the Gorkhali Army. Amarsingh Chowk Pokhara and Shree Amarsingh Model Higher Secondary School are named after Amar Singh Thapa.
Balbhadra Kunwar Chhetri was a Gorkhali military commander and administrator in the Kingdom of Nepal. He is one of the National heroes of Nepal. He was highly praised for his military skill for the defence of Nalapani fort in the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814–1816). He was a captain in the Nepalese military and was tasked as commander to protect the forts of Dehradun.
The prime minister of Nepal is the head of government of Nepal. Together with their Council of Ministers, the prime minister exercises executive power in the country.
The Rana dynasty 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. They are Kshatriya, whose ancestors were descended from the Ranas of Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. The Rana dynasty 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 Government of Nepal is the federal executive authority of Nepal. Prior to the abolition of the Nepali monarchy in 2006, it was officially known as His Majesty's Government.
Kaji was a title and position used by nobility of Gorkha Kingdom (1559–1768) and Kingdom of Nepal between 1768 and 1846. Many other contemporary kingdoms used the same title for their ministers.
Nain Singh Thapa or Nayan Singh Thapa was a Nepalese Kaji (minister) and a military general. He died in the offensive campaign of Kangra from bullet injury. He was the owner of the Thapathali Durbar temple complex.
Bakhtawar Singh Thapa, also spelled Bhaktawar, was a Nepalese military commander, politician, and governor. He acted as an aide of his brother Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa and was appointed the commander of Samar Jung Company. He commanded the Bijayapur-Sindhuli Gadhi Axis in the first campaign of Anglo-Nepalese War and Makwanpur Gadhi Axis in the second campaign. Later, he became the governor of Palpa and died in the office.
Ranajor Singh Thapa anglicised as Ranjore Thapa was governor of Kumaun and Garhwal and commander of Jaithak Fort during Anglo-Nepalese war at Battle of Jaithak. He was born to General Bada Kaji Amar Singh Thapa. His brother Ranadhoj Thapa served as deputy to Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa.
Bir Bhadra Thapa or Birabhadra Thapa also spelled Virabhadra or Virbhadra, was a politician, courtier and military officer in the Gorkha Kingdom during the 18th century. Born in the medieval Tanahun Kingdom, he left his ancestral property there and migrated to the uprising Gorkha Kingdom. He got entry into the minor ranks of military of King Prithvi Narayan Shah due to being a nephew of Sura Prabha, the wife of military commander Shivaram Singh Basnyat of the Basnyat dynasty. Thereafter, he took part in the various battles of Unification of Nepal throughout his life. Among his grandsons, Bhimsen Thapa went on to become the Mukhtiyar of Nepal for 31 years and founder of Thapa dynasty.
Bagale Thapa anciently known as Bagalya Thapa is a prominent clan within Khas Chhetri community. They claim Atreya Gotra. The name of the clan is also transliterated as Bagale, Bagalya, Bagaalya, Bagaliya, Bagaley, Bagaale or Bagaleya.
Ranadhoj Thapa or Ranadhwaj Thapa was the deputy Kaji to Mukhtiyar of Nepal Bhimsen Thapa.
Amar Singh Thapa, distinguished as Sanukaji Amar Singh Thapa was a Nepalese military commander, courtier, minister and regional administrator. He was born as the youngest son of one of the leading Gorkhali Bharadar Birabhadra Thapa. He led battles against many independent principalities in Nepal and a battle against Tibet. He was a Governor of Palpa and retained the post till his death in 1814.
Thapa dynasty or Thapa noble family also known as Dynasty of Borlang was a Chhetri political family that handled Nepali administration affairs from 1806 to 1837 A.D. and 1843 to 1845 A.D. as Mukhtiyar. This was one of the four noble families to be involved in the active politics of the Kingdom of Nepal, along with the Shah dynasty, Basnyat family, and the Pande dynasty before the rise of the Rana dynastyor Kunwar family. At the end of 18th century, Thapas had extreme dominance over Nepalese Darbar politics alternatively contesting for central power against the Pande family. Bir Bhadra Thapa was a Thapa of Chhetri group and leading Bharadar during Unification of Nepal. His grandson Bhimsen Thapa became Mukhtiyar of Nepal and established Thapa dynasty to the dominating position of central court politics of Nepal.
The Pande family or Pande dynasty was a Rajput-Chhetri political family that directly ruled Nepali administration affairs from the 16th century to 19th century as Mulkaji and Mukhtiyar. This dynasty/family was one of the four noble families to be involved in active politics of Nepal together with Shah dynasty, Basnyat family and Thapa dynasty before rise of Rana dynasty. Pande dynasty is the oldest noble family to hold the title of Kaji. This family was decimated from political power in 1843 CE in the political massacre by Prime Minister Mathabar Singh Thapa as a revenge for his uncle Bhimsen's death in 1839.
The Kunwar family was a noble Khas-Chhetri family in the Gorkha Kingdom and the Kingdom of Nepal. The Kunwars were linked to the Thapa dynasty and family of Amar Singh Thapa by marital lineages and, thus, to Pande dynasty through the Thapa dynasty. Three branches of the Kunwars; Ramakrishna, Jayakrishna and Amar Singh Kunwar were formed with opposite political aspirations. Bal Narsingh Kunwar supported Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa while Chandrabir Kunwar supported Bada Kaji Amar Singh Thapa due to their marital relations with those families. Later, the Ramakrishna section of the family including Amarsingh established the Rana dynasty of Nepal and styled themselves as Rana Rajputs while Jayakrishna most section remained as Kunwars.
Chandrabir Kunwar or Chandra Bir Kunwar Chhetri also spelled Chandravir, Chandraveer was a governor and military commander in the Kingdom of Nepal. He was born to Jaya Krishna Kunwar of Gorkha-based Kunwar family and was a nephew of the famed Gorkhali Sardar Ramakrishna Kunwar. He married the sister of Kaji Ranjor Thapa and was a son-in-law of his superior commander Amar Singh Thapa. He fought at the 1803 conquest of Garhwal Kingdom and the final battle of Garhwal on 1805 A.D. where King Pradyumna Shah died. During his lifetime, he served as the Subba (Governor) of Doti and one-third territories of Garhwal province in the Kingdom of Nepal. He was also the father of the renowned battle hero Balbhadra Kunwar of Nalapani.
Ranajit Kunwar was a Nepalese governor and military personnel in the Kingdom of Nepal. He was a son of Ramakrishna Kunwar of Kunwar family. He served as governor of Jumla, Pyuthan and sub-ordinate administrator under Amar Singh Thapa at Srinagar of Garhwal province. He suppressed the rebellion of Jumla as a governor. He fought at the battle of Khadbuda where he killed King Pradyumna Shah of Garhwal. He was the grandfather of Jang Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji who later became the Maharaja of Kaski & Lamjung and Prime Minister of Nepal.