KC (or K.C, K.C.) is a surname of medieval Indian origin anglicized as an abbreviation of Khatri Chhetri in Nepal. [1] [2] The surname Khatri Chhetri was historically legally labelled to the children of Brahmin fathers and Kshatriya (Chhetri) mothers after the introduction of Muluki Ain (the Legal Code of Nepal) in 1854 by Jang Bahadur Rana of Nepal. [1] [2] [3] [4] With its origin in the 12th century CE, the archaic form of the surname "Khatri" was ascribed as a local endonym for the progeny of Brahmins from Medieval India and Khas women of the Middle Himalayas in medieval western Nepal. [2]
Dislodged by the Ghurid conquest of India and subsequent Delhi Sultanate, Brahmins from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Punjab and North India began emigrating to the hills of western Nepal seeking refuge primarily after the 12th century CE where they encountered another Indo-Aryan tribe called Khasas. The progeny resulting from the unions of Brahmin men and Khas women were called Khatris. [2]
In contrast to the British rule in India and subsequent British Raj, Jang Bahadur Rana promulgated the legal code of Nepal called Muluki Ain in 1854 enforcing rigid social and matrimonial structures within Hinduism where the patriline of a caste and thereby the status of children legally depended upon the marriage choice of the father. [5] As per this, the children born from the marriage of a Khas Brahmin father and a Kshatriya (Chhetri) mother were labelled as "Khatri or Khatri Chhetri", indicating that they were the descendants of a marriage between a Khas Brahmin man with a Chhetri woman in their ascendant patriline. [5] [1]
Khatris have played a vital role in the unification of Kingdom of Nepal and thereafter as administrators, political leaders, army commanders and warriors, as well as in the Anglo-Nepalese War against the British Empire, and on behalf of India during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945) and in the modern Nepali Armed Forces, Indian Armed Forces and British Army. [6] [7] Khatris were among the first Nepalese to travel to England and France in the mid-19th century as a part of a royal mission. [8] [9] Three Khatris of the Nepalese army namely Lieutenant Karbir Khatri, Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri and Kaji Karbir Khatri accompanied Nepal's ruler Jung Bahadur Rana's visit to Europe and Lt. Lal Singh Khatri, among them, was also the first Nepalese to study English in the British Residency at the Court of Nepal. [9] [10] The over time exposure of Khatris to United Kingdom and British English led to the anglicization of surname into a formally designated abbreviation of KC (or K.C.), from its original Khatri Chhetri. KCs are prominently visible in politics, cinema, army, arts, education, medicine, business, fashion and sports of Nepal, among others.
Fictional characters
Bisht is a surname found in the country of Nepal and the Indian state of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh. Bisht was a title given by kings to nobles, derived from the Sanskrit vishisht ("distinguished").The term "Bisht" originally referred to someone who held a land grant from the government. The Bisht families in Uttarakhand were chiefly Thokdars(Zamindars) of Thuljat origin. In Uttrakhand, Bishts are generally Kshatriya Rajputs. In Nepal, Bisht was adopted as a surname by Raute and Raji people. Bishta, as Bista, was also used as a surname used by Khas people, group under the caste Chhetri.
Biratnagar is a metropolitan city in Nepal, which serves as the capital of Koshi Province. With a Metropolitan Urban Agglomeration population of 244,750 as per the 2021 census, it is the largest city and fastest growing city in the province and also the headquarters of Morang district. As per the preliminary report of 2022 Nepal census, Biratnagar Metropolitan has an estimated city population of 243,927 excluding the suburban areas which are now very well connected to the old town. It is the administrative center of the Greater Birat Development Area which incorporates the cities of Biratnagar and its suburbs and towns of-Itahari-Gothgau-Biratchowk-Dharan primarily located on the Koshi Highway in Eastern Nepal, with an estimated total urban agglomerated population of 804,300 people in 159,332 households including the town of Ithari. Biratnagar is located 399 km (248 mi) east of the capital, Kathmandu, and 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the bordering town of Jogbani in the Indian state of Bihar. It is one of the major entry point in Nepal for Businessmen as well as Tourists who come to visit Nepal for various purposes.
Khas tribe, popularly known as Khashya, according to the 2015 constitution of Nepal are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to 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.
Chhetri, historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali speaking Rajputs of Khas community, some of whom trace their origin to migration from medieval India. Chhetri was a caste of administrators, governor and military elites in the medieval Khas Kingdom and Gorkha Kingdom. 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 a result of the old Gorkhali aristocracy. Gorkha-based aristocratic Chhetri families included the Pande dynasty, the Basnyat dynasty, the Kunwar family, and the Thapa dynasty,.
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 Prime Minister must enjoy the confidence in the Pratinidhi Sabha before being appointed by the President and shall resign if they are unable to retain the majority in the House.
Karki (Devanagari:कार्की) is a Nepali/Kumaoni surname found among the Chhetri community of Nepal and the Kumaoni Rajput community of Uttarakhand.
Thapa (pronunciation:) is a common surname used by Chhetri and Magar people of Nepal it is also used in India to lesser extent.
Adhikari is a surname originating in the Indian subcontinent. Those having their surname as Adhikari are mainly found in Nepal and Indian states of Uttarakhand, West Bengal and also in fewer parts of Southern Bihar such as Bhagalpur, Purnea etc. as these areas have a greater influence of Bengali culture and many Bengalis have settled in these areas. Among Bengali Brahmins Adhikary is one of the common surnames. Brahmin having their surname as Adhikary belongs to Kanyakubja Brahmins. But in Nepal, Adhikari are of both Brahmin and Chhetri Clan. The surname is also found among several groups including Bengalis, Biharis, Sinhalese, Marathis, Odias, Nepalese and Kumaonis. Adhikari is literally translated as Officer.
Thapa Kaji is a large social group of people of Jharra/Pure Chhettri caste in Nepal. Thapas of Uttrakhand And Himanchal State of India are considered as Pahari Rajput. Over a period of time, this community has spread to many parts of the world. The surname originated during the Khas Kingdom in Karnali region during middle age-it referred to a position/post of a warrior. Chhetri is considered a derivative form of the Sanskrit word Kshatriya.
General Rajendra Chhetri born 15 November 1960) is a Nepali military officer and former Chief of Army Staff of the Nepalese Army, He was conferred Honorary General of the Indian Army.
Mahat (Nepali: महत) is an Ekthariya chhetri surname among Nepalese, of Khasa heritage. The name may have originated when one of the Jumli Malla kings in medieval times made his younger brother, Dharma Malla, chief of staff in the army. This granted Dharma Malla the title of Mahat (Kshatriya) (meaning The Great One), and as a result, his descendants started using 'Mahat' as their surnames.
Bista is a family name of people of North Indian Hills and Nepal belonging to Khas people group under the caste Chhetri, sub-groups of the Bahun caste. They are Hindu with a local Masto deity.
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.
Kunwar is a surname of Nepalese and Indian people. The name Kunwar is coined to denote a young prince in South Asia region. Kunwar family was a dynasty of Nepalese Khas-Chhetri nobility of Gorkha Kingdom bearing the surname.
The Chief of the Nepalese Army is the military position of army head of the Nepalese Army, initially known as Gorkhali Army. The Chief of the Nepalese Army had been from among the Kaji officers during the 18th century. During the reign of Bhimsen Thapa, the title of Commander-in-Chief was introduced for the first time for denoting the army chief. Later in the late 1970s, the title was changed to Chief of Army Staff (CoAS). Currently, the Chief of Army Staff is the Chief of the Nepalese Army.
The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), informally known as Chief Sa'ab, is the commander and highest-ranking officer of the Nepalese Armed Forces.
Jharra Chhetri are the subgroup of the Chhetri/Kshatriya caste who are socio-religiously considered the purest among all Chhetri subcastes. Jharra Chhetri wear the six threaded Janai. They are historically Indo Aryan people. Matwali Chhetri or Khatri Chhetri outnumber Jharras but notable people from Chhetri community are Jharras like Basnet/Basnyat, Thapa, Karki, Kunwar, Khadka, Katuwal,Rawat,Bisht.