Thapa Kaji

Last updated
Thapa Kaji
Total population
Unknown
Regions with significant populations
Flag of Nepal.svg    Nepal
Languages
Nepali language
Religion
Hindu

Thapa Kaji is a large social group of people of Jharra/Pure Chhettri caste (Kshatriya varna) 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. [1] Chhetri is considered a derivative form of the Sanskrit word Kshatriya. [2] [3]

Contents

"Kaji" means administrator or ruler. It was a hereditary family title awarded to some famous Nepali Kshatriya castes like Thapa, Basnyat/Basnet, Pande, and Kunwar etc. Majority of Thapas Chhetri speak the Nepali language as mother tongue. [1] The Thapas Chhetris are divided into many sub-castes which are the:

Thapa Chhetri are found in different parts of current Nepal and some parts of Uttarakhand and Himachal State of India. Currently many of the Thapa Chhetri are found in Nepal, and parts of India i.e. Sikkim, Himachal, Assam as well as in Bhutan and Myanmar. The Thapa Chhetri are Kshatriya or varna like Basnyat/Basnet of Nepal. [1]

Thapas were the major political and military figures during and after the unification of the Nepal. Bir Bhadra Thapa was a Thapa of Chhetri group [4] and leading Bharadar during Unification of Nepal. [5] His grandson Bhimsen Thapa became Prime Minister of Nepal and established Thapa faction in the central power. [5] Thapas were a major power base of Nepal in the 19th century starting from Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa (first prime minister of Nepal). [6] Then it was carried out and shined by Major other historical Nepalese hero like Amar Singh Thapa, Bhakti Thapa, and Mathabarsingh Thapa. Due to the unique relation between royal family of Nepal and Thapas, they were always viewed close to royal family. The Rana who ruled Nepal for 104 years were established by Jung Bahadur Rana who rise in power by support of his maternal uncle, Mathabarsingh Thapa who was Prime Minister. [6] Modern Chhetri Thapa are Surya Bahadur Thapa was PM of Nepal for 5 times. Army chiefs Dharmapaal Barsingh Thapa, Pyar Jung Thapa. Gagan Thapa also belongs to Chhetri family. [7]

Notable Thapa Kaji

Bhimsen Thapa Bhimsen-thapa-painting.jpg
Bhimsen Thapa
Gajraj Singh Thapa Gajaraj Singh Thapa solo.jpg
Gajraj Singh Thapa
Mathabarsingh Thapa Mathabar Singh Thapa portrait.jpg
Mathabarsingh Thapa

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jung Bahadur Rana</span> Founder of the Rana dynasty in Nepal

Jung Bahadur Kunwar Ranaji, Born to the Kunwar family, Jung Bahadur was a Khas Chhetri ruler of Nepal and founder of the Rana Regime in Nepal. Jung Bahadur took control of the government after killing an alleged usurper Gagan Singh, who was accused of plotting with the junior queen in 1846 to become prime minister by putting the queen's son on the throne. His original name was Bir Narsingh Kunwar but he was commonly known as Jang Bahadur, a name given to him by his maternal uncle Mathabar Singh Thapa. Mathabar Singh Thapa used to call Jang Bahadur Jangay for his boldness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chhetri</span> Kshatriya caste of patrilineal Khas-Aryan descent

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,.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basnyat family</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rana Jang Pande</span> 3rd Mukhitiyar of Nepal

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bagale Thapa</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pande family</span> Political family of Nepal

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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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Adhikary 1997.
  2. Singh, K.S.; Anthropological Survey of India (2005). People of India: Uttar Pradesh (3 pts.). Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN   9788173041143 . Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  3. Hagen, T.; Thapa, D. (1998). Toni Hagen's Nepal: The Kingdom in the Himalaya. Himal Books. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  4. Regmi, M.C. (1995). Kings and political leaders of the Gorkhali Empire, 1768-1814. Orient Longman. ISBN   9788125005117 . Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  5. 1 2 Pradhan 2012, p. 22.
  6. 1 2 Pradhan 2012.
  7. Jha, P. (2014). Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal. Hurst & Company. p. 63. ISBN   9781849044592 . Retrieved 2017-06-11.

Sources