Thapa Kaji

This article is about Thapa of Chhetri caste and Kshatriya varna. For people with surname Thapa, see Thapa.
Thapa Kaji
Total population
Unknown
Regions with significant populations
   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]

"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 given with their Gotra Gana (One level higher than Gotra):[4]

Bhardwaj Gotra : Achhami (अछामी थापा), Patkheti (पाटखेती  थापा), Maharaji (महाराजी थापा), Bhandare/Bhandari (भण्डारे / भण्डारी थापा), Kalikote (कालिकोटे थापा)

Madgaulya Gotra : Kalikote (कालिकोटे थापा)

Atri : Khulal (खुलाल थापा), Punwar (पुवाँर थापा), Bagale (बगाले थापा), Bihare (बिहारे  थापा)

Kasyap : Godar (गोदार थापा), Ghimire (घिमिरे थापा)

Kaundinya: Gaunle (गाउँले थापा)

Garg : Lamichhane (लामिछाने थापा)

Bashishtha : Suyal (सुयाल थापा)

The above division is through Gotra Gana, which could be also the Gotra, for example in Atri Gotra Gana of Bhramarishi Atri, there are 18 different Rishis in Atri Gana[5] (they are; Atri, Prathama, Svasti, Krishna, Chandra, Pada, Aadima, Atreya, Vamarathya, Gavishtira, Rasa, Paurvatithya, Tithi, Bahutaka, Dhananjaya, Sumangala, Bijavapi and Saumangalya) which are taken as Gotra, among them Rishi Dhananjaya is taken as Gotra by Khulal Thapa[6] (branch of them were Governor until Rana overthrew them) and Rishi Atreya as Gotra of Bagale Thapa[7] of Atri Gotra Gana.

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[8] and leading Bharadar during Unification of Nepal.[9] His grandson Bhimsen Thapa became Prime Minister of Nepal and established Thapa faction in the central power.[9] Thapas were a major power base of Nepal in the 19th century starting from Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa (first prime minister of Nepal).[10] 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.[10] 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.[11]

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ "Chhettri People".
  5. ^ "Gotras and Pravaras". 25 July 2018.
  6. ^ "List of Gotra and Thari".
  7. ^ "List of Gotra and Thari".
  8. ^ Regmi, M.C. (1995). Kings and political leaders of the Gorkhali Empire, 1768-1814. Orient Longman. ISBN 9788125005117. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
  9. ^ a b Pradhan 2012, p. 22.
  10. ^ a b Pradhan 2012.
  11. ^ Jha, P. (2014). Battles of the New Republic: A Contemporary History of Nepal. Hurst & Company. p. 63. ISBN 9781849044592. Retrieved 2017-06-11.