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Thakuri ( ne, ठकुरी) is a sub-caste of Khasas tribes in
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is ma ...
. It consists of the historical ruling class, and is made up of the descendants of the Great Khasa Malla kingdom rulers of the Baisi and Chaubisi principalities. The former royal family of Nepal also belong to this Khas sub-tribe.


Etymology

Nepali sociologist Harka Bahadur Gurung noted that the ''Thakuri'' is the Nepalese version of the
Hindi Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...
word '' Thakur'' which means 'master of the estate'. Thakuris of Nepal are also associated with some territory inherited from the days of Baisi and Chaubisi principalities and the term ''Thakurai'' actually refers to 'fiefdom'.


Origins

Thakuris traditionally constituted the ruling and warrior classes, and claimed the
Kshatriya Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the co ...
varna. Thakuris are a high socio-political group considered to have arisen from intermarriage between
Khas Khas people (; ne, खस) popularly known as Khas Arya are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the Himalayan region of South Asia, what is now present-day Nepal, Indian states of Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Sikkim. Historicall ...
, Magars, and perhaps Indian
Rajput Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...
immigrants. The 1854 Muluki Ain (Legal Code) refers Thakuris by the term ''
Rajputs Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...
'' despite being descended from the local Nepalese tribes. Many historians contended that the theory of
Rajput Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...
descent was used for political purposes by the various ruling families of Nepal. The Thakuri Shah dynasty of
Gorkha Kingdom Gorkha Kingdom ( ne, गोरखा राज्य) was a member of the Chaubisi rajya, a confederation of 24 states on the Indian subcontinent ruled by Khas people. In 1743 CE, the kingdom began a campaign of military expansion, annexing s ...
and later Kingdom of Nepal, descended from the Magar tribe despite their claim of descent from Chittor
Rajput Rajput (from Sanskrit ''raja-putra'' 'son of a king') is a large multi-component cluster of castes, kin bodies, and local groups, sharing social status and ideology of genealogical descent originating from the Indian subcontinent. The term Ra ...
s as per Scottish contemporary historian
Francis Buchanan-Hamilton Francis Buchanan (15 February 1762 – 15 June 1829), later known as Francis Hamilton but often referred to as Francis Buchanan-Hamilton, was a Scottish physician who made significant contributions as a geographer, zoologist, and botanist whil ...
. Historian Hamilton further states the origins from Rajputs of Chittor is "a mere fable." Historian Mahesh Chandra Regmi contends that "Each ruling dynasty in Nepal has tried to connect its lineage with well known dynasties of India." One of the Thakuri Shah ruler of Gorkha, King
Ram Shah Ram Shah ( ne, राम शाह; reign before 16061636) was the king of the Gorkha Kingdom (present-day Gorkha District, Nepal). He was the son of King of Gorkha Purna Shah and brother of Chatra Shah. He acceded in the throne in c. 1606 aft ...
, also attempted to forge recognition of kinship relations from the Ranas of Udaypur.


Society

Thakuris constitute the aristocracy and possess the high social, ritual and political status. Thakuris are politically and socially ahead of others. Traditionally, the Thakuris' main occupations involved government, agriculture and military. Thakuri traditionally constituted the ruling and warrior classes. Most of the Thakuris are agriculturalists in Western Nepal except few aristrocratic families in the capital city. The children born from a
Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...
father and a Thakuri mother is categorized into a new caste called "Hamal". The Thakuris of Palpa speak Magar language more fluently than
Nepali language Nepali (; , ) is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Himalayas region of South Asia. It is the official, and most widely spoken, language of Nepal, where it also serves as a '' lingua franca''. Nepali has official status in the Indian s ...
and the local Thakuris generally drink chyang in the evenings with Magars. In the Jhirubas village of Palpa, Magars have married Thakuris and vice versa.


Thakuri family and dynasties

The ruling Shah dynasty of
Gorkha Kingdom Gorkha Kingdom ( ne, गोरखा राज्य) was a member of the Chaubisi rajya, a confederation of 24 states on the Indian subcontinent ruled by Khas people. In 1743 CE, the kingdom began a campaign of military expansion, annexing s ...
and later Kingdom of Nepal are ranked among Thakuris. The Pal Thakuri the
Katyuri kings The Katyuri kings were a medieval Hindu Rajput's ruling clan of Khasha origin from Joshimath that ruled over the regions in present day regions of Kumaon, Uttarakhand in India and parts of Doti/Sudurpashchim Province in Nepal from 700 to ...
of Darchula ( Dethala, Uku, Nepal village ) and Doti districts of
Far-Western Development Region, Nepal The Far-Western Development Region (Nepali: सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल विकास क्षेत्र, ''Sudur Pashchimānchal Bikās Kshetra'') was one of Nepal's five development regions. It was located at the w ...


Notable Thakuri surnames

In alphabetical order, the commonly known Thakuri surnames are: * Bam * Chand * Khand * Malla * Pal * Deuba *Uchai * Sen *
Shah Shah (; fa, شاه, , ) is a royal title that was historically used by the leading figures of Iranian monarchies.Yarshater, EhsaPersia or Iran, Persian or Farsi, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII no. 1 (1989) It was also used by a variety of ...
(not to be confused with Sah of Terai, Shah caste in Kumaon region in Uttarakhand State of India) * Shahi * Singh
Simha
Of these, Chand, Bam, Malla, and Pal are also associated with Kumaon/Kuramanchal kingdom.


Unproven Thakuri Claimants

The following surnames have claim Thakuri status but are not corroborated by Some Thakuri groups: *
Kunwar Kunwar (also spelt Kanwar or Kaur or Kuar) is an Indian title denoting a prince. It is derived from the Sanskrit term Kumar. It was traditionally associated with the feudal Rajputs such as the son of a Rana or Thakur The following are notable u ...
* Thagunna * Thakurathi * Deuba/Deuja *
Rana Rana may refer to: Astronomy * Rana (crater), a crater on Mars * Delta Eridani or Rana, a star People, groups and titles * Rana (name), a given name and surname (including a list of people and characters with the name) * Rana (title), a historica ...
/Jabara / Jang Bahadur Rana / JBR * Rawal * Bogati


See also

*
Prithvi Narayan Shah Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723–1775) ( ne, श्री ५ बडामहाराजाधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह देव) was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the ...
* Baise Rajya (Twenty-Two Principalities) * Khasa Kingdom * Chand Kings * Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh *
Katyuri Kings The Katyuri kings were a medieval Hindu Rajput's ruling clan of Khasha origin from Joshimath that ruled over the regions in present day regions of Kumaon, Uttarakhand in India and parts of Doti/Sudurpashchim Province in Nepal from 700 to ...


References


Books

* * * * * * Ethnic groups in Nepal Castes {{Nepal-stub