Bagale Thapa
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Ethnicity of Bagale Thapa

The surname Bagale Thapa is historically associated with the Chhetri ethnic group, specifically the Bagale sub-caste, which is one of the indigenous communities of Nepal. The Chhetri people are known for their prominent role in Nepal's military and political history, and the Bagale sub-caste is particularly noted for its leadership in these areas. Historically, the Thapa surname, which is widely used across various ethnic groups, has been commonly adopted by the Chhetri community, particularly those from the Bagale sub-caste, who played an influential role in Nepal's governance during the 18th and 19th centuries.


References

* Gellner, David N. "Ethnicity, Nationalism, and the Politics of the State in Nepal." Oxford University Press, 2001. - Discusses the Chhetri ethnic group, including the Bagale sub-caste, and their historical role in Nepal. * Poudel, Prithvi Narayan. "Bhimsen Thapa: A Political Biography." Kathmandu: XYZ Publishers, 2000. - Provides biographical details about Bhimsen Thapa, his Chhetri heritage, and the Bagale sub-caste. * "Chhetri people." Wikipedia. - General background on the Chhetri people, including sub-castes like Bagale. * "The Chhetri People: A Study of Ethnicity in Nepal" by J. H. L. Beverley, Kathmandu: ABC Press, 1989. - An ethnographic study that discusses the different sub-castes within the Chhetri community, including the Bagale group. * Koirala, Bishweshwar Prasad. "History of Nepal." New Delhi: ABC Publications, 1995. - A detailed account of Nepali history, including references to the Chhetri community and historical figures like Bhimsen Thapa.


Origins


Bagale Thapa genealogy

The genealogy traces the lineage of all Bagale Thapas to a male
progenitor In genealogy, a progenitor (rarer: primogenitor; or ''Ahnherr'') is the founder (sometimes one that is legendary) of a family, line of descent, gens, clan, tribe, noble house, or ethnic group.. Ebenda''Ahnherr:''"Stammvater eines Geschlec ...
(''Mūlapuruṣa'') Kalu Thapa Kshatri. The genealogy states that Kalu Thapa had four sons; Punyakar of Pulaam state, Tarapati of Takam state, Biru and Dharmaraj (Jashodhar) of Jamarik state. The genealogy describes that Kaalu adhered to the following sects: " Aatreya gotri Tripravara,
Shukla Yajurveda The ''Yajurveda'' (, , from यजुस्, "worship", and वेद, "knowledge") is the Veda primarily of prose mantras for worship rituals.Michael Witzel (2003), "Vedas and Upaniṣads", in ''The Blackwell Companion to Hinduism'' (Edito ...
,
Dhanurveda ''Dhanurveda'' (धनुर्वेद) () is a Sanskrit treatise on warfare and archery, traditionally regarded as an upaveda attached to ''Yajurveda'' (1100800 BCE) and attributed either to Bhrigu or Vishvamitra or Bharadwaja. It is one amon ...
and Madhyandini Shakha".


Kunwar family legend

Kunwar family legend mentions that their first ancestor Rāma Siṃha Rāṇā was married to a daughter of
Raja Raja (; from , IAST ') is a noble or royal Sanskrit title historically used by some Indian subcontinent, Indian rulers and monarchs and highest-ranking nobles. The title was historically used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. T ...
(King) of Bīnātī, a Bagāle Kṣetrī on the request by his employer hill Raja. John Whelpton opines that the legend of the Kunwar family's origins, which says their progenitor to have entered hill and married a daughter of Bagale Kshetri, might have linked their family to the Bagale Thapa, a clan of the Mukhtiyar
Bhimsen Thapa Bhimsen Thapa ( (August 1775 – 29 July 1839)) was a Nepalese statesman who served as the ''Mukhtiyar'' (equivalent to prime minister) and de facto ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. He is widely known as the List of Prime Ministers of Nepal, l ...
.


History

Bagale Thapas belong to the
Chhetri Chhetri (Kshetri, Kshettri, Kshetry or Chhettri), ( ; IAST: ''Kṣetrī'') historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali language, Nepali speaking people historically associated with the warrior class and administration, some of ...
caste whose origin lies in Karnali region. Bagale Thapas were a powerful and prominent family at Jumla and seemed to have migrated eastwards.


Takam/Takamkot State

Takam State (1246-1545 B.S.) (1189-1488 CE) was used as an arsenal by the Bagale Thapa clan. In 1545 B.S. (1488 CE), King Dimba Bam Malla defeated these Thapas and annexed all the districts of
Dhawalagiri Zone Dhaulagiri ( ) was one of the fourteen zones which Nepal was divided into for administrative purposes, prior to the September 10, 2015 adoption of a new Constitution, which divided the nation instead into 7 provinces. It is in the Western Devel ...
to create a bigger Parbat State. The Bagale Thapa clan of Takamkot established their arsenal in this Takamkot ( Takam State) and controlled it between 1189 and 1488 CE, after which the Malla kings captured and controlled it from 1489 to 1825 CE.


Malla era Kathmandu

In the times of Malla rule at Kathmandu valley, Bagale Thapas were considered skillful at both warfare and administration. Thus, King Jagajjaya Malla attended the services of Kashiram Thapa, a leader of Bagale Thapas to control inobedient Khas and Magar citizens. His brother Parashuram Thapa, a commander of Bhaktapur Kingdom, sided to Gorkha Kingdom when Kashiram Thapa was killed without justification.


Noble families in Gorkha

Family of Bhimsen Thapa and
family of Amar Singh Thapa The family of ''Badakaji'' Amar Singh Thapa (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 Sing ...
were two influential Bagale Thapa families at the central politics of
Kingdom of Nepal The Kingdom of Nepal was a Hindu monarchy in South Asia, founded in 1768 through the unification of Nepal, expansion of the Gorkha Kingdom. The kingdom was also known as the Gorkha Empire and was sometimes called History of Asal Hindustan, ...
. The family of Bada Kaji
Amar Singh Thapa Amar Singh Thapa distinguished as Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa(), or Amar Singh Thapa The Elder, (also spelled Ambar Simha) also known by the honorific name Bada Kaji ("Senior Kaji") or Budha Kaji ("The Old Kaji"), was a Gorkha Kingdom, Gorkhali mil ...
consists Kaji Ranajor Singh Thapa, Ranadhoj Thapa, Narsingh Bahadur Thapa and their 2 more brothers who were also at Royal Court of Nepal.
Amar Singh Thapa Amar Singh Thapa distinguished as Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa(), or Amar Singh Thapa The Elder, (also spelled Ambar Simha) also known by the honorific name Bada Kaji ("Senior Kaji") or Budha Kaji ("The Old Kaji"), was a Gorkha Kingdom, Gorkhali mil ...
, one of the National heroes of Nepal and commander of Western front at
Anglo-Nepalese war The Anglo-Nepalese War (1 November 1814 – 4 March 1816), also known as the Gorkha War or Nepal-Company War, was fought between the Gorkhali army of the Kingdom of Nepal (present-day Nepal) and the forces of the British East India Company ...
belonged to this clan. The family of Kaji Bir Bhadra Thapa, commander of
Unification of Nepal The unification of Nepal () was the process of building the modern Nepalese state, by invading fractured Malla kingdoms including the Baise Rajya's 22 kingdoms and the Chaubisi Rajya's 24 kingdoms. It began in 1743 CE (1799 BS), by Prithvi N ...
belonged to this clan. This family contains large number of renowned courtiers and warriors. He had three sons: Jeevan Thapa(died at Battle of Kirtipur), Bangsha Raj Thapa and Amar Singh Thapa (Sardar). The children of Amar Singh Thapa (Sardar) become influential. Prime Minister
Bhimsen Thapa Bhimsen Thapa ( (August 1775 – 29 July 1839)) was a Nepalese statesman who served as the ''Mukhtiyar'' (equivalent to prime minister) and de facto ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. He is widely known as the List of Prime Ministers of Nepal, l ...
, the most revered among Thapas is the eldest son of Sardar Amar Singh Thapa(sanu). His nephew, son of Nain Singh Thapa, Mathabarsingh Thapa was the seventh Prime Minister of Nepal and niece, Nain's daughter was
Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal Tripurasundari (; 1794 – 6 April 1832), also known as Lalit Tripura Sundari Devi, was a queen consort of Nepal by marriage to King Rana Bahadur Shah of Nepal. Widowed at a very young age and childless, she served as regent of the kingdom for a ...
. The family of Sardar Amar Singh Thapa resided at Bagh Durbar.


Notable Bagale Thapas

*
Amar Singh Thapa Amar Singh Thapa distinguished as Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa(), or Amar Singh Thapa The Elder, (also spelled Ambar Simha) also known by the honorific name Bada Kaji ("Senior Kaji") or Budha Kaji ("The Old Kaji"), was a Gorkha Kingdom, Gorkhali mil ...
, Nepalese politician and administrator (Bada Kaji), Supreme Commander of Western front in
Anglo-Nepalese War The Anglo-Nepalese War (1 November 1814 – 4 March 1816), also known as the Gorkha War or Nepal-Company War, was fought between the Gorkhali army of the Kingdom of Nepal (present-day Nepal) and the forces of the British East India Company ...
, one of the National heroes of Nepal *
Bhimsen Thapa Bhimsen Thapa ( (August 1775 – 29 July 1839)) was a Nepalese statesman who served as the ''Mukhtiyar'' (equivalent to prime minister) and de facto ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. He is widely known as the List of Prime Ministers of Nepal, l ...
, Nepalese Mukhtiyar (
Prime Minister of Nepal The prime minister of Nepal (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of government of Nepal. The prime minister leads the Council of Ministers of Nepal, Council of Ministers and holds the chief executive authority in the country. They must maintain ...
), One of the National heroes of Nepal. * Bir Bhadra Thapa, Gorkhali courtier and commander at
Unification of Nepal The unification of Nepal () was the process of building the modern Nepalese state, by invading fractured Malla kingdoms including the Baise Rajya's 22 kingdoms and the Chaubisi Rajya's 24 kingdoms. It began in 1743 CE (1799 BS), by Prithvi N ...
* Kashiram Thapa, Commander-in-Chief of
Kantipur Kantipur (; ) was a medieval kingdom in the Malla confederacy of Nepal, centered in the Kathmandu Valley. The name of the kingdom was derived from a Sanskrit name of its capital city, now known as Kathmandu. List of kings * Ratna Malla (148 ...
Kingdom * Amar Singh Thapa (born 1759),
Sino-Nepalese War The Sino-Nepalese War (), also known as the Sino-Gorkha War and in Chinese as the campaign of Gorkha (), was a war fought between the Qing dynasty of China and the Kingdom of Nepal in the late 18th century following an invasion of Tibet by th ...
veteran and father of Mukhtiyar
Bhimsen Thapa Bhimsen Thapa ( (August 1775 – 29 July 1839)) was a Nepalese statesman who served as the ''Mukhtiyar'' (equivalent to prime minister) and de facto ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. He is widely known as the List of Prime Ministers of Nepal, l ...
*
Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal Tripurasundari (; 1794 – 6 April 1832), also known as Lalit Tripura Sundari Devi, was a queen consort of Nepal by marriage to King Rana Bahadur Shah of Nepal. Widowed at a very young age and childless, she served as regent of the kingdom for a ...
, (born as Lalita Sundari Thapa to Nain Singh Thapa), Queen Mother of
Kingdom of Nepal The Kingdom of Nepal was a Hindu monarchy in South Asia, founded in 1768 through the unification of Nepal, expansion of the Gorkha Kingdom. The kingdom was also known as the Gorkha Empire and was sometimes called History of Asal Hindustan, ...
* Mathabar Singh Thapa, Nepalese politician, military general and
Prime Minister of Nepal The prime minister of Nepal (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of government of Nepal. The prime minister leads the Council of Ministers of Nepal, Council of Ministers and holds the chief executive authority in the country. They must maintain ...
* Ranadhoj Thapa, Nepalese politician and Deputy to Mukhtiyar
Bhimsen Thapa Bhimsen Thapa ( (August 1775 – 29 July 1839)) was a Nepalese statesman who served as the ''Mukhtiyar'' (equivalent to prime minister) and de facto ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837. He is widely known as the List of Prime Ministers of Nepal, l ...
* Nain Singh Thapa, Nepalese politician and military general * Ranajor Singh Thapa, Military Officer and Commander of Nahan Axis at
Anglo-Nepalese War The Anglo-Nepalese War (1 November 1814 – 4 March 1816), also known as the Gorkha War or Nepal-Company War, was fought between the Gorkhali army of the Kingdom of Nepal (present-day Nepal) and the forces of the British East India Company ...
* Ranabir Singh Thapa, Nepalese politician and Commander of Makwanpur Axis at
Anglo-Nepalese War The Anglo-Nepalese War (1 November 1814 – 4 March 1816), also known as the Gorkha War or Nepal-Company War, was fought between the Gorkhali army of the Kingdom of Nepal (present-day Nepal) and the forces of the British East India Company ...
* Bakhtawar Singh Thapa, Nepalese politician and Warrior at
Anglo-Nepalese War The Anglo-Nepalese War (1 November 1814 – 4 March 1816), also known as the Gorkha War or Nepal-Company War, was fought between the Gorkhali army of the Kingdom of Nepal (present-day Nepal) and the forces of the British East India Company ...
* Ujir Singh Thapa, Military Officer and Commander of Butwal Axis at
Anglo-Nepalese War The Anglo-Nepalese War (1 November 1814 – 4 March 1816), also known as the Gorkha War or Nepal-Company War, was fought between the Gorkhali army of the Kingdom of Nepal (present-day Nepal) and the forces of the British East India Company ...
* Dharmapaal Barsingh Thapa, Former Chief of the Nepalese Army * Shailesh Thapa Chhetri, Former Inspector General of Police (Nepal) * Deepak Thapa, Inspector General of Police (Nepal)


Gallery

File:Mathabar Simha Thapa.jpg, Portrait of Mathabar Singh Thapa in National Museum of Nepal, Chhauni Ujir Singh Thapa.jpg, Portrait of Ujir Singh Thapa Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal.jpg, Portrait of Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal Bhimsen-thapa-painting (cropped).jpg, Bhimsen Thapa, Mukhtiyar of Nepal Colonel_Mathabar_Singh_Thapa_1.jpg, Portrait of Colonel Mathabar Singh Thapa Nain Singh Thapa.jpg, Kazee Nain Singh Thapa File:Portrait of mathabar singh thapa.jpg, Mathabar Singh Thapa, a nobleman from Bagale Thapa clan File:Amar Singh Thapa Badakaji.jpg,
Amar Singh Thapa Amar Singh Thapa distinguished as Badakaji Amar Singh Thapa(), or Amar Singh Thapa The Elder, (also spelled Ambar Simha) also known by the honorific name Bada Kaji ("Senior Kaji") or Budha Kaji ("The Old Kaji"), was a Gorkha Kingdom, Gorkhali mil ...
, nobleman from Bagale Thapa clan


See also

* Basnyat * Rana Dynasty *
Shah Dynasty The Shah dynasty (), also known as the Shahs of Gorkha or the Royal House of Gorkha, was the ruling Chaubise Thakuri dynasty and the founder of the Gorkha Kingdom from 1559 to 1768 and later the unified Kingdom of Nepal from 1768 to 28 May ...
* Thapathana, place named after Bagale Thapas


References


Notes


Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * *


External links


Bagale Thapa Programme at Galkot, Baglung
{{Chhetri communities Kshatriya communities Khas people