Bir Bhadra Thapa or Birabhadra Thapa ( ne, वीरभद्र थापा) also spelled Virabhadra or Virbhadra, was a politician, courtier and military officer in the
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 se ...
during the 18th century. Born in medieval Tanahun Kingdom, he left his ancestral property there and migrated into the uprising Gorkha Kingdom. He got entry into the minor ranks of military of King
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 ...
due to being a nephew of Sura Prabha, the wife of military commander
Shivaram Singh Basnyat
Shivaram Singh Basnyat ( ne, शिवराम सिंह बस्न्यात) was the military commander of Gorkha. After the conquest of Naldum area by the Gorkhalis, he along with Commander Bir Bhadra Thapa conquered Sanga, Panauti, ...
of the
Basnyat dynasty
Basnyat/Basnet family or Basnyat/Basnet dynasty ( ne, बस्न्यात वंश/बस्न्यात काजी खलक) was a Khas-Chhetri and a warlord clan family involved in the politics and administration of the Gorkha Ki ...
. Thereafter, he took part in the various battles of
Unification of Nepal
The Unification of Nepal, also known as Expansion of Gorkha Kingdom, officially began in 1743 AD (1799 BS) after King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha launched an aggressive annexation campaign seeking to broaden his own kingdom's border. After ...
throughout his life. Among his grandsons,
Bhimsen Thapa
Bhimsen Thapa ( ne, भीमसेन थापा (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 ...
went on to become the
Mukhtiyar
Mukhtiyar ( ne, मुख्तियार) was the position of head of executive of Kingdom of Nepal between 1806 and 1843. It was equivalent to Prime Minister of Nepal. There were 7 Mukhtiyars appointed between 1806 and 1843.
Meaning
''Mukhti ...
of Nepal (equivalent to Prime Minister) for 31 years and founder of
Thapa dynasty
Thapa dynasty or Thapa noble family ( ne, थापा वंश/थापा काजी खलक ) was a Kshatriya
Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (so ...
.
Family
Birbhadra belonged to the prominent
Bagale Thapa
Bagale Thapa ( ne, बगाले थापा pronunciation:) anciently known as Bagalya Thapa ( ne, बगाल्या थापा) is a prominent clan within Thapa of Khas community. They claim Atreya Gotra. The name of the clan is also ...
clan of
Jumla that migrated eastwards as per Gorkha chronicles. The ''Thapa genealogy'' states that Birbhadra was a grandson of Bikram Thāpā and son of Bijay (Bijai) Thāpā. However, the
Sardar
Sardar, also spelled as Sardaar/Sirdar ( fa, سردار, , 'commander', literally 'headmaster'), is a title of royalty and nobility that was originally used to denote princes, noblemen, chiefs, kings and other aristocrats. It has also been ...
i annual reinstatement letter of his youngest son
Amar Singh Thapa (sanu) on Chaitra 1855 B.S. mentioned Amar Singh Thapa (Sanu) as ''grandson of Bikram Thapa and son of Birbhadra Thapa''. Thus, historian
Baburam Acharya
Baburam Acharya (Nepali: बाबुराम आचार्य) (1888–1971 AD) was a Nepalese historian and literary scholar. He is known as the historian laureate () of Nepal. The four part biography of King Prithivi Narayan Shah, founder ...
contends that Bijai Thāpā was an imaginary figure. Similarly, the Sundhara Inscription of his grandson
Bhimsen Thapa
Bhimsen Thapa ( ne, भीमसेन थापा (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 ...
, also further validates the point that Birbhadra was the son of Bikram Thapa.
He was the patron of leading Thapa
Chhetri
Chhetri (Kshetri, Kshettri, Kshetry or Chhettri), ( ne, क्षेत्री ; IAST: ''Kṣetrī'') historically called Kshettriya or Kshetriya or Khas are Nepali speakers of Khas community, some of whom trace their origin to migration from ...
group (i.e.
Thapa dynasty
Thapa dynasty or Thapa noble family ( ne, थापा वंश/थापा काजी खलक ) was a Kshatriya
Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (so ...
) in the Royal Court. He had three sons; Jeevan Thapa, Bangsha Raj Thapa and
Amar Singh Thapa (sanu). His eldest son died in the
Battle of Kantipur
The Battle of Kathmandu ( ne, काठमाडौंको युद्ध) or Siege of Kathmandu or Siege of Kantipur is a battle which occurred during the Unification of Nepal. It was fought in Kathmandu in 1768, and resulted in the defeat ...
with powerful Kaji
Kalu Pande
Vamshidhar Pande ( ne, वंशीधर पाँडे) known by Alias Kalu Pande ( ne, कालु पाँडे) was a Nepalese politician and military general who was appointed as Kaji of The Gorkha Kingdom. He was born in 1713 A.D. i ...
. The seven sons of Amar Singh Thapa (sanu) -
Bhimsen Thapa
Bhimsen Thapa ( ne, भीमसेन थापा (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 ...
,
Nain Singh Thapa
Nain Singh Thapa or Nayan Singh Thapa ( ne, नैनसिंह थापा/नयनसिंह थापा) (died late 1806 or early 1807) was a Nepalese Kaji (minister) and a military general. He died in the offensive campaign of Kangra f ...
,
Bakhtawar Singh Thapa, Amrit Singh Thapa and
Ranabir Singh Thapa
Ranabir Singh Thapa ( ne, रणवीर सिंह थापा) also spelled Ranbir, Ranavir or Ranvir also known by the late ascetic name Swami Abhayananda ( ne, स्वामी अभयानन्द) was a Nepalese Army General, promin ...
, all participated and contributed in the expansion and
unification of Nepal
The Unification of Nepal, also known as Expansion of Gorkha Kingdom, officially began in 1743 AD (1799 BS) after King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha launched an aggressive annexation campaign seeking to broaden his own kingdom's border. After ...
.
Career
King
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 ...
's first military commander
Shivaram Singh Basnyat
Shivaram Singh Basnyat ( ne, शिवराम सिंह बस्न्यात) was the military commander of Gorkha. After the conquest of Naldum area by the Gorkhalis, he along with Commander Bir Bhadra Thapa conquered Sanga, Panauti, ...
was married to Sura Prabha, a sister of Bikram Thapa and an aunt of Birbhadra. Therefore, he came from Tanahun Kingdom to
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 se ...
leaving all his ancestral property there due to his close family relations with Shivaram Singh. Another factor to attribute to this migration was the uprising fame and attraction of Gorkha Kingdom. Birbhadra, being a nephew of Shivaram Singh's wife Sura Prabha, was easily recruited into the minor ranks of
Jamadar
Jemadar or jamadar is a title used for various military and other officials in the Indian subcontinent.
Etymology
The word stems from Urdu (), which derives through Persian ''jam'dar'' from Arabic ''jamā‘a(t)'' 'muster' + Persian ''-dār' ...
in the army of the Gorkha Kingdom. But by the last period of King Prithvi Narayan's reign, his name was written at the foremost in one of the royal letters.
When King
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 ...
annexed
Nuwakot in 1744, he was one of the influential Bharadars. After the conquest of Naldum area, he along with Commander
Shivaram Singh Basnyat
Shivaram Singh Basnyat ( ne, शिवराम सिंह बस्न्यात) was the military commander of Gorkha. After the conquest of Naldum area by the Gorkhalis, he along with Commander Bir Bhadra Thapa conquered Sanga, Panauti, ...
conquered Sanga,
Panauti
Panauti ( ne, पनौती) is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District in Bagmati Province of Nepal located 32 km Southeast of the capital Kathmandu. The town is currently listed as a UNESCO tentative site since 1996.
Origin
Panauti i ...
,
Sankhu
Sankhu (साखु) (alternative name: Sakwa (Nepal Bhasa: सक्व)) is the ancient Newar town located in the north-eastern corner of Kathmandu Valley which is about 17 km from the city center of Kathmandu. Sankhu was formerly divi ...
and adjacent areas. The Gorkhali chronicle states that he was the commander of the Gorkhali forces. He commanded the Gorkhali troops during the capture of
Kavre
Kavrepalanchok District ( ne, काभ्रेपलाञ्चोक जिल्ला; ) is one of the 77 districts of Nepal. The district, with Dhulikhel as its district headquarters, covers an area of . It is a part of Bagmati Provinc ...
and
Palanchowk with fellow commanders ''Chautariya''
Daljit Shah and ''Kaji'' Harka (Harsh) Pantha. He was deployed to Kaski allowing two
Brahmin
Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (gur ...
s from there to reside in Kathmandu as a part of friendly diplomacy with the Kaski Kingdom. He commanded troops near the hill in Sindhuli against the English advance of Major Kinloch.
Birbhadra was also among the guarantors to the ex-King
Rana Bahadur Shah
Rana Bahadur Shah, King of Nepal ( ne, श्री ५ महाराजाधिराज रण बहादुर शाह देव) (1775–1806) was the King of Nepal from 1777 to 1799. In 1777, he succeeded to the throne after the deat ...
who took a debt from Seth Dwarikadas on 1860
B.S.
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...
during ex-King Rana Bahadur's exiled life in
Banaras.
References
Sources
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Further reading
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thapa, Bir Bhadra
Nepalese military personnel
Thapa Kaji
Bagale Thapa
People of the Nepalese unification
People from Gorkha District
Nepalese Hindus