Thakuri

Thakuri ( ne, ठकुरी) is a sub-caste of Khasas tribes in Nepal. 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 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 varna. Thakuris are a high socio-political group considered to have arisen from intermarriage between Khas, Magars, and perhaps Indian Rajput immigrants. The 1854 Muluki Ain (Legal Code) refers Thakuris by the term ''Rajputs'' despite being descended from the local Nepalese tribes. Many historians contended that the theory of Rajput descent was used for political purposes by the various ruling families of Nepal. The Thakuri Shah dynasty of Gorkha Kingdom and later Kingdom of Nepal, descended from the Magar tribe despite their claim of descent from Chittor Rajputs as per Scottish contemporary historian Francis Buchanan-Hamilton. 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, 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 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 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 and later Kingdom of Nepal are ranked among Thakuris.

The Pal Thakuri the Katyuri kings of Darchula ( Dethala, Uku, Nepal village ) and Doti districts of Far-Western Development Region, Nepal

Notable Thakuri surnames

In alphabetical order, the commonly known Thakuri surnames are:
* Bam
* Chand
* Khand
* Malla
* Pal
* Deuba
*Uchai
* Sen
* Shah (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
* Thagunna
* Thakurathi
* Deuba/Deuja
* Rana /Jabara / Jang Bahadur Rana / JBR
* Rawal
* Bogati

See also

*Prithvi Narayan Shah
* Baise Rajya (Twenty-Two Principalities)
* Khasa Kingdom
* Chand Kings
* Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh
* Katyuri Kings

References

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Ethnic groups in Nepal
Castes

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