Thapa

Thapa (Nepali: थापा; IAST:Thāpā) is a family name or surname used by the Gorkhali community of India and Nepal belonging to both Magar caste within Khas people of Indo-Aryan group and Magar caste of Indo-Aryan group.[1]

Thapa
Family Name

MeaningWarrior[1]
Language of originHindi, Khas language[1]
PopularityBehind the Name 
Wikipedia articlesAll pages beginning with Thapa

Thapa was a title given to warriors in the ancient Khas Kingdom.Both Magar Thapa and Kshetri Thapa has done remarkably significant for Nepal.In present Nepal both Thapa Kshetri and Thapa Magar are doing great in Politics and enhancing National Pride.

Thapas has been involved in politics of Nepal for long time. Thapas were prominent military heads in various princely states in ancient Nepal.[2] Thapas led military and civil administration in the unified Kingdom of Nepal after 1806 AD. Bhimsen Thapa of Bagale Thapa clan rose to prominence after the assassination of King Rana Bahadur Shah of Nepal by King's step-brother in 1805 AD. After the event, an investigation was run by Bharadars (Ministers) which caused massacre of 55 senior officers at Bhandarkhal garden by Thapa Kaji (ministers) group making them as most dominant faction in Nepalese politics.[3]

Bhimsen Thapa of powerful Thāpā Khalaka dynasty, the most famous among Thapas

.It would be true to say that History has been written by the Brahamin which underestimated and burried the history of all the other beautiful community of Nepal.

After Bhimsen rose to power, member of another Thapa family, Bada (senior) Kaji Amar Singh Thapa[1] and his family were added to make Thapa Khalak dynasty stronger.[4] Large number of Thapa leaders took part in Anglo-Nepalese War in 1814-16 AD. The immediate family of Bhimsen and Senior Kaji Amar Singh took over all the military commands in that war. Another unrelated warrior Bhakti Thapa also led the war at Deuthal aged 71 and died too.[5] Thapas were out of power after the rise of Rana dynasty who were blood relatives of Thapas. Later Panchayat government of Nepal that began in 1961 AD saw large number of Thapas in the cabinet.[6]

Khas Kshatri Thapa

Khas Thapa or Chhetri/Kshatri Thapa are Khas people of Indo-Aryan group. They are categorized into Kshatriya in Hinduism. They follow Hinduism and are divided by Khas clans and Hindu Gotra system. The clan names of Khas Kshatri Thapas are: Bagale Thapa, Punwar Thapa, Godar Thapa, Lamichhane Thapa, Suyal Thapa, Kalikote Thapa, Hrikshen Thapa, Khulal Thapa, Deoja Thapa, Thakuryal Thapa, Gamle Thapa, Sonal Thapa, and many others.

Bagale Thapa

 
Prime Minister of Nepal Mathabar Singh Thapa, a nobleman from Bagale Thapa clan

Bagale Thapa is the most prominent clan within Khas Thapa. They fall under Atreya Gotra in Hinduism. The most famous Thapa Khalak dynasty of Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa in the Nepalese politics belonged to this Bagale Thapa clan. They trace their origin to legendary Khas King Kalu Thapa.

Puwar Thapa

 
Kamal Thapa, a politician of Nepal from Puwar Thapa clan

Puwar Thapa is also a clan within Khas Thapa. They claim descent from Parmar/Punwar Rajputs of Rajasthan.They fall under Kapil Gotra in Hinduism.The most famous Thapa Khalak dynasty of warrior Bhakti Thapa belongs to this Puwar Thapa.

Godar Thapa

Godar Thapa clan is also populous Khas Kshatri clan. They belong to Kashyap Gotra in Hinduism.

Magar Thapa

 
Victoria Crossholder Netra Bahadur Thapa Magar, member of Magar caste

Magar Thapa or Thapa Magar are member of Magar caste which falls under Sino-Tibetan or Tibeto-Burman group. They speak Magar language and follow tradition of Magar caste. They can be found as core soldiers in Gurkha armies around the world.They also served as one of the six noble clans in the thargah of King prithvi Narayan Shah and were prominent nobles until the kot massacre.

Thapa Media

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Midun, Yamesh (1920). The Khasa kingdom: a trans-Himalayan empire of the middle age. Bimal thapa Publications. ISBN 978-81-85693-50-7.
  2. K.L. Pradhan 2012.
  3. K.L. Pradhan 2012, p. 16.
  4. Ramesh Midun Magar 2012, p. 26.
  5. "Nepalese Army | नेपाली सेना". Archived from the original on 2017-04-01. Retrieved 2017-07-14.
  6. "THAPADOM- Nepali Times". archive.nepalitimes.com.

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