Thapa
थापा
Portrait of a Thapa Bhimsen Thapa, Thapa surname is associated with warriorhood[1]
Pronunciation[t̪ʰāpā]
Language(s)Hindi, Nepali, Doteli
Origin
Language(s)Khas language,
Word/nameKhas Kingdom[1] (modern day Western Region, Nepal)
MeaningWarrior[1]
Other names
Derivative(s)Thapa Kaji, Thapa Kshetri/Chhetri, Bagale Thapa
See alsoBasnet, Rana, Karki, Khadka

Thapa (pronunciation:[t̪ʰapa]) is the surname commonly used by the Gorkhali community within India and Nepal who belong to the Chhetri caste.[2][3] It is also used by the Magar group, a Sino-Tibetan speaking ethnicity.

Etymology

Thapa was a Paikelā (warrior) rank of the medieval Khasa Kingdom. Other Paikelās include Khaḍgās, Rānās and Buḍhās.[1]: 89  It is proved through many inscriptions in the present day region of Old Khas Kingdom. Yasu Thapa, Dasu Thapa and Raj Thapa were known warriors from the herostone pillars.[1]: 90  One of the herostone inscription of Thapa warrior:

Be it auspicious. Yasu Thāpā, son of Bhimadev, established the herostone in 1256 Śaka Era.... Be it auspicious. Dhāmu Khaḍgā, son of Bhimadev established the herostone in 1256

— Śaka Era...[1]: 89 

The above inscription also proved that Thapa and Khadka (Khadga) were mere military ranks that was born by sons of same father in the country of Khas people.

Khas Thapa or Commonly Thapa

Khas Thapa are patrilineal groups descended from Khas people . They are popularly known as Thapa Kshatriya or Thapa Kaji. This group was divided into many clans like Bagale Thapa, Godar, Hriksen", ',[4] Punwar (Pawar), Suyal[5] Lamichhane, and "Mugali"[6]

Kshatriya Thapa dynasty were one of the four noble family to be involved in active politics of Nepal together with Shah dynasty, Basnyat/Basnets and Pandes before rise of Rana dynasty.[7] and ruled between 1806 and 1837 and 1843 to 1845.[8] Thapas played important role in Unification of Nepal and had held many prestigious post in the Malla Court and Bijayapur Court.[2] This family grew prominent during the rule of King Prithvi Narayan Shah and were established as dominant faction during reign of King Rana Bahadur Shah.[9] After the assassination of King Rana Bahadur Shah, Bhimsen Thapa rose to the event killing all his enemies and catapulting the Thapa family as most dominant faction in the Royal Court of Nepal.[10]

Bhimsen Thapa, First Mukhtiyar of Nepal, leading member of Thapa dynasty

Thapa family were strengthened in the Royal court by including family members of another Thapa Bharadar Amar Singh Thapa.[11] Bada (Elder) Kaji Amar Singh Thapa was a legendary military commander and National Hero of Nepal.[12][13] Thapas have important role in Anglo-Nepalese War where British colonial power the East India Company had major loss at First Campaign.[12] Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa was sector commander at Jitgadh, Kaji Ranajor Singh Thapa at Jaithak, Sardar Bhakti Thapa at Deuthal, Colonel Ranabir Singh Thapa at Makawanpurgadhi and Bada Kaji (Elder Kaji) Amar Singh Thapa at Malaon.[12] Bhimsen's nephew PM Mathabarsingh Thapa was known for his charisma from whom Jung Bahadur Rana rose to power. Thus, the state of administrative Thapa rule in Nepal is politically termed as Thapadom.[14] Since the Shahs have ruled over Nepal, Chhetri Thapas have been struggling against Pandeys, Kunwars, Basnyats and other Chhetris to takeover the royal court of Nepal.[14]

Bagale Thapa

Mathabarsingh Thapa, noblemen from Bagale Thapa Kshatri clan

Bagale Thapa (Nepali:बगाले थापा) is a prominent clan within Khas Thapa.[4] Bagale Thapas were skillful at both warfare and administration.[15] They claim Aatreya Gotra in the Gotra system of Hinduism.[16][17]

The progenitor of Bagale Thapas from the account of Bagale Thapa Vamsawali

....श्री शाकेः ।। ११११ सम्वत् १२४६ साल देषि थापाहरूका सन्तति कुलका आदि कालु थापा हुनः ।। १ ।। कालु थापाका चेला ४ जेठा पुन्याकर थापाः ।। माहिँला तारापति थापाः ।। साहिँला विरु थापाः ।। कान्छा धर्मराज थापाः ।। पुलामका जेठा हुनः ।। ताकमका माहिँला हुनः ।। जमरिकका कान्छा जसोधर थापा (धर्मराज) हुनः तिनले जमरिकमा राज्य गर्याः ताहाँ देषि तिनी आयाका हुनः ।। २ ।।.....

Bagale Thapa Vamsāwali (genealogy) part republished by Yogi Naraharinath[18]

The genealogy traces the lineage of all Bagale Thapas to male progenitor (Mūlapuruṣa) King Kalu Thapa Kshatri, who first ascended to the throne at Kāndāmālikā on Saka Era 1111.[18] The DDC of Myagdi district also confirms historical evidence of rule of Thapa dynasty of Takam State (1246-1545 B.S.) by founder Kalu Thapa, whose dynasty continued for 300 years only to be defeated by Dimba Bam Malla to form bigger Parbat State.[19]

Amar Singh Thapa, the war hero of Anglo-Nepalese war belongs to this clan.[16] Similarly, Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa, the most revered among Thapas also belongs to this clan. His nephew Mathabarsingh Thapa was the seventh Prime Minister of Nepal.[4][20]

Punwar/ Panwar Thapa

Punwar Thapa (Nepali: पुँवर थापा) is another clan of Thapa Chhetri/Khasas. Punwar/ Panwar, a variant of Parmara dynasty, is a Rajput honorific claimed by different groups.[21] Punwar Thapas claim their ancestry from Rajasthan, India. Sardar Bhakti Thapa a war commander at Anglo-Nepalese war, belonged to the Punwar Thapa clan.[22]

Godar Thapa

Godar Thapa is a clan within Chhetri Thapa Kaji of Khas origin.[4] They claim Kashyap Gotra in the Gotra system of Hinduism.[17][5] They are also the variant of Shivbanshi Godara clan from India.

  • Dilli Jung Thapa was a chief engineer and colonel of Nepalese Army.[1][4] He was the son of colonel Harsh Jung Thapa and grandson of governor (Badahakim) of eastern Nepal colonel Gajraj Singh Thapa, he was the chief designer of Nepal's first highway tunnel carved through the inner terai between Hetauda and Amlekhganj.
  • Colonel Gajraj Singh Thapa was the first person to establish tea plantation estates in Nepal around 1873. Thapa was born c. 1830 to Kaji Hemdal Singh Thapa. In 1860, he married Maharajkumari Badan Kumari Rana of Kaski and Lamjung, the eldest child of Sri Teen Jung Bahadur Rana.
  • Kaji Birbhadra Thapa (Kaji during Bhupatindra Malla rule in Bhaktapur)
  • Ratna Shumsher Thapa[23]
  • Kaji hemdal singh Thapa
  • Kaji k Keshar singh Thapa later dewan
  • Sardar Achal singh Thapa
  • Sardar Shyam singh Thapa..
  • Sardar Ram singh Thapa
  • Dharmapaal Barsingh Thapa
  • Pyar Jung Thapa
  • Sher Jung Thapa
  • Gagan Thapa
  • Rajat Thapa

Lamichhane Thapa

They Belong to Garg Gotra. They were residents of the Jumla then later they came and settled in Sarangkot, Kaski. They served in various military campaigns during the unification and expansion of Nepal and settled in newly acquired regions of expanding kingdom. Sardar Ram Krishna Thapa, ancestor of Surya Bahadur Thapa, was appointed administrator of newly acquired eastern province and settled in Mugu, Dhankuta. His youngest brother, Dharma Raj Thapa, was sent to Tityang, Baglung and that's where his descendants can be found today. Only non Tibetan/Mongolian Victoria Cross winner of Nepal Sher Bahadur Thapa, Former 5 time Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa and Janakabi Dharmaraj Thapa are some notable people of this Khasa clan of Thapa Kaji. Poet Dharmaraj Thapa had published a Lamichhane Thapa genealogy in 1982.[24]

Parajuli Thapa

Parajuli Thapas were mentioned in the legend of the Kunwar family.[25] They waged a war against the King of Kaski who wanted the daughter of a nobleman Ahirama Kunwar without legal marriage (as a concubine).[25] Ahirama Kunwar denied the request of the King and Parajuli Thapas successfully protected and helped Ahirama Kunwar to escape to Gorkha Kingdom with his two other sons, one being the later Gorkhali warlord Ram Krishna Kunwar.[25]

Magar Thapa

Lakhan Thapa Magar, First Martyr of Nepal; an ethnic Magar

The original home of the Magar people was to the west of Gandaki river, and Rapti Bheri Zone and roughly speaking, consisted of that portion of Nepal which lies between and around about Gulmi, Argha, Khanchi, and Palpa Rukum Rolpa Piuthan .[26] This bit of country was divided into twelve districts known as Barha Magarat (Confederation of Twelve Magar Villages) During the medieval period, the whole area from Dhading to Sikkim was called the Magarat as the area was inhabited by Magars. A second Confederation of Eighteen Magar Kingdoms known as Athara Magarat also existed which was primarily inhabited by Kham Magars.[26] Magars who were the Farmers and Hunter in mid-western and western regions, their estates were eventually invaded by the Khasa dynasty.

Thapa magars is one of the six tribes (clans) of the Magar community. In former days, any Thapa Magars who had lost three generations of ancestors in battle became a Rana Magar[26] To name a few—other Thapa Magar clans include Saru, Gaha, Bagalia, Darlami, and they are each further sub-divided into many sub-clans.[27]

Famous Thapa Magars include Arun Thapa, Lakhan Thapa Magar, Biraj Thapa Magar, Victoria Cross holders like Kulbir Thapa, Lalbahadur Thapa and Netrabahadur Thapa.

Thapas have marital links with Maratha Chhattari royals of Baroda State. Pyar Jung Thapa's daughter, Pragya Shree was married to former King of Baroda State Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad's grandson Pratapsinh Sangramsinh Gaekwad.[28][29]

Modern times

Modern day Thapas are prominent in wide professions. Manjushree Thapa, an English language author is known for Forget Kathmandu: An Elegy for Democracy (2005), was shortlisted for the Lettre Ulysses Award in 2006.[30] Gagan Thapa, a popular 40-year-old minister is in the Nepalese cabinet.[31] Ujwal Thapa, the President of Bibeksheel Nepali was a leading youth activist and entrepreneur.[32]

Notable people with the surname Thapa

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Adhikary, Surya Mani (1997). The Khasa Kingdom: A trans-Himalayan empire of the middle age. Nirala Publications. p. 210. ISBN 8185693501.
  2. 1 2 Pradhan 2012, p. 21.
  3. ↑ Bista, Dor Bahadur (1980). People of Nepal (4th ed.). Ratna Pustak Bhandar. pp. 2–4.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Pradhan 2012, p. 22.
  5. 1 2 Nepal Antiquary, Issue 5. Office of the NepalAntiquary. 1978.
  6. ↑ "Chhetri Thapa clans". Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  7. ↑ Joshi & Rose 1966, p. 23.
  8. ↑ Joshi & Rose 1966, p. 25.
  9. ↑ Pradhan 2012, p. 21-22.
  10. ↑ Pradhan 2012, p. 16.
  11. ↑ Pradhan 2012, p. 26.
  12. 1 2 3 "Nepalese Army | नेपाली सेना". nepalarmy.mil.np. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07.
  13. ↑ "National heroes of Nepal". 2011-12-23. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  14. 1 2 Manjushree Thapa. "THAPADOM:The day of Thapa has returned". Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  15. ↑ Regmi 1978, p. 28.
  16. 1 2 Hamal 1995, p. 191.
  17. 1 2 "Nepali surnames, clans and gotra". Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  18. 1 2 Naraharinath, Yogi (1955). Itihas Prakash. Vol. 1. Kathmandu: Itihas Prakash Mandal.
  19. ↑ "Brief Introduction : म्याग्दी जि.स.स". ddcmyagdi.gov.np. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  20. ↑ "Thapa Personalities". Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  21. ↑ A. Aiyappan; L. K. Bala Ratnam (1956). Society in India. Social Sciences Association. p. 41. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  22. ↑ "Plea to declare Bhakti Thapa a martyr - The Himalayan Times". thehimalayantimes.com. 31 January 2004. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  23. ↑ http://www.doa.gov.np/downloadfile/ancient_nepal_24_full_1497252297_1581410484.pdf
  24. ↑ Thāpā, Dharmarāja (1982). "Lāmichāne Thāpāko vaṃśāvalī".
  25. 1 2 3 Wright 1877, p. 286.
  26. 1 2 3 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Bishop's College Press. 1895.
  27. ↑ Thapa, Deepak; Sijapati, Bandita (2004). A kingdom under siege: Nepal's Maoist insurgency, 1996 to 2003. The Printhouse. ISBN 978-1-84277-570-7.
  28. ↑ "Mumbai's most eligible bachelor Pratap Gaekwad to wed in Nepal - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dnaindia.com. 19 April 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  29. ↑ "Princess of Baroda Receives the Asia's Royal Woman of the Year at the 3rd G.O.D. Awards at the UN". G.O.D. AWARDS. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  30. ↑ "Forget Kathmandu: An Elegy for Democracy". Open Democracy.
  31. ↑ "INTERVIEW - Partnership with academic institutions is the key: Health Minister Gagan Thapa". thehimalayantimes.com. 6 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  32. ↑ "Youths stage symbolic protest against 601 MPs (photo feature)". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 24 April 2018.

Sources

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