Khas people

This article is about medieval and modern day Khas people. For ancient Indo-Aryan group of same name, see Khasas. For medieval kingdom, see Khasa Malla kingdom. For native language of Khas people, see Khas language.

Not to be confused with Khasi people, the neighboring Austroasiatic ethnolinguistic group in the east or Khasia (clan), clan found in the Indian state of Gujarat.

Khas
Khashya

खस (Nepali)
Total population
c. 15.3 million
Regions with significant populations
Nepal, India, Bhutan,China
Languages
khas bhasa,jumli,humli,bajhangi
Religion
Buddhism,Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Magar, Sauka, Pahari and other Sino-Tibetian

Khas Tribe of Nepal

Khas peoples or Khas Tribes, (English: /kɑːs/; Nepali: खस) popularly known as Khashya are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent, in what is now the South Asian country of Nepal, as well as the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam and Sikkim. Khas consists of many subtribes like Kshetri, Thakuri,.

Historically, Khas were the speakers of an ancient Khas language from the tartaric language family and the earliest recorded speakers of the jumli language. The large portion of the Indo-Aryan speakers throughout lower Himalayas were the Masto people. An intrusion of this tribe from the Western and Northwestern Himalayas into Central Himalayas is substantiated by the early linguistic evidences related to the Nepali language. They were also known as Parbatiyas/Parbates and are currently known as Paharis/Pahadis. (literally, "from the hills"). They were also referred to as Yatse &Horpa in Tibet and are also known as Khasan by Bhotia people. The term Khas has now become obsolete, as the Khas people have adopted communal identities because of the negative stereotypes associated with the term Khas. In Nepal the native speaker of Nepali language are known as Khas people.

According to the Constitution of Nepal, BahunNepali Dalit, Kshetris, Thakuris, and Sanyasis (Dashnami) who are citizens of Nepal should be considered as "Khas Arya" for electoral purposes but in reality only khas chhetri and khas thakure are khas while bahun,dalit,sanyasis aren't from khas community

Origin

Main article: Khasas

Main article: Khasas (Mahabharata)

Mythology of khas

The Khas people, or Khas Chhetri, trace their origins to the Saipal region of Humla and Bajhang, while some link their ancestry to Kailash (T'se). According to Pawai mythology, they are the descendants of 12 brothers and 9 sisters, with Masto as the eternal divine protector and cultural figure.

Masto is believed to have originated in Kailash, descended to Lake Mansarovar, and spread through the Karnali River valley, shaping Khas traditions

Indo-Aryan origin theories

They have been connected to the Khasas mentioned in the ancient Hindu literature. Irish linguist Sir G.A. Grierson asserted that "..the great mass of the Aryan speaking population of the lower Himalaya from Kashmir to Darjeeling is inhabited by tribes descended from the ancient Khasas of Mahabharata." Historian Bal Krishna Sharma and Dor Bahadur Bista speculates that the Khas people were of Indo-European origin. Historian Baburam Acharya speculates that Khas are a sub-clan of Aida, an "Aryas” clan that originated at Idavritt (modern day Kashmir to Nepal). Khas were living in the Idavaritt in the 3rd millennium BCE. and the original meaning of the term Khas was Raja or Kshatriya (Yoddha). He further speculates that Kashmir has been named from its local residents Khas as Khasmir. In the 2nd millennium B.C.E., one group of Khas migrated towards Iran while the other group migrated east of Sutlej river settling only in the hill regions up to Bheri River. Historian Balkrishna Pokhrel contends that Khas were not the Vedic Aryans but Aryans of the latter periods like the Gurjara, Darada, Shaka, and Pallava. He further asserts that post-Vedic Aryans were akin to Vedic Aryans in terms of language and culture. Irish linguist Sir George Abraham Grierson asserted that the Khasas were one of the warrior "Kshatriya tribe of Aryan origin" with linguistic connections to both Sanskrit and Iranian languages, who lost claim to Vedichood due to non-observance of Vedic rules. Roman geographer Pliny The Elder described the ancient Khasas/Khasiras (referred as 'Casiri') as one of the Indian ethnicity.

Zhangzhung civilization theory

IN TIBETAN TRADITION, THERE ARE NARRATIVES LINKING THE KHAS PEOPLE TO THE ANCIENT ZHANG ZHUNG CIVILIZATION, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE EXISTED IN THE TIBETAN PLATEAU PRIOR TO THE RISE OF THE TIBETAN EMPIRE. ACCORDING TO SOME ACCOUNTS, THE KHAS PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE ZHANG ZHUNG CULTURE AND ITS DESCENDANTS.

Migration from tibet

IN TIBETAN TRADITION, THERE ARE NARRATIVES LINKING THE KHAS PEOPLE TO THE ANCIENT ZHANG ZHUNG CIVILIZATION, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO HAVE EXISTED IN THE TIBETAN PLATEAU PRIOR TO THE RISE OF THE TIBETAN EMPIRE. ACCORDING TO SOME ACCOUNTS, THE KHAS PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE ZHANG ZHUNG CULTURE AND ITS DESCENDANTS.

Saka origin theories

Historian Rahul Sankrityayan proposes the origin of the Khasha tribe from the Shaka tribe and further identifies Khashas and Shakas to have been two different waves of the same race. The Shakas were in Indian subcontinent before the first century BCE while the Khashas spread over the Himalayas and extensively populated the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand and the later waves of Shakas got diffused into them. Historian Omchand Handa contends that the "sun worship" among Khashas is a Shaka legacy and perhaps the standing Surya images with long boots which was commonly found at the Khasha belt of Himalaya. Some examples of it are the Bara-Aditya at Katarmal and Surya images of Baijnath, Bageshwar and Dwarahat.

History

Medieval history in Nepal and Uttarakhand

Stone script of Damupal near Kartikhamba in Dailekh dated 1038 (981 A.D.) is claimed to be the first stone script in Nepali Language.

Khasas are believed to have arrived in the western reaches of Nepal at the beginning of first-millennium B.C. or middle of first-millennium A.D. from the north-west. The earliest linguistic evidences related to Nepali language also substantiates the linguistic intrusion of an Indo-Aryan speaking Khasa tribe from the West or Northwest Himalayas into Central Himalayas at the present day regions of Western Nepal. It is likely that they absorbed people from different ethnic groups during this immigration. They had extensively populated the mountainous regions of Uttarakhand and they had entirely dominated the inner Himalayan belt up to Nepal. Previously, Khashas had strongly established themselves from Afghanistan to Nepal from ancient period and as per internal evidences, they managed the village level theocratic republics like Gram-Rajya and Mandals under various local clans and identities.

The ruling Katyuri dynasty (700-1065 CE) of Kumaon who were of Khas origin, was one of the ruling houses of Joshimath that claimed the sovereignty over other Gram Rajyas of the entire territory. The Katyuris ruled from Joshimath in the Alaknanda Valley and later they shifted their capital to Baijnath. They have also been connected to the medieval Khasa Malla kingdom. The Khasa kings of West Nepal-Uttarakhand formed the famous Malla Kingdom, which ruled Humla from the eleventh century before collapsing and splintering into local chiefdoms during the fourteenth century. In the initial phase, majority of Khas people became Brahmins and others became Kshatriyas.

History in Kashmir

Vishnu and Lakshmi Garuda art at the time of the Khasha Lohara dynasty, 11th century CE, Jammu and Kashmir.

The ruling Lohara dynasty (1003-1320 CE) of Kashmir were from the Khas tribe as per the 12th century text Rajatarangini written by the local Kashmiri Pandit historian Kalhana. Furthermore, Rajatarangini describes the rulers of Rajapuri (modern Rajauri) as the "lord of the Khasas". The Khasa chiefs of Rajapuri freely intermarried with Kshatriya rulers of Kashmir while the Khasa chief of Lohara, Simharaja, married a daughter of Shahi Kings of Kabul. The descendants of the royal family of Rajauri later became Muslim Rajput chiefs and they retained the rulership of the territory till 19th century. The inhabitants of Karnah region in northwestern Kashmir, were Khasas and they were represented by the modern Bomba (tribe) who independently ruled the northwestern Kashmir till the Sikh conquest of Kashmir. There was also an independent Khasa lord at the castle located in the foot of Banahal Pass in the territory of Visalata and Dengapala ("Thakkura Dengapala") was a Khasa chief at the banks of Chandrabhaga (modern Chenab river).

Modern history in Nepal

Copper Inscription by King of Doti, Raika Mandhata Shahi at Saka Era 1612 (शाके १६१२; 1747 Bikram Samvat (c. 1690 – 1691) in old Khas language using Devanagari script

Until the 19th century, the Gorkhali referred to their country as Khas Desh (Khas country). As they annexed the various neighboring countries (such as Nepal or Newa of the Newar people) to the Gorkha kingdom, the terms such as Khas and Newar ceased to be used as the names of countries. The 1854 legal code (Muluki Ain), promulgated by the Nepali Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana, himself a Khas, no longer referred to Khas as a country, rather as a jāt (species or community) within the Gorkha kingdom.

Khas Kingdom

Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa, the widely accepted first Prime Minister of Nepal

The Shah dynasty of the Gorkha Kingdom, as well as the succeeding Rana dynasty, spoke the Khas language (now called the Nepali language). However, they claimed to be Rajputs of western Indian origin, rather than the native Khas Kshatriyas. Since outside Nepal, the Khas social status was seen as inferior to that of the Rajputs, the rulers started describing themselves as natives of the Hill country, rather than that of the Khas country. Most people, however, considered the terms Khas and Parbatiya (Pahari/Pahadi or Hill people) as synonymous.

Jung Bahadur also re-labeled the Khas jāt as Chhetri in present-day Nepal. Originally, the Brahmin immigrants from the plains considered the Khas as low-caste because of the latter's neglect of high-caste taboos (such as alcohol abstinence). The upper-class Khas people commissioned the Bahun (Brahmin) priests to initiate them into the high-caste Chhetri order and adopted high-caste manners. Other Khas families who could not afford to (or did not care to) pay the Bahun priests also attempted to assume the Chhetri status but were not recognized as such by others. They are now called Matwali (alcohol-drinker Khas) Chhetris. Because of the adoption of the Chhetri identity, the term Khas is rapidly becoming obsolete. According to Dor Bahadur Bista (1991), "the Khas have vanished from the ethnographic map of Nepal".

Modern

Nepal

Jang Bahadur Rana, de-facto ruler of Nepal and a patriarch of historical Rana dynasty (1846-1951)

Modern-day Khas people are referred to as Hill Brahmin (Bahun), Hill Kshatriya (Thakuri/Chhetri) and Hill Dalit. Further, historian Pokharel adds the Gharti, Damai, Kami, Sarki, Hudka, Tamote, Gaine and Badi to the Khas communities. In modern times, Khas people are popularly referred by the term "Khas Arya".

India-Pakistan

In Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand in India, too, the term Khas has become obsolete. The Khas people of Kumaon termed as Kumaoni khash jimdar, after being elevated to the Rajput status by the Chand kings. During Chand rule in Kumaon, Khas and Rajput were differentiated by their sacred thread, Khas were allowed to wear only 3 thread (3 palli)sacred thread whereas Rajput used to wear 6 palli sacred thread.The term Khas is almost obsolete, and people resent being addressed as Khas because of the negative stereotypes associated with this term. Furthermore, the Kanets of Kangra and Garhwal, Khasa of Jaunsar-Bawar and the bulk population of Garhwal and Kumaon (referred as "Khasia") are descended from the Khasas. Generally, the Khas people are referred as Rajputs or Kanets in the Himachal Pradesh. According to E.T. Atkinson, the Jaunsar-Bawar is the representative Khasiya tract and it

"..forms a very important links between the almost Hinduized Khasiyas of Kumaon and their brethren converts to Islam on the ethnical frontier of the mountains of Hindu Kush and apparently gives customs and practices of Khasiya race in full force at the present day which distinguished them thousands of years ago."

Historian Sir Marc Aurel Stein identified the modern Khakha Rajputs of Azad Kashmir as the descendants of Khasas mentioned in the Rajatarangini. The Khasa tribe in Karnah region in northwestern Kashmir were represented by the modern Bomba (tribe).

Communities

Khas consist of khas chhetri and khas thakuri

Khaslai anya samudayale bolaune naamharu:

Tibetian/Jaad:-yacchey

Limbu /Yakthung:-Sumwibā

Newar: Khye

Sunuwar/Koinch:-Kyēm̐gēra kyēm̐gērama/

K ing gey

Tamang:- jhyaardi

Bantawa Rai-panyang

Caste of khas chhetri:

1. Aidi
2. Ainidi
3. Airi
4. Ayer
5. Bhetal
6. Badaila
7. Bada
8. Baduwal
9. Baghe
10. Bakethi
11. Balair
12. Balakoti
13. Banikoti
14. Baniya
15. Barma
16. Baruwal
17. Basnet-Basnyat
18. Batala
19. Bek
20. Belal
21. Bhakri
22. Bhandari (M/J)
23. Bhat
24. Bhawar
25. Bhetwal
26. Bhujel (M/J)
27. Bhabikya
28. Birahi
29. Bista-Bisht
30. Bogati
31. Bohra-Bohara
32. Budhakoti
33. Budha/Buda
34. Budhayer-Budhair
35. Budthapa
36. Bura
37. Chauhan
38. Chaulange
39. Dipayakoti
40. Chauhan
41. Chokhal
42. Dangi Chhetri (D.C)
43. Dani
44. Dasoudi
45. Dayar
46. Deo/Deuja
47. Deuba
48. Dhami
49. Dhant
50. Dhanuk
51. Dobaal
52. Doeja
53. Doteli
54. Gaura Bagale
55. Gharala
56. Gharti (G.C)
57. Ghatala
58. Ghatala
59. Ghatru
60. Giri (M/J)
61. Gorka
62. Gurdhami
63. Hasulli
64. Heita
65. Heita
66. Heta
67. Hital
68. Hitan
69. Jagari
70. Jamwal
71. Jethara/Jetha
72. Jhakri
73. Johra
74. Jora
75. Jumlakoti
76. Kadayat
77. Kahar-Budha
78. Karki
79. Katawal/Katuwal
80. Kathayat
81. KC
82. Khadgaha
83. Khadka Khadga
84. Khalakheti
85. Kharka
86. Khati
87. Khati-Khadka
88. Bhakri
89. Khulal
90. Kottari
91. Kumau/Kumai
92. Kunwar/Kanwar
93. Kusari
94. Kutiyal
95. Lothyal
96. Mahar
97. Mahara
98. Maharaji
99. Mahak
100. Mahat
101. Mahatara
102. Mahatyara
103. Majhi
104. Manyal
105. Mhyak Rana
106. Mukhiya
107. Nakal
108. Negi
109. Pacchain
110. Pakhari
111. Patali
112. Phadera
113. Pujara
114. Pulami
115. Pyanhar
116. Rana
117. Ranabhat
118. Ranjit
119. Raut
120. Rawal
121. Rawat
122. Rayamajhi
123. Reule
124. Roka-Rokaya/Rokka (Rokaha)
125. Rukume Oli
126. Samal
127. Samant
128. Samari
129. Saud-Sawad-Saund
130. Sauka
131. Senjuwal
132. Senuwal
133. Shamsher
134. Sigapati
135. Silwal
136. Sinjali
137. Sinjapati
138. Suwar
139. Swar
140. Tandan
141. Ter
142. Thada/Thadarai
143. Thami (Adhikari)
144. Thaguna
145. Thakurathi
146. Thami
147. Thapa
148. Thekare
149. Thyaet
150. Verma
151. Woli
152. Dhital
153. Dangri
154. Shahi
155. Khanal
156. Joshi
157. Thalal
158. Mahata
159. Dhat
160. Japrel
161. Daulalay
162. Mahar
163. Lakhandi
164. Nayak
165. Kadal
166. Syada

Culture and religion

Languages

Irish Linguist George Abraham Grierson in his Linguistic Survey of India stated that the Khas tribe were the earliest recorded speakers of the Western Pahari languages. He further asserted that the Khas people made the bulk population of the Indo-Aryan speakers throughout the lower Himalaya from Kashmir to Darjeeling.

Khas language of Nepal, belongs to the Northern Indo-Aryan language group as shown as Nepali, in dark brown

The Khas people of Nepal originally referred to their language as Khas kurā (Khas speech), which was also known as Parbatiya (the language of the hill country). The Newar people used the term Khayan Bhaya, Parbatiya and Gorkhali as a name for this language, Gorkhalis themselves started using this term to refer to their language at a later stage. In an attempt to disassociate himself with his Khas past, the Rana prime minister Jung Bahadur decreed that the term Gorkhali be used instead of Khas kurā to describe the language. Meanwhile, the British Indian administrators had started using the term Nepal (after Newar) to refer to the Gorkha kingdom. In the 1930s, the Gorkha government also adopted this term to describe their country. Subsequently, the Khas language also came to be known as Nepali language. It has become a national language of Nepal and lingua franca among the majority of population of Northern region of West Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan. Historian Balkrishna Pokhrel contends that the Khas language of Nepal belonged to neither the Iranian language family, nor the Indian languages, but to the mid Indo-Iranian languages.

Music

Deuda song and folk dance performed on the occasion of various festivals in the Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces of Nepal.

Religion

The majority of Khas profess Hinduism; some of them also follow Buddhism and some were also converted to Christianity. The Khas people also had their own culture Masto culture where 12 Masto gods were worshipped.

12 masto names-

•Budhe masto

•Dadar masto

•Kale masto

•Khappar/khaptad masto

•Dare masto

•Hilso masto

•Kala shilla masto

•Thapro masto

•Dudhe masto

•Rumal masto

•Kava masto

•Bani masto

Notable people

Portrait of a Khas 'Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal', who ruled the country as a Queen regent in the 19th century

Medieval Khas families and dynasties

• Katyuri kings
• Lohara dynasty
• Khas Malla rulers
• Gurkha Kingdom
• Vanshala Kingdom
• Vishlata

Modern Khas

• Bir Bhadra Thapa
• Sanukaji Amar Singh Thapa
• Bhimsen Thapa
• Jung Bahadur Rana
• Kalu Pande (Kaji)
• BP Koirala
• Bhanubhakta Acharya
• Prithvi Narayan Shah
• Shivaram Singh Basnyat (Badabir senapanti)
• Kehar Singh Basnyat
• Damodar Pandey
• Abhiman Singh Basnyat
• Kirtiman Singh Basnyat
• Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat
• Dhokal Singh Basnyat
• Rana Jang Pande
• Kunwar Inderjit Singh
• Subarna Shamsher Rana
• Sher Bahadur Thapa
• Surya Bahadur Thapa
• Jhalak Man Gandarbha

See also

• Nepali language
• Kumaoni language
• Garhwali language
• Indo-Aryan migrations

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