क्षेत्री/खस | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of a Chhetri "Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal" who ruled the country as a Queen regent from 1806 -1832 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Nepal | 4,796,995 (16.4% of Nepal's population) (2021)[1] |
| Languages | |
| Nepali (Khas-Kura),Dotyali (Doteli)[2] | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism 99.25% (2011),Christianity 0.6% (2011)[3] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Khas peoples Bahun,Thakuri,Kumaoni,Magar, and otherIndo-Aryan peoples | |
Chhetri (Kshetri,Kshettri,Kshetry orChhettri), (Nepali:क्षेत्रीpronounced[tsʰetri];IAST:Kṣetrī) historically calledKshettriya orKshetriya orKhas areNepali speaking indo-aryans historically associated with the warrior class and administration, some of whom trace their origin to migration frommedieval India.[4][5] Chhetri was acaste of administrators, governors,warriors and military elites in the medievalKhas Kingdom andGorkha Kingdom (later unifiedKingdom of Nepal).[6] The nobility of the Gorkha Kingdom mainly originated from Chhetri families. They also had a strong presence in civil administration affairs.[7] The bulk ofprime ministers of Nepal before thedemocratization of Nepal belonged to this caste as a result of the old Gorkhali aristocracy. Gorkha-based aristocratic Chhetri families included thePande dynasty, theBasnyat dynasty, theKunwar family (and their offspring branch, the autocraticRana dynasty) and theThapa dynasty. From 1806 to 1951, Chhetri prime ministers wielded absolute rule in the country and the monarchy was reduced to a powerless figurehead.[8]
Khas Chhetris were traditionally considered a division of the Khas people withKhas Brahmin (commonly called Khas Bahun).[9] They make up 16.45% of Nepal's population according to the2021 Nepal census, making them the most populous caste orethnic community in Nepal.[10] Chhetris speak anIndo-AryanNepali language (Khas-Kura) as mother tongue.[2][4]
Chhetri is considered a direct derivative of the Sanskrit wordKshatriya from the rootkṣatra meaning "rule or authority" which was associated with the ruling and warrior class ofHindu society.[11][12][13] According to the1854 Legal Code (Muluki Ain) of Nepal, Chhetris were a social group among thesacred thread bearers (Tagadhari) andtwice-born people of theHindu tradition.[14][15] Almost all Chhetris are Hindu.[16]
The term 'Chhetri' was adopted by a lot of the high-rankingKhas after theunification of Nepal,[17] and it was formalized by an order ofBir Narsingh Kunwar(Jang Bahadur Rana), who considered their original name (Khasa) to be derogatory.
The caste system of Nepal was decided according to the occupation they did from the ancestors of their family, known asDharma (Devanagari:धर्म). The family occupation of Brahmin wasGuru or the spiritual leader inHinduism whereas that of Chhetri wasmilitary andpolitical leaders. Hence, the majority of military and political positions have been historically occupied by Chhetris until now.[note 1]
They are thought to be connected to theKhasas mentioned in the ancient Indian literature and the medievalKhasa kingdom.[18] In the early modern history of Nepal, Chhetris played a key role in theUnification of Nepal, providing the core of theGorkhali army of the mid-18th century.[19]Bir Bhadra Thapa was aThapa of Chhetri group[20] and leading Bharadar duringUnification of Nepal.[21] His grandsonBhimsen Thapa becameMukhtiyar (Prime Minister) of Nepal.[21]Swarup Singh Karki, a leading politician and military officer, belonged to Chhetri family.[22]Abhiman Singh Basnyat ofBasnyat dynasty,Damodar Pande ofPande dynasty were both members of Chhetri caste.[23] andJung Bahadur Rana, founder ofRana dynasty also belonged to the Chhetri community.[24] For 104 years since the middle of the 19th century until 1951, hereditary Rana prime ministers wielded absolute rule in the country relegating the monarchy to a mere figurehead.[8]
During the monarchy, Chhetris continued to dominate the ranks of theNepalese government,Nepalese Army,Nepalese Police and administration.[19]
The most prominent feature of Nepalese Chhetri society has been theRana Prime Ministers (1846–1953), thePande family, theThapa family, and theBasnyat family,[7] all of whom held prominent positions in the Gorkha kingdom, and increased the Chhetri presence in the armed forces, police, andGovernment of Nepal. In traditional and administrative professions, Chhetris were given favorable treatment by theroyal government.[25][26]
The nobility ofGorkha were mainly from Chhetri families and they had strong presence in civil administration affairs.[7] All of thePrime Minister of Nepal between 1768 and 1950 were Chhetris with the exception ofRanga Nath Poudyal, being aBahun, andFateh Jung Shah, being aThakuri.[27] These number varied after thedemocratization of Nepal. Between 1951 and 1997, out of the 16 Prime Ministers of Nepal, 5 of them were Chhetris.[28]
Chhetri had dominated high military positions and monopolized the military force at the times of Chhetri autocratic administrators like PMBhimsen Thapa and PMJung Bahadur Rana. There were 12Basnyats, 16Pandes, 6Thapas and 3Kunwar officers totalling to 51 Chhetri officers in the year 1841 A.D.[24] The most prominent officers atShah administration were theKazis which had control over civil and military functions like a Minister and Military officer combined.Rana Jang Pande, the leader of Pande faction, was thePrime Minister of Nepal in 1841 A.D.[29] which might have caused an increase in the number of Pande officers at 1841. After the riseRana dynasty(Kunwars), the number changed to 10Basnyats, 1Pandes, 3Thapas and 26Kunwar officers totaling to 61 Chhetri officers in the year 1854 A.D.[24]Chhetris dominated the position of the senior officers of the Nepali Army comprising 74.4% of total senior officers in 1967. Similarly, Chhetris composed 38.1%, 54.3% and 55.3% of the senior officers in the year 2003, 2004 and 2007 respectively.[30]
Anglo-Nepalese War and Nepal-Tibet War
Chhetri commanders and generals of the military campaigns of the kingdom of Nepal have shaped the political course of the country overwhelmingly.Anglo-Nepalese War fought between the British forces and the army ofKingdom of Nepal was commanded byBhimsen Thapa,Amar Singh Thapa,Ujir Singh Thapa,Ranabir Singh Thapa,Dalbhanjan Pande,Bakhtawar Singh Thapa andRanajor Singh Thapa from 1814 to 1816 and led to a peace treaty with the British and maintained the independence of Nepal during theBritish Company rule andBritish Raj in South Asia from 18th to 20th century.[32]
Nepal-Tibet War (1855-1856), commanded byBam Bahadur Kunwar, Sanak Singh Khatri, Prithvi Dhoj Kunwar,Dhir Sumsher and Krishna Dhoj Kunwar under the authority ofJung Bahadur Rana, resulted in the victory of Nepalese troops whereby the Tibetans had to pay an annual subsidy of ten thousand rupees to Nepal and were made to allow the establishment of a Nepalese trading station and agency in Lhasa.[33]
Almost all the Chhetris areHindus, and form the largest Hindu adhering sub-group of Nepal representing 99.3% of their population, and those who are Hindus may also follow Buddhism;the Buddha being worshipped as the ninthavatar of godVishnu.[34] Chhetris have historically practiced Hindupolytheism which included the worship ofKhas Masto sect ofShaivism, clan deity (Kuldevta), their personal favorite deity (Ishta-devata), fierce forms ofShiva (such asVirabhadra andRudra) and goddesses such asAdi Shakti,Kali andBhadrakali.
Owing to the extensively large number of Chhetri generals and commander-in-chiefs in theNepalese Army (formerly known as Gorkha Army), goddessBhadrakali, an auspicious form ofKali, was the patron deity of the army and her worship was necessary before and during wars.[35] The war cry, "Jay Mahakali, Ayo Gurkhali" meaning "Hail Great Goddess Kali, here come the Gurkhas!", invoked the sense of protection fromGoddess Kali during battles and today is the war slogan of theNepalese Army as well asGurkha regiment of theIndian Army and theBritish Army.[36]
Surnames of Chhetris include, among others:[37]
TheCentral Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies Chhetris as a subgroup within the broader social group of Khas Arya (together withThakuri and Sanyasi/Dasnami).[38] The 2021 census recorded Chhetri population of Nepal as the largest community with a population of 4,796,995 (16.4% of Nepal). Previously, the 2011 Nepal census showed Chhetris as the largestHindu adherents in the nation with 4,365,113 people which was 99.3% of total Chhetri population.[39] In Nepal's hill districts the Chhetri population rises to 41% compared to 31%Brahmin and 27% other castes. This greatly exceeds the Kshatriya portion in most regions with predominantly Hindu populations.[40][41]
As per 2021 census, Chhetris are largest caste group in 27districts of Nepal, increase from 21 districts of2001 Nepal census and 24 districts of2011 Nepal census.[42] These twenty seven districts are -Sankhuwasabha district,Okhaldhunga district,Dhankuta district,Morang district,Udayapur district,Dolakha district,Ramechhap district,Gulmi district,Dang district,Salyan district,Western Rukum district,Surkhet district,Dailekh district,Jajarkot district,Dolpa district,Jumla district,Mugu district,Humla district,Bajura district,Bajhang district,Achham district,Doti district,Dadeldhura district,Baitadi district,Darchula district,Kalikot district, andKanchanpur district.
The district with the largest Chhetri population isKathmandu district with 424,172 (i.e. 20.7% of the total district population).[39][42] Chhetris form the second largest demographic group afterNewars in theKathmandu Valley, together withLalitpur (Patan) andBhaktapur, with a population of 621,346. Other districts with more than 150,000 Chhetri population areKailali,Kanchanpur,Dang,Jhapa andMorang.[42]
Province wise, Chhetris are majority demography inKoshi Province,Karnali Province andSudurpashchim Province.[42] The frequency of Chhetris by province is shown in the table:[43]
| Province | Percentage of Provincial population | Demographic Status |
|---|---|---|
| Karnali Province | 42.2% | largest |
| Sudurpashchim Province | 41.7% | largest |
| Bagmati Province | 17.4% | 3rd largest |
| Koshi Province | 15% | largest |
| Lumbini Province | 14.2% | 3rd largest |
| Gandaki Province | 13.1% | 3rd largest |
| Madhesh Province | 2.0% | minority |
As per thePublic Service Commission of Nepal,Brahmins (33.3%) and Chhetris (20.01%) were the two largest caste groups to obtain governmental jobs in the fiscal year 2017–18, even though 45% governmental seats are reserved for women,Madhesis,lower caste and tribes, and other marginalized groups.[44]
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The frequency of Chhetris was higher than national average (16.4%) in the following districts:[43]
Chhetri together withBahun andThakuri fall underKhas Arya, who are deniedquota and reservations in civil services and other sectors due to their history of socio-political dominance in Nepal.[45] There are no quotas for theKhas community who fall underBahun-Chhetri-thakuri hierarchy.[46] As per the explanation of legal provisions ofConstitution of Nepal, Khas Arya comprises the Brahmin, Kshetri, Thakur and Sanyasi (Dashnami) communities.[47] But they are allowed reservation in federal parliament and provincial legislature.[48] TheEuropean Union has been accused of direct interference, creating ethnic strife and negative discrimination towardsKhas Arya due to their recommendation to remove the reservation for Khas Aryas.[49][48]
Some of the Chhetri clans are Adhikari, Baniya, Basnet, Bist, Bohra, Bura or Burathoki, Gharti, Karki, Khadka, Khatri, Khulal, Mahat, Raut, Rana, Roka, Thapa, etc.
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