View source for Chhetri

{{short description|Kshatriya caste of patrilineal Khas-Aryan descent}}{{redirect|Kshetriya|military and ruling class in Hinduism|Kshatriya}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Chhetri/Kshetri
| native_name      = क्षेत्री/खस
| image            = Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal.jpg
| image_caption    = Portrait of a Chhetri "[[Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal]]" who ruled the country as a Queen regent from 1806 -1832
| region1          = {{flag|Nepal}}
| pop1             = 4,796,995 (16.4% of Nepal's population) (2021)<ref>{{cite report |date=2021 |title=National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report |author=National Statistics Office |work=Government of Nepal |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/downloads/caste-ethnicity}}</ref>
| languages        = [[Nepali language|Nepali]] (Khas-Kura), 
 [[Dotyali language|Dotyali]] ([[Doteli]]){{sfn|Dhungel|1998|p=5}}
| religions        = [[Hinduism in Nepal|Hinduism]] 99.25% (2011), [[Christianity in Nepal|Christianity]] 0.6% (2011)<ref>{{cite report |date=2014 |title=Population monograph of Nepal |volume=II |author=Central Bureau of Statistics |publisher=Government of Nepal |url=https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf}}</ref>
| related          = [[Khas people|Khas peoples]]<br>[[Bahun]], [[Thakuri]], [[Kumaoni people|Kumaoni]], [[Magar people|Magar]], and other [[Indo-Aryan people|Indo-Aryan peoples]]
}}

'''Chhetri''' ('''Kshetri''', '''Kshettri''', '''Kshetry''' or '''Chhettri'''), ({{langx|ne|क्षेत्री}} {{IPA|ne|tsʰetri|pron}}; [[IAST]]: ''Kṣetrī'') historically called '''Kshettriya''' or '''Kshetriya''' or '''Khas''' are [[Nepali language|Nepali]] speaking people historically associated with the warrior class and administration, some of whom trace their origin to migration from [[medieval India]].{{sfn|Lawoti|2005|p=91}}<ref name=PON>{{cite book|title=People of Nepal|first=Dor Bahadur |last=Bista |author-link=Dor Bahadur Bista |edition=4 |publisher=Ratna Pustak Bhandar |year=1980 |pages=2–4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NiIKAQAAIAAJ}}</ref> Chhetri was a [[caste]] of administrators, governors, [[Bir Bhadra Thapa|warriors]] and military elites in the medieval [[Khasa kingdom|Khas Kingdom]] and [[Gorkha Kingdom]] (later unified [[Kingdom of Nepal]]).{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|pp=20-21}} The nobility of the Gorkha Kingdom mainly originated from Chhetri families. They also had a strong presence in civil administration affairs.{{sfn|Pahari|1995|p=632}} The bulk of [[Prime Minister of Nepal|prime ministers of Nepal]] before the [[Revolution of 1951|democratization of Nepal]] belonged to this caste as a result of the old Gorkhali aristocracy. Gorkha-based aristocratic Chhetri families included the [[Pande dynasty]], the [[Basnyat dynasty]], the [[Kunwar family]] (and their offspring branch, the autocratic [[Rana dynasty]]) and the [[Thapa dynasty]]. From 1806 to 1951, Chhetri prime ministers wielded absolute rule in the country and the monarchy was reduced to a powerless figurehead.<ref name=":2" />   

Khas Chhetris were traditionally considered a division of the Khas people with [[Khas Brahmin]] (commonly called Khas Bahun).{{sfn|Hitchcock|1978|pp=116-119}} They make up 16.45% of Nepal's population according to the [[2021 Nepal census]], making them the most populous caste or [[ethnic groups in Nepal|ethnic community in Nepal]].<ref>{{cite report |date=2021 |title=National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report |author=National Statistics Office |work=Government of Nepal |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/downloads/caste-ethnicity}}</ref> Chhetris speak an [[Indo-Aryan language|Indo-Aryan]] [[Nepali language]] (''[[Khas language|Khas-Kura]]'') as mother tongue.{{sfn|Dhungel|1998|p=5}}{{sfn|Lawoti|2005|p=91}}

==Etymology and background==
Chhetri is considered a direct derivative of the Sanskrit word ''[[Kshatriya]]'' from the root ''kṣatra'' meaning "rule or authority" which was associated with the ruling and warrior class of [[Hindu]] society.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McLeod |first=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DAwmUphO6eAC&dq=Kshatriya+formerly+known+as+rajanya&pg=PA207 |title=The History of India |date=2002 |publisher=Greenwood Press |isbn=978-0-313-31459-9 |language=en}}</ref>{{sfn|Burghart|1984|p=119}}{{sfn|Gurung|1996|p=33}} According to the [[Caste_system_in_Nepal#Muluki_Ain_(1854)|1854 Legal Code (''Muluki Ain'')]] of Nepal, Chhetris were a social group among the [[Upanayana|sacred thread bearers]] ([[Tagadhari]]) and ''[[Dvija|twice-born people]]'' of the [[Hindu]] tradition.{{sfn|Sherchan|2001|p=14}}<ref>Gurung, H. (2005). Social exclusion and Maoist insurgency. Paper presented at National Dialogue Conference on ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, Kathmandu, 19–20 January 2005.</ref> Almost all Chhetris are Hindu.{{sfn|Dhungel|1998|p=8}}

The term 'Chhetri' was adopted by a lot of the high-ranking [[Khas people|Khas]] after the  [[unification of Nepal]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bista |first=Dor Bahadur |title=Fatalism and Development - Nepal's Struggle of Modernization |publisher=Orient Longman |year=1991 |isbn=8125001883 |location=Calcutta |pages=38}}</ref> and it was formalized by an order of [[Jung Bahadur Rana|Bir Narsingh Kunwar(Jang Bahadur Rana)]], who considered their original name (Khasa) to be derogatory. 

== The family occupation of Chhetris ==
[[File:Bhimsen-thapa-painting.jpg|thumb|[[Bhimsen Thapa]], Prime Minister and de-facto autocratic ruler of Nepal from 1806 to 1837]]
The caste system of Nepal was decided according to the occupation they did from the ancestors of their family, known as [[Dharma]] ([[Devanagari]]:धर्म). The family occupation of Brahmin was ''[[Guru]]'' or the spiritual leader in [[Hinduism]] whereas that of Chhetri was [[military]] and [[political leaders]]. Hence, the majority of military and political positions have been historically occupied by Chhetris until now.{{refn|The Gorkha soldiers are usually from Gurung community in Gorkha district of Nepal.|name="BO"|group=note}}

==History==
[[File:Jangabahadur Horse Riding Statue.jpg|thumb|[[Jang Bahadur Kunwar Rana|Jang Bahadur Rana]], Premier and de-facto autocratic ruler of Nepal; also a patriarch of historical [[Rana dynasty]] (1846-1951)]]
[[File:Bamshidhar Kalu Pande.jpg|thumb|Portrait of Prime Minister [[Kalu Pande]] wearing [[Khukuri]], a [[Pande family|Pande Chhetri]] aristocrat; [[Kaji (Nepal)|Kaji]] (Prime Minister and Army Chief) of [[Gorkha Kingdom]].]]
They are thought to be connected to the [[Khasas]] mentioned in the ancient Indian literature and the medieval [[Khasa kingdom]].<ref name="Pradhan1984">{{cite book |author=Kumar Pradhan |title=A History of Nepali Literature |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OdRjAAAAMAAJ |year=1984 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |page=5 }}</ref> In the early modern history of Nepal, Chhetris played a key role in the [[Unification of Nepal]], providing the core of the [[Gurkha|Gorkhali]] army of the mid-18th century.{{sfn|Gurung|1996|pages=1–33, ''passim''}} [[Bir Bhadra Thapa]] was a [[Thapa]] of Chhetri group{{sfn|Regmi|1995|p=44}} and leading Bharadar during [[Unification of Nepal]].{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=22}} His grandson [[Bhimsen Thapa]] became [[List of Prime Ministers of Nepal|Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister) of Nepal]].{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=22}} [[Swarup Singh Karki]], a leading politician and military officer, belonged to Chhetri family.{{sfn|Singh|1997|p=142}} [[Abhiman Singh Basnyat]] of [[Basnyat dynasty]], [[Damodar Pande]] of [[Pande dynasty]] were both members of Chhetri caste.{{sfn|Regmi|1975|p=73}} and [[Jung Bahadur Rana]], founder of [[Rana dynasty]] also belonged to the Chhetri community.{{sfn|Adhikari|2015|p=120}} 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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=History Of Nepal - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA |url=https://mofa.gov.np/about-nepal/history-of-nepal/ |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=mofa.gov.np}}</ref> 

During the monarchy, Chhetris continued to dominate the ranks of the [[Government of Nepal|Nepalese government]], [[Nepalese Army]], [[Nepal Police|Nepalese Police]] and administration.{{sfn|Gurung|1996|pages=1–33, ''passim''}}

===Chhetri noble families===
[[File:Abhiman Singh Basnyat.jpg|thumb|Prime Minister [[Abhiman Singh Basnyat]], a [[Basnyat family|Basnyat Kshetri]] [[Mulkaji]] ]]
The most prominent feature of Nepalese Chhetri society has been the [[Rana dynasty|Rana Prime Ministers]] (1846–1953), the [[Pande family]], the [[Thapa family]], and the [[Basnyat family]],{{sfn|Pahari|1995|p=632}} all of whom held prominent positions in the Gorkha kingdom, and increased the Chhetri presence in the armed forces, police, and [[Government of Nepal]]. In traditional and administrative professions, Chhetris were given favorable treatment by the [[Kingdom of Nepal|royal government]].<ref name=Burbank>{{cite book|title=Nepal |series=Cultures of the World |first=Jon |last=Burbank |edition=2 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |year=2002 |isbn=0-7614-1476-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EaWLU6Blh_sC}}</ref><ref name=CHN>{{cite book|title=Cultural History of Nepal |first1=Bhadra Ratha |last1=Bajracharya |first2=Shri Ram |last2=Sharma |first3=Shiri Ram |last3=Bakshi |publisher=Anmol Publications |year=1993 |isbn=81-7041-840-2 |pages=286–8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lELMFa9yZqsC}}</ref>

===Chhetri and premiership===
The nobility of [[Gorkha Kingdom|Gorkha]] were mainly from Chhetri families and they had strong presence in civil administration affairs.{{sfn|Pahari|1995|p=632}} All of the [[Prime Minister of Nepal]] between 1768 and 1950 were Chhetris with the exception of [[Ranga Nath Poudyal]], being a [[Bahun]], and [[Fateh Jung Shah]], being a [[Thakuri]].{{sfn|Raj|1996|p=5}} These number varied after the [[Revolution of 1951|democratization of Nepal]]. Between 1951 and 1997, out of the 16 Prime Ministers of Nepal, 5 of them were Chhetris.{{sfn|Gurung|1998|p=129}}
[[File:Crown Princess Indra of Nepal.png|thumb|Late Queen [[Indra, Crown Princess of Nepal|Indra Rajya Lakshmi Devi]] of Nepal, mother of [[Birendra of Nepal|King Birendra]] and [[Gyanendra of Nepal|King Gyanendra]], was from [[Rana dynasty|Rana Chhetri dynasty]]  ]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Chhetri Premiers of Nepal
!S.N.
!Name
!Took office
!Left Office
!Notes
|-
|1
|[[Vamsharaj Pande]]
|1776
|1779
|again from 1782-1785
|-
|2
|[[Swarup Singh Karki]]
|1776
|1777
|
|-
|3
|[[Abhiman Singh Basnet|Abhiman Singh Basnyat]]
|1785
|1794
|
|-
|4
|[[Kirtiman Singh Basnyat]]
|1794
|1801
|
|-
|5
|[[Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat]]
|1801
|1803
|
|-
|6
|[[Damodar Pande]]
|1803
|1803
|
|-
|7
|[[Bhimsen Thapa]]
|1806
|1837
|
|-
|8
|[[Rana Jang Pande]]
|1837
|1837
|again from 1839-1840
|-
|9
|[[Mathabarsingh Thapa|Mathabar Singh Thapa]]
|1843
|1845
|
|-
|10
|[[Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1846
|1856
|again from 1857-1877
|-
|11
|[[Bam Bahadur Kunwar]]
|1856
|1857
|
|-
|12
|[[Krishna Bahadur Kunwar Rana]]
|1857
|1857
|
|-
|13
|[[Ranodip Singh Kunwar]]
|1877
|1885
|
|-
|14
|[[Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1885
|1901
|
|-
|15
|[[Dev Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1901
|1901
|
|-
|16
|[[Chandra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1901
|1929
|
|-
|17
|[[Bhim Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1929
|1932
|
|-
|18
|[[Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1932
|1945
|
|-
|19
|[[Padma Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1945
|1948
|
|-
|20
|[[Mohan Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1948
|1951
|
|-
|21
|[[Surya Bahadur Thapa]]
|1955
|1955
|again from 1963-1964; 
1965-1969, 1979-1983, 1997-1998, 2003-2004
|-
|22
|[[Subarna Shamsher Rana]]
|1958
|1959
|
|-
|23
|[[Kirti Nidhi Bista]]
|1969
|1970
|again from 1971-1973; 
1977-1979
|-
|24
|[[Sher Bahadur Deuba]]
|1995
|1997
|again from 2001-2002;
2004-2005, 2017-2018, 2021-2022 
|}
==Military achievements==
[[File:Prithvi Narayan Shah with Senapati Shivaram Singh Basnyat.jpg|thumb|Portrait of King [[Prithivi Narayan Shah]], founder of modern Nepal, consulting with army chief [[Shivaram Singh Basnyat]]]]
[[File:Bir Shamsher JBR.jpg|thumb|[[Bir Shamsher JBR]], a [[Rana family|Rana Kshetri]] [[Maharaja]] and Prime Minister ]]
Chhetri had dominated high military positions and monopolized the military force at the times of Chhetri autocratic administrators like PM [[Bhimsen Thapa]] and PM [[Jung Bahadur Rana]]. There were 12 [[Basnyat family|Basnyat]]s, 16 [[Pande family|Pande]]s, 6 [[Thapa family|Thapa]]s and 3 [[Rana dynasty|Kunwar]] officers totalling to 51 Chhetri officers in the year 1841&nbsp; A.D.{{sfn|Adhikari|2015|p=120}} The most prominent officers at [[Shah dynasty|Shah administration]] were the [[Kaji (Nepal)|Kazis]] which had control over civil and military functions like a Minister and Military officer combined. [[Rana Jang Pande]], the leader of Pande faction, was the [[List of Prime Ministers of Nepal|Prime Minister of Nepal]] in 1841&nbsp; A.D.{{sfn|Joshi|Rose|1966|p=27}} which might have caused an increase in the number of  Pande officers at 1841. After the rise [[Rana dynasty]](Kunwars), the number changed to 10 [[Basnyat family|Basnyat]]s, 1 [[Pande family|Pande]]s, 3 [[Thapa family|Thapa]]s and 26 [[Rana dynasty|Kunwar]] officers totaling to 61 Chhetri officers in the year 1854&nbsp; A.D.{{sfn|Adhikari|2015|p=120}}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.{{sfn|Adhikari|2015|p=123}}[[File:Aishwarya 1972.jpg|thumb|Late [[Queen Aishwarya of Nepal]]; a [[Rana dynasty|Rana Chhetri]] ]]
[[File:Bidhya Devi Bhandari in 2019.jpg|thumb|[[Bidya Devi Bhandari]], first woman President of Nepal & [[commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]] was born in a Pandey Chhetri family]]
[[File:Rajendra Chhetri, 2016.jpg|thumb|Former Head of [[Nepalese Army]], [[Rajendra Chhetri]]  ]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Chhetri Heads of Nepalese Army (18-21st Century)
!S.N.
!Name
!Office
|-
|1
|[[Shivaram Singh Basnyat]]
|1743-1747
|-
|2
|[[Kalu Pande|Vamshidhar "Kalu" Pande]]
|1747-1757
|-
|3
|[[Vamsharaj Pande]]
|NA-1785
|-
|4
|[[Abhiman Singh Basnyat]]
|NA-1794
|-
|5
|[[Damodar Pande]]
|NA-1804
|-
|6
|[[Bhimsen Thapa]]
|1811-1837
|-
|7
|[[Rana Jang Pande]]
|1837-1837
|-
|8
|[[Mathabarsingh Thapa|Mathabar Singh Thapa]]
|1843-1845
|-
|9
|[[Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1846-1856
|-
|10
|[[Bam Bahadur Kunwar]]
|1856-1857
|-
|11
|[[Krishna Bahadur Kunwar Rana]]
|1857-1862
|-
|12
|[[Ranodip Singh Kunwar]]
|1862-1877
|-
|13
|[[Jagat Shumsher Rana]]
|1877-1879
|-
|14
|[[Dhir Shumsher Rana|Dhir Shumsher Kunwar Rana]]
|1879-1884
|-
|15
|[[Jit Jung Rana]]
|1884-1885
|-
|16
|[[Khadga Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1885-1887
|-
|17
|[[Rana Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1887-1887
|-
|18
|[[Dev Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1887-1901
|-
|19
|[[Chandra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1901-1901
|-
|20
|[[Bhim Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1901-1929
|-
|21
|[[Juddha Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1929-1932
|-
|22
|[[Rudra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1932-1934
|-
|23
|[[Padma Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1934-1945
|-
|24
|[[Mohan Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1945-1948
|-
|25
|[[Baber Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1948-1951
|-
|26
|[[Kaiser Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1951-1953
|-
|27
|[[Kiran Shumsher Rana|Kiran Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1953-1956
|-
|28
|[[Toran Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1956-1960
|-
|29
|[[Nir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1960-1965
|-
|30
|[[Singha Bahadur Basnyat]]
|1970-1975
|-
|31
|Guna Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana
|1975-1979
|-
|32
|Arjun Narsingh Rana
|1983-1987
|-
|33
|[[Satchit Rana|Satchit Jung Bahadur Rana]]
|1987-1991
|-
|34
|Gadul Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana
|1991-1995
|-
|35
|[[Dharmapaal Barsingh Thapa]]
|1995-1999
|-
|36
|Prajwalla Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana
|1999-2003
|-
|37
|[[Pyar Jung Thapa]]
|2003-2006
|-
|38
|[[Rookmangud Katawal|Rookmangad Katawal]]
|2006-2009
|-
|39
|[[Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana|Gaurav Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana]]
|2012-2015
|-
|40
|[[Rajendra Chhetri]]
|2015-2018
|-
|41
|[[Purna Chandra Thapa]]
|2018-2021
|}
'''Anglo-Nepalese War and Nepal-Tibet War'''
[[File:Jitgadi Fort.png|left|thumb|184x184px|[[Jit Gadhi|Jit Gadhi fort]], site of Nepal's victory against the British army; led by Chhetri [[Ujir Singh Thapa|Colonel Ujir Singh Thapa]] during Anglo-Nepalese war<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-08 |title=Victory over British Army: Jit Gadhi festival being celebrated today in Butwal |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/victory-over-british-jit-gadhi-festival-being-celebrated-today-in-butwal/ |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com |language=en}}</ref>]]
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 of [[Kingdom of Nepal]] was commanded by [[Bhimsen Thapa]], [[Amar Singh Thapa]], [[Ujir Singh Thapa]], [[Ranabir Singh Thapa]], [[Dalbhanjan Pande]], [[Bakhtawar Singh Thapa]] and [[Ranajor Singh Thapa]] from 1814 to 1816 and led to a peace treaty with the British and maintained the independence of Nepal during the [[Company rule in India|British Company rule]] and [[British Raj|British Raj in South Asia]] from 18th to 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anglo-Nepalese War {{!}} British-Asian history {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Anglo-Nepalese-War |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>  

[[Nepal–Tibet War (1855–1856)]], commanded by [[Bam Bahadur Kunwar]], Sanak Singh Khatri, Prithvi Dhoj Kunwar, [[Dhir Shumsher Kunwar|Dhir Sumsher]] and Krishna Dhoj Kunwar under the authority of [[Jung 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Third Nepal-Tibet War 1855 AD |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/nepal-tibet-3.htm |access-date=2024-10-09 |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>

== Religion ==
[[File:Goddess Bhadrakali Worshipped by the Gods- from a tantric Devi series - Google Art Project.jpg|thumb|247x247px|Due to large number of Chhetri commanders, [[Bhadrakali|Goddess Bhadrakali]] became the patron deity of Nepal's army. The war cry "''Jay Mahakali, Ayo Gurkhali'' ''"'' meaning "''Hail Great Goddess Kali, here come the Gurkhas!"'' invoked [[Kali|Goddess Kali]] during wars]]
Almost all the Chhetris are [[Hinduism|Hindus]], 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 ninth [[avatar]] of god [[Vishnu]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chhetri – National Museum |url=https://nationalmuseum.gov.np/archives/112 |access-date=2024-11-26 |language=en-US}}</ref> Chhetris have historically practiced Hindu [[polytheism]] which included the worship of [[Khas|Khas Masto]] sect of [[Shaivism]], clan deity ([[Kuldevta]]), their personal favorite deity ([[Ishta-devata]]''),'' fierce forms of [[Shiva]] (such as [[Virabhadra]] and [[Rudra]]) and goddesses such as [[Adi Shakti]], [[Kali]] and [[Bhadrakali]]. 

Owing to the extensively large number of Chhetri generals and commander-in-chiefs in the [[Nepalese Armed Forces|Nepalese Army]] (formerly known as Gorkha Army), goddess [[Bhadrakali]], an auspicious form of [[Kali]], was the patron deity of the army and her worship was necessary before and during wars.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sangal |first=Naresh Chandra |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CUWIC-vigbkC |title=Glimpses of Nepal: A Brief Compilation of History, Culture, Language, Tradition, Religious Places, Festivals, Mountains, Revers, Safari Parks, Cities, Kathmandu University, and Other Important Informations for Holiday-makers |date=1998 |publisher=APH Publishing |isbn=978-81-7024-962-7 |language=en}}</ref> The war cry, "''Jay Mahakali, Ayo Gurkhali'' ''"'' meaning "''Hail Great Goddess Kali, here come the Gurkhas!",'' invoked the sense of protection from [[Kali|Goddess Kali]] during battles and today is the war slogan of the [[Nepalese Armed Forces|Nepalese Army]] as well as [[Gorkha regiments (India)|Gurkha regiment]] of the [[Indian Army]] and the [[British Armed Forces|British Army]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE KHUKRI BRAVES The Illustrated History of The Gorkha {{!}} Rupa Publications |url=https://rupapublications.co.in/books/the-khukri-braves-the-illustrated-history-of-the-gorkha/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>  

== Families & surnames ==
[[File:Red Palace of Bir Shumsher.jpg|thumb|[[Lal Durbar|Lal Durbar (Red Palace)]], associated with Rana Chhetris of [[Kathmandu]]|241x241px]]
Surnames of Chhetris include, among others:<ref name="Subba1989">{{cite book|title=Dynamics of a hill society: Nepalis in Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas|author=Subba, Tanka Bahadur|date=1989|publisher=Mittal Publications|isbn=9788173041143|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1yZuAAAAMAAJ|quote=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.}}</ref>
*[[Adhikari]]/Raya, Thami, Khulal, Khapatari, & Thada
*[[Baniya (surname)|Baniya]]
*[[Basnet]]
*[[Bisht (surname)|Bisht]]
*[[Bhandari]]/(Raghubansi)
*[[Bohora|Bohra]]
*[[Budhathoki|Burathoki]]
*[[Chauhan (surname)|Chauhan]]
*[[Gharti]]
*[[Karki (surname)|Karki]]
*[[Khadka]]
*[[Khatri (surname)|Khatri]]
*[[Khulal]]
*[[Kunwar (surname)|Kunwar]]
*[[Mahara (surname)|Mahara]]
*[[Negi (surname)|Negi]]
*[[Pande family|Pande]]/पाँडे/पाडे (not to be mistaken with Brahmin Pandeya)
*[[Rana dynasty|Rana]]
*[[Raut (disambiguation)|Raut]]
*[[Rawal (surname)|Rawal]]
*[[Rawat (surname)|Rawat]] 
*[[Rayamajhi]]
*[[Rokka (surname)|Rokka]]
*[[Thapa Kaji|Thapa]]

==Demographics==
[[File:Chhetri ladies.png|thumb|Women from Chhetri community during religious festival]]
[[File:Fullsizeoutput 27e6.jpg|thumb|[[Kiran Chetry]], former [[CNN]] anchor, is of Chhetri descent ]]
The [[Central Bureau of Statistics (Nepal)|Central Bureau of Statistics]] of Nepal classifies Chhetris as a subgroup within the broader social group of Khas Arya (together with [[Thakuri]] and Sanyasi/Dasnami).<ref>[https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II]</ref> 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 largest [[Hinduism in Nepal|Hindu]] adherents in the nation with 4,365,113 people which was 99.3% of total Chhetri population.<ref name="cbs">{{Cite web|url=http://cbs.gov.np/image/data/Population/Population%20Monograph%20of%20Nepal%202014/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|title=Nepal Census 2011|access-date=2017-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918043750/http://cbs.gov.np/image/data/Population/Population%20Monograph%20of%20Nepal%202014/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|archive-date=2017-09-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref name=CBS1>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.gov.np/Population/Monograph/Chapter%2003%20%20Social%20Composition%20of%20the%20Population.pdf |title=Chapter 3. Social composition of the Population: Caste/Ethnicity and Religion in Nepal |first=Dilli Ram |last=Dahal |publisher=[[Government of Nepal]], Central Bureau of Statistics |date=2002-12-30 |access-date=2011-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519235652/http://www.cbs.gov.np/Population/Monograph/Chapter%2003%20%20Social%20Composition%20of%20the%20Population.pdf |archive-date=2011-05-19}}</ref><ref name=CBS2>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.gov.np/Nepal%20in%20figure/Nepal%20in%20Figures%202008.pdf |title=Nepal in Figures 2008 |publisher=[[Government of Nepal]], Central Bureau of Statistics |year=2008 |access-date=2011-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723080755/http://www.cbs.gov.np/Nepal%20in%20figure/Nepal%20in%20Figures%202008.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-23}}</ref> 

As per 2021 census, Chhetris are largest caste group in 27 [[districts of Nepal]], increase from 21 districts of [[2001 Nepal census]] and 24 districts of [[2011 Nepal census]].<ref name=":0">National Census of Nepal 2021. Government of Nepal, National Statistics Office. (Report: available at https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/files/result-folder/Caste%20Ethnicity_report_NPHC_2021.pdf )</ref> These twenty seven districts are -  [[Sankhuwasabha district]], [[Okhaldhunga district]], [[Dhankuta district]], [[Morang District|Morang district]], [[Udayapur district]], [[Dolakha District|Dolakha district]], [[Ramechhap district]], [[Gulmi District|Gulmi district]], [[Dang District, Nepal|Dang district]], [[Salyan District, Nepal|Salyan district]], [[Western Rukum 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]], and [[Kanchanpur district]]. 

The district with the largest Chhetri population is [[Kathmandu district]] with 424,172 (i.e. 20.7% of the total district population).<ref name="cbs" /><ref name=":0" /> Chhetris form the second largest demographic group after [[Newar people|Newars]] in the [[Kathmandu Valley]], together with [[Patan, Nepal|Lalitpur (Patan)]] and [[Bhaktapur]], with a population of 621,346. Other districts with more than 150,000 Chhetri population are [[Kailali District|Kailali]], [[Kanchanpur District|Kanchanpur]], [[Dang District, Nepal|Dang]], [[Jhapa District|Jhapa]] and [[Morang District|Morang]].<ref name=":0" />

Province wise, Chhetris are majority demography in [[Koshi Province]], [[Karnali Province]] and [[Sudurpashchim Province]].<ref name=":0" />  The frequency of Chhetris by province is shown in the table:<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=cast-ethnicity {{!}} national_population and housing_census_year results |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/cast-ethnicity?province=1 |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=censusnepal.cbs.gov.np}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Demographics of Chhetris in the Provinces of Nepal 
!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 the [[Public Service Commission (Nepal)|Public Service Commission]] of Nepal, [[Bahun|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, [[Madhesi people|Madhesis]], [[Dalit|lower caste and tribe]]s, and other marginalized groups.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kathmandupost.ekantipur.com/news/2018-10-16/brahmins-and-chhetris-land-most-government-jobs.html|title = Brahmins and Chhetris land most government jobs}}</ref>
[[File:Geetanjali Thapa (cropped).jpg|thumb|Indian actress [[Geetanjali Thapa]], recipient of [[National Film Award for Best Actress]] (2013)]]
[[File:Sunil Chhetri receiving award from Naveen Patnaik in 2024 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Sunil Chhetri]], former Captain of Indian Football National Team]]The frequency of Chhetris was higher than national average (16.4%) in the following districts:<ref name=":1" />
* [[Bajhang District|Bajhang]] (69%)
* [[Darchula District|Darchula]] (65.3%)
* [[Jumla District|Jumla]] (60.2%)
* [[Doti District|Doti]] (59.9%)
* [[Bajura District|Bajura]] (59.5%)
* [[Salyan District, Nepal|Salyan]] (59%)
* [[Achham District|Achham]] (54.6%)
* [[Dadeldhura District|Dadeldhura]] (53.7%)
* [[Western Rukum District|Western Rukum]] (53.1%)
* [[Baitadi District|Baitadi]] (53%)
* [[Mugu District|Mugu]] (50.5%)
* [[Dolpa District|Dolpa]] (47.4%)
* [[Jajarkot District|Jajarkot]] (39.3%)
* [[Humla District|Humla]] (36.6%)
* [[Dailekh District|Dailekh]] (35.3%)
* [[Rolpa District|Rolpa]] (35.2%)
* [[Surkhet District|Surkhet]] (31.7%)
* [[Dolakha District|Dolakha]] (31.2%)
* [[Kanchanpur District|Kanchanpur]] (30.9%)
* [[Kalikot District|Kalikot]] (29.6%)
* [[Dang District, Nepal|Dang]] (26.6%)
* [[Ramechhap District|Ramechhap]] (26%)
* [[Pyuthan District|Pyuthan]] (25.6%)
* [[Kailali District|Kailali]] (23.8%)
* [[Gulmi District|Gulmi]] (22.8%)
* [[Bhaktapur District|Bhaktapur]] (21.9%)
* [[Udayapur District|Udayapur]] (21.5%)
* [[Okhaldhunga District|Okhaldhunga]] (21%)
* [[Eastern Rukum District|Eastern Rukum]] (20.1%)
* [[Dhankuta District|Dhankuta]] (19.9%)
* [[Kathmandu District|Kathmandu]] (19.8%)
* [[Tehrathum District|Tehrathum]] (19.4%)
* [[Khotang District|Khotang]] (19.1%)
* [[Bhojpur District, Nepal|Bhojpur]] (17.7%)
* [[Sankhuwasabha District|Sankhuwasabha]] (17.3%)
* [[Lalitpur District, Nepal|Lalitpur]] (18.6%)
* [[Arghakhanchi District|Arghakhanchi]] (18.1%)
* [[Baglung District|Baglung]] (18.1%)
* [[Myagdi District|Myagdi]] (17.5%)
* [[Parbat District|Parbat]] (17.4%)
* [[Sindhupalchowk District|Sindhupalchowk]] (16.9%)
* [[Jhapa District|Jhapa]] (16.8%)

==Present day==
[[File:Small Thapa family.jpg|thumb|A 21st century Chhetri family]]
Chhetri together with [[Bahun]] and [[Thakuri]] fall under [[Khas Arya]], who are denied [[Racial quota|quota]] and reservations in civil services and other sectors due to their history of socio-political dominance in Nepal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/khas-arya-quota-provision-civil-services-opposed/|title=Khas Arya quota provision in civil services opposed|date=10 November 2017|website=thehimalayantimes.com|access-date=1 May 2018}}</ref> There are no quotas for the [[Khas community]] who fall under ''Bahun-Chhetri-thakuri'' hierarchy.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Trailokya Raj|last=Aryal|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/news/20612/|title= The Bahun narrative|date=24 May 2017|newspaper= [[República (Nepalese newspaper)|Myrepublica]]}}</ref> As per the explanation of legal provisions of [[Constitution of Nepal]], Khas Arya comprises the Brahmin, Kshetri, Thakur and Sanyasi (Dashnami) communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article7834.html|title=Nepal-India Relations: Need for Urgent Paradigm Shift - Mainstream Weekly|website=www.mainstreamweekly.net|access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref> But they are allowed reservation in federal parliament and provincial legislature.<ref name="article5111223">{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/next-door-nepal-the-nationalists-hour-5111223/|title=Next Door Nepal: The nationalist's hour|date=26 March 2018|website=indianexpress.com|access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref> The [[European Union]] has been accused of direct interference, creating ethnic strife and negative discrimination towards ''Khas Arya'' due to their recommendation to remove the reservation for Khas Aryas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/hail-to-the-chiefs/|title=Hail to the chiefs|first=Om Astha|last=Rai|website=www.nepalitimes.com|date=23 March 2018 |access-date=8 June 2018}}</ref><ref name="article5111223" /> 

==Notable people ==
'''Film industry/Fashion/ Arts'''

* [[Ruby Rana]], Miss Nepal World (1994), Nepal's first Miss Nepal
* [[Miss Nepal 2005|Sugarika KC]], Miss Nepal World (2005) and television host
* [[Rekha Thapa]], Nepalese actress and director
* [[Ashma Kumari KC|Ashma KC]]''',''' Miss Nepal World (2024)
* [[Priyanka Karki]], Nepalese actress
* [[Bhuwan K.C.]], Nepalese actor, director, producer, singer and filmmaker
* [[Swastima Khadka]], Nepalese actress
* [[Nischal Basnet|Nischal Basnet,]] Nepalese actor and director
* [[Karishma Manandhar|Karishma K.C. (Manandhar)]], prominent Nepalese actress
* [[Paresh Rawal]], Indian actor
* [[Anmol K.C.]], actor and producer
* [[Bipana Thapa]], Nepalese actress
* [[Nandita K.C.]], Nepalese actress
* [[Hira Singh Khatri]], first Director of Nepalese Film industry 
* [[Sita KC]], Nepalese singer
* [[Kiran KC]], Nepalese actor
* [[Sushil Chhetri]], Nepalese actor
* [[Sushma Karki]], Nepalese actress
* [[Arjun Karki]], Nepalese actor
* [[Shruti Bisht]], Indian film and television actress
* [[Sumi Khadka]], Nepalese actress
* [[Pradeep Khadka]], Nepalese actor
* [[Dilip Rayamajhi]], Nepalese actor
* [[Arpan Thapa]], Nepalese actor
* [[Jharna Thapa]], Nepalese actress
* [[Sunil Thapa]], Nepalese actor
* [[Subeksha Khadka]], Nepalese actress
* [[Ram Thapa]], Nepalese singer 
* [[Gyanu Rana]], Nepalese singer 
* [[Astha Raut]], Nepalese singer 
* [[Sonam Bisht]], Indian model and actress
* [[Karun Thapa]], Ghazal writer
* [[Sashi Rawal]], Nepalese singer
* [[Geetanjali Thapa]], Indian actress
* [[Kiran Chetry]], American TV personality
* [[Babu Bogati]], Nepalese singer
* [[Sanjit Bhandari]], Nepalese actor
* [[Arun Chhetri]], Nepalese actor
* [[Shonal Rawat]], India TV anchor
* [[Bipin Karki]], Nepalese actor
* [[Nidhi Bisht]], Indian actress
* [[Kamal Khatri]], Nepalese singer
* [[Sudarshan Thapa]], Nepalese actor and director
* [[Salon Basnet]], Nepalese actor
* [[Jagat Rawat]], Indian actor
* [[Gajit Bista]], Nepalese actor
* [[Sunil Rawal]], film director
* [[Suhana Thapa]], Nepalese actress
* [[Namrata Thapa]], Indian actress
* [[Sharmila Thapa]], Nepal-born Indian television host and actress
* [[Vidhan Karki]], Nepali film director
* [[Narayan Rayamajhi]], Nepalese film Director
* [[Tirtha Kumari Thapa]], Nepalese singer
* [[Rabindra Singh Baniya]], Nepalese actor and producer
* [[Chitrashi Rawat]], Indian actress
* [[Mallika Karki]], Nepali singer
* [[Donal Bisht]], Indian television actress
* [[Navi Rawat]], American actress
* [[Astha Raut]], Nepali singer
* [[Deepak Rayamajhi]], Nepalese film Director
* [[Gyanu Rana]], Nepalese singer 
* [[Roshan Thapa]], Nepalese songwriter
* [[Bhairav Bahadur Thapa]], first dance director of Nepal as well as choreographer and writer
* [[Atithi Gautam K. C|Atithi Gautam K.C]], youngest singer in the world to release a professional solo album
* [[Bal Krishna Sama|Bal Krishna Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana]], Nepalese playwright
* [[Hari Bhakta Katuwal]], prominent poet and lyricist of Nepal
* [[Paramita RL Rana]], Nepalese actress and singer

'''Politics/Administration (non-historical)'''

* [[Surya Bahadur Thapa]], former five-times Prime Minister of Nepal
* [[Bidya Devi Bhandari]], first woman President of Nepal
* [[Arjun Narasingha K.C.]], former five-time minister of Nepal and Senior [[Nepali Congress]] Leader
* [[Gagan Thapa|Gagan Thapa,]] Nepalese politician and General Secretary of the [[Nepali Congress]]
* [[Chitra Bahadur K.C.]], former [[Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal|deputy prime minister of Nepal]] and chairman of the [[Rashtriya Jana Morcha (2006)|Rashtriya Jana Morcha]] Party
* [[Sher Bahadur Deuba]], former Prime Minister of Nepal
* [[Yogi Adityanath|Ajay Mohan Bisht]], known as [[Yogi Adityanath]]; Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, India
* [[Arjun Bahadur Thapa]], former SAARC Secretary General
* [[Nayan Bahadur Khatri]], longest serving late [[Chief Justice of Nepal]]
* [[Bhekh Bahadur Thapa]], Nepalese central banker and former cabinet minister
* [[Kamal Thapa]], former Deputy Prime Minister, President of Rastriya Prajatantra Party of Nepal, 
* [[Karna Bahadur Thapa]], Former Minister of Nepal
* [[Ujwal Thapa]], President of Bibeksheel Nepali
* [[Khum Bahadur Khadka]], former minister
* [[Narayan Khadka]], ex minister of urban development
* [[Hari Bahadur Khadka]], Member of 2nd Constituent Assembly
* [[Kul Bahadur Khadka]], Lieutenant General
* [[Hari Bahadur Basnet]], former minister
* [[Lal Bahadur Basnet]], Indian politician
* [[Mahesh Basnet (Nepalese politician, born 1975)|Mahesh Basnet]], former minister 
* [[Mohan Bahadur Basnet]], former minister
* [[Raju Basnet]], Indian politician
* [[Singha Bahadur Basnyat]], Former Chief (COAS) of [[Nepal Army]]
* [[Rajendra Chhetri|Rajendra Chhetri (KC)]], Former Head of [[Nepalese Army]]
* [[Tek Bahadur Basnet]], Nepalese politician
* [[Amar Bahadur Thapa]], Nepalese politician
* [[Om Bikram Rana]], former inspector general of Nepal Police
* [[Hari Krishna Karki]], Nepali judge and former [[Chief Justice of Nepal]]
* [[Hikmat Kumar Karki]], former [[Chief Minister of Koshi Province]]
* [[Kedar Karki]], [[Chief Minister of Koshi Province]]
* [[Harish Rawat]], former chief minister of Uttarakhand, India
* [[Lokman Singh Karki]], former head of Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Nepal

* [[Ram Karki]], former minister of Nepal
* [[Pradip Shumsher J.B.R.|Pradip Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana]], former inspector general of Nepal Police
* [[Hira Singh Bisht]] [[Hira Singh Bisht|,]] Indian minister

* [[Sushila Karki]], Nepali jurist and first female [[Chief Justice of Nepal]] (2016 – 2017)
* [[Hira Chandra KC]], [[Ministry of Health and Population (Nepal)|State Minister of Health and Population]] of Nepal
* [[Tirath Singh Rawat]], former chief minister of Uttarakhand, India
* [[Bal Bahadur K.C.]], former minister of Nepal
* [[Padma Bahadur Khatri]], late former foreign minister of Nepal and [[Nepalese Ambassador to the United States]]
* [[Rajendra Kumar KC]], former minister of Nepal 
* [[Pashupati Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana]] (born 1941), Nepalese politician, former minister and member of the Rana dynasty
* [[Hira Singh Bisht]], Indian politician
* [[Jayakumar Jitendrasinh Rawal]], Indian minister
* [[Nilam K.C. (Khadka)|Nilam KC.]], former [[Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens (Nepal)|Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens]] of Nepal
* [[Nepalese Ambassador to the United States|Shreedhar Khatri]], [[Nepalese Ambassador to the United States]]
* [[Ratna Shumsher J.B.R.|Ratna Shumsher Jang Bahadur Rana]], former inspector general of Nepal Police
* [[Gyanendra Bahadur Karki]], former minister
* [[Kul Prasad KC]], Chief Minister of [[Lumbini Province]] of Nepal
* [[Bhim Bahadur Rawal]], former minister
* [[Bindu Kumar Thapa]], former minister
* [[Deepak Bohara]], Nepalese politician
* [[Harish Bisht]], vice admiral of the Indian Navy
* [[Ram Bahadur Bohara]], former Member of Parliament, Nepal
* [[Hira Singh Bisht]], Indian politician
* [[Navaraj Rawat]], former State Minister of Health and population of Nepal
* [[Keshar Jung Rayamajhi]], Advisor to late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of nepal
* [[Top Bahadur Rayamajhi]], former Deputy Prime Minister
* [[Udaya Shumsher Rana]], Nepalese politician, former minister
* [[Devyani Rana]], Nepalese princess
* [[Karan Mahara]], Indian politician
* [[Harry Bhandari]], first Nepalese origin American elected to a state legislature in the [[Politics of the United States|United States]]
* [[Amrit Kumar Bohara]], former Minister of Nepal
* [[Krishna Bahadur Mahara]], former Home minister of Nepal
* [[Shakti Bahadur Basnet]], former Home Minister of Nepal
* [[Gokarna Bista]], former minister of Nepal
* [[Mahendra Bahadur Pandey]], former minister of Nepal
* [[Kalpana Bista]], first female minister of education of Nepal

'''Sports'''

* [[Hari Khadka]], football player
* [[Sabitra Bhandari]], Nepalese professional [[Association football|football player]]
* [[Sunil Chhetri]], Indian football player
* [[Nirajan Khadka]], football player
* [[Mamata Thapa]], Nepalese cricketer
* [[Paras Khadka]], former Captain of [[Nepal national cricket team]]
* [[Anjan KC]], football player
* [[Khare Basnet]], Bhutanese footballer
* [[Neri Thapa]], Nepalese cricketer
* [[Rupesh KC]], football player
* [[Rajendra Rawal]], Nepali footballer
* [[Shiva Thapa]], Indian boxer
* [[Shyam Thapa]], Indian footballer
* [[Sushil KC]], football player
* [[Jatin Singh Bisht]] Indian footballer
* [[Nam Singh Thapa]], Nepalese boxer
* [[Dhruba KC]], former coach of [[Nepal national football team]]
* [[Karan KC]], Nepalese cricketer at [[Nepal national cricket team]]
* [[Jit Bahadur Khatri Chhetri|Jit Bahadur K.C.]], first Nepalese athlete to win an international medal in sports (1971)
* [[Tanka Basnet]], Nepalese footballer
* [[Vaibhav Rawal]], Indian cricketer
* [[Menuka Rawat]], Nepalese athlete at the 1988 Summer Olympics
* [[Ritesh Thapa]], Nepalese footballer
* [[Manoj Katuwal]], Nepalese cricketer
* [[Arjun Kumar Basnet]], South Asian Games marathon silver medalist
* [[Lalit Thapa]], Indian footballer
* [[Avinash Bohara]], Nepalese cricketer
* [[Sagar Thapa]], Nepalese footballer
* [[Parvati Thapa]], Nepalese sports shooter
* [[Kamal Thapa (footballer)]], Indian footballer
* [[Raju Basnyat]], Nepalese cricketer
* [[Anita Basnet]], Nepalese footballer
* [[Sanjeeb Bista|Sanjeeb Bista,]] Nepalese footballer
* [[Rubina Chhetry|Rubina Chhetry,]] former captain of Nepalese cricket team
* [[Bindu Rawal]], Nepalese cricketer
* [[Samjhana Khadka|Samjhana Khadka,]] Nepalese cricketer
* [[Roma Thapa|Roma Thapa,]] Nepalese cricketer
* [[Kabita Kunwar|Kabita Kunwar,]] Nepalese cricketer
* [[Pratis GC|Pratis GC,]] Nepalese cricketer
* [[Manoj Katuwal|Manoj Katuwal,]] Nepalese cricketer
* [[Deep Karki|Deep Karki,]] Nepalese footballer
* [[Arik Bista|Arik Bista,]] Nepalese footballer
* [[Gillespye Jung Karki|Gillespye Jung Karki,]] Nepalese footballer
* [[Krishna Khatri]], Nepalese footballer
* [[Anjan Bista|Anjan Bista,]] Nepalese footballer
* [[Rama Singh]], former captain of [[Nepal women's national football team]]
* [[Sneh Rana (sport shooter)|Sneh Rana]], Nepalese Sport shooter
* [[Sajana Rana]], Nepalese footballer
* [[Bishal Basnet|Bishal Basnet,]] Nepalese footballer
* [[Ganesh Thapa|Ganesh Thapa,]] Nepalese footballer and former president of the [[All Nepal Football Association]] (ANFA)
* [[Karishma Karki]], Nepalese swimmer
* [[Basanta Thapa|Basanta Thapa,]] Nepalese footballer
* [[Kamana Bista]], Nepalese volleyball player
* [[Biren Basnet]], Bhutanese footballer
* [[Dil Maya Karki]], Nepalese sprinter
* [[Devu Thapa]], Nepalese Olympic judoka

* [[Chandra Kala Thapa]], sprinter
* [[Gita Rana]], Nepalese footballer
* [[Niru Thapa]], Nepalese footballer
* [[Laxmi Kunwar]], first [[Nepal|Nepali]] athlete to represent Nepal in [[Swimming at the Summer Paralympics|swimming]] at the [[Paralympic Games]]

'''Chief Justices (Supreme Court of Nepal)'''

* [[Ratna Bahadur Bista]]
* [[Nayan Bahadur Khatri]]
* [[Dhanendra Bahadur Singh]]
* [[Trilok Pratap Rana]]
* [[Min Bahadur Rayamajhi]]
* [[Sushila Karki]]
* [[Cholendra Shumsher JBR|Cholendra Shumser JBR]]
* [[Hari Krishna Karki]]
* [[Prakash Man Singh Raut]]

'''Academia / Social work / Philanthropy'''

* [[Govinda K.C.|Dr. Govinda K.C.]], Nepalese orthopedic surgeon and philanthropic activist
* [[Kedar Narsingh KC|Dr. Kedar Narsingh KC]], President of Nepal Medical Association and former Director of the National Tuberculosis Center
* [[Bhola Thapa]], Nepali educationist, researcher, author and the Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University
* [[Toshima Karki|Dr. Toshima Karki,]] surgeon and former minister of Nepal
* [[Gehendra Shumsher]], first scientist of Nepal
* [[Dor Bahadur Bista|Dor Bahadur Bista,]] late historian and activist
* [[Yogi Naraharinath]] (born Balbir Singh Hriksen Thapa), late historian and writer and saint
* [[Bikash Bista]], economist
* [[Rudra Raj Pande]], late prominent educator, writer and historian
* [[Daulat Bikram Bista]], late writer
* [[Rabi Thapa]], Nepalese writer
* [[Ram Pratap Thapa]], founding member of [[Non Resident Nepali Association]]
* [[Bhim Bahadur Pande]], late historian
* [[Surya Bahadur KC]], late industrialist, founder of [[Machhapuchchhre Bank|Machhapuchhre Bank Ltd]], [[Rara noodle (food brand)|Rara Noodle]], 'KC Group Nepal', and [[Pratinidhi Sabha|Parliamentarian]] of Nepal
* [[Uttam Kunwar]], late writer and editor
* [[Kul Bahadur KC]], late Nepalese [[Poet]] and [[laureate]]
* [[Khagendra Bahadur Basnyat]], social worker and activist
* [[Tejshree Thapa]],  late Nepalese [[International human rights law|human rights lawyer]]
* [[Dev Kumari Thapa]], late Indian writer
* [[Manjushree Thapa]], Canadian writer
* [[Rupchandra Bista]], late activist and philosopher
* [[Neelam Karki Niharika]], Nepalese writer
* [[Sharmila Thapa]], Indian activist
* [[Madhukar Shamsher Rana]], late finance minister and development economist
* [[Pushpa Basnet]], social worker 

'''Law and order (Head of Nepal Police)'''

* [[Phuspa Ram KC]]
* [[Toran Shumsher J.B.R.]]
* [[Rom Bahadur Thapa]]
* [[Khadgajeet Baral]]
* [[Durlav Kumar Thapa]]
* [[Nara Shumsher J.B.R.]]
* [[Hem Bahadur Singh]]
* [[Ratna Shumsher J.B.R.]]
* [[Moti Lal Bohora]]
* [[Pradip Shumsher J.B.R.]]
* [[Shyam Bhakta Thapa]]
* [[Om Bikram Rana]]
* [[Kuber Singh Rana]]
* [[Shailesh Thapa Chhetri]]
* [[Dhiraj Pratap Singh]]
* [[Basanta Bahadur Kunwar]]
* [[Deepak Thapa]]

'''Other historical personalities'''
*[[Bir Bhadra Thapa]]{{sfn|Regmi|1995|p=44}} and [[Thapa dynasty]]{{sfn|Pahari|1995|p=632}}
*[[Queen Tripurasundari of Nepal]] of [[Thapa dynasty]] 
*[[Swarup Singh Karki]]{{sfn|Singh|1997|p=142}}
*[[Abhiman Singh Basnyat]]{{sfn|Regmi|1975|p=73}} and [[Basnyat dynasty]]{{sfn|Pahari|1995|p=632}}
*[[Damodar Pande]]{{sfn|Regmi|1975|p=73}} and [[Pande dynasty]]{{sfn|Pahari|1995|p=632}}
*[[Jung Bahadur Rana]]{{sfn|Adhikari|2015|p=120}} and [[Rana dynasty]]{{sfn|Pahari|1995|p=632}}
*[[Amar Singh Thapa (born 1759)|Amar Singh Thapa (sanu)]]{{sfn|Regmi|1995|p=44}}
*[[Subarna Prabha Devi|Queen Subarna Prabha Devi]]{{sfn|Pradhan|2012|p=12}}
*[[Bhimsen Thapa]]{{sfn|Regmi|1995|p=44}}{{sfn|Adhikari|2015|p=120}}
*[[Gagan Singh Bhandari]]{{sfn|Shaha|1990|p=201}}
*[[Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Social Transformation in Post-conflict Nepal: A Gender Perspective|author=Yadav, P.|date=2016|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781317353904|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YiURDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA39|page=39}}</ref>
*[[Sher Bahadur Thapa]]{{sfn|Choudhuri|Poynder|Stevens|1984|p=147}}
*[[Subarna Shamsher Rana]]<ref name="ICPS">{{Citation |author=Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies |title=Journal of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies |volume=14 |year=1980 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DJ45AAAAIAAJ |publisher=Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Caste system in Nepal]]
*[[Ethnic groups in Nepal]]
*[[Kshatriya]]
*[[Caste system in India]]
*[[Varna (Hinduism)]]

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{reflist|group=note}}

=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
<!-- A -->
*{{Citation|last=Adhikari|first=Indra|title=Military and Democracy in Nepal|publisher=Routledge|year=2015|isbn=9781317589068|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CVLeCQAAQBAJ}}
<!-- B -->
* {{citation |first=Richard |last=Burghart |title=The Formation of the Concept of Nation-State in Nepal |jstor=2056748 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=44 |issue=1 |year=1984 |pages=101–125 |doi=10.2307/2056748|s2cid=154584368 }}
<!-- C -->
*{{citation|title=9 Gurkha Rifles: a regimental history, 1817-1947|volume=4 |last1= Choudhuri|first1=P.|last2=Poynder|first2=F. S. |last3=Stevens |first3=Lt. Col.|year=1984|publisher= Vision Books |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HAk7AAAAMAAJ}}
<!-- D -->
*{{Citation|last=Dhungel|first=Dwarika Nath|title=Contemporary Nepal|publisher=Vikas|year=1998|isbn=9788125904113|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e05uAAAAMAAJ}}
<!-- G -->
*{{cite book|title=Faces of Nepal |first=Harka B. |last=Gurung |publisher=Himal Books |year=1996 |isbn=9789993343509 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9tSBAAAAMAAJ}}
*{{citation|title= Nepal: Social Demography and Expressions|last= Gurung|first=Harka B.|year=1998|publisher= New Era |isbn= 9780785574422|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LPTrAAAAMAAJ}}
<!-- H -->
* {{citation |first=John T. |last=Hitchcock |contribution=An Additional Perspective on the Nepali Caste System |editor-first=James F. |editor-last=Fisher |title=Himalayan Anthropology: The Indo-Tibetan Interface |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B0C-IhEKrSEC&pg=PA113 |year=1978 |publisher=Walter de Gruyter |isbn=978-90-279-7700-7}}
<!-- J -->
*{{citation | last1 = Joshi | first1 = Bhuwan Lal | last2 = Rose | first2 = Leo E. | title = Democratic Innovations in Nepal: A Case Study of Political Acculturation | publisher = University of California Press | year = 1966 | pages = 551 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=MX22o4PJ3Q0C }}
<!-- L -->
*{{Citation|last=Lawoti|first=Mahendra|title=Towards A Democratic Nepal: Inclusive Political Institutions for a Multicultural Society|publisher= SAGE publications India|year=2005|isbn=9788132103431|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S8qGAwAAQBAJ}}
<!-- P -->
*{{citation|title=The Origins, Growth and Dissolution of Feudalism in Nepal: A Contribution to the Debate on Feudalism in Non-European Societies|volume=4 |last=Pahari|first =Anup |year=1995 |publisher= University of Wisconsin--Madison |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Gz7TAAAAMAAJ}}
*{{citation | last = Pradhan | first = Kumar L. | title = Thapa Politics in Nepal: With Special Reference to Bhim Sen Thapa, 1806–1839 | publisher = Concept Publishing Company | year = 2012 | isbn = 9788180698132 | location = New Delhi | pages = 278 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=7PP1yElRzIUC}}
<!-- R -->
*{{citation|title=Brahmins of Nepal|last= Raj |first=Prakash A.|year=1996|publisher= Nabeen Publications |isbn=9780785573661|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4i1uAAAAMAAJ}}
*{{citation|title=Kings and political leaders of the Gorkhali Empire, 1768-1814|last=Regmi|first=Mahesh Chandra |year=1995|publisher=Orient Longman|isbn=9788125005117|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnJuAAAAMAAJ}}
* {{Citation |first=Mahesh Chandra |last=Regmi |title= Regmi Research Series |volume=7 |year=1975|publisher=Regmi Research Centre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cB3jAAAAMAAJ}}
<!-- S -->
*{{citation|title=1769-1885|last=Shaha|first=Rishikesh|year=1990|publisher=Manohar|isbn=9788185425030|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z9JBAAAAYAAJ}}
*{{citation |title= Nepal: Refugee to Ruler: A Militant Race of Nepal|first=Nagendra Kr |last= Singh|publisher= APH Publishing |year= 1997|isbn= 9788170248477|page=142|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Aaog6bnQlNYC}}
*{{Citation|last=Sherchan|first=Sanjaya|title=Democracy, pluralism and change: an inquiry in the Nepalese context|year=2001|publisher=Chhye Pahuppe|isbn=9789993354390|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-SyOAAAAMAAJ}}

==Further reading==
*{{Citation|author=Debra Skinner |display-authors=etal |title=Selves in time and place: Identities, Experience and History in Nepal|year=1998|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-46171-142-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xTGzAQAAQBAJ}}
*{{Citation|last=Lall|first=Keshar|title=Nepalese Language, Folklore and Practices for Foreigners|publisher=Himalayan Book Centre|year=1987|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Du0zAAAAMAAJ}}
*{{Citation|first1=Danesh |last1=Jain |first2=George |last2=Cardona|title=Indo-Aryan languages|year=2007|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781135797119|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OtCPAgAAQBAJ}}
*{{Citation|last=Negi|first=S. S.|title=Discovering the Himalaya|publisher=Indus Publishing House|year=2002|isbn=978-8-17387-079-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kusLzP8H6TQC}}

{{Ethnic groups in Nepal}}
{{Social class}}

[[Category:Ethnic groups in Nepal]]
[[Category:Castes]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Khas people]]
[[Category:Kshatriya communities]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Northeast India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in South Asia]]