I don't see anything bad to explore your root. Chhetris are the most diverse genetic pool amongst different castes/races in Nepal. We have some magars and tamangs (Lamas) with us. Moreover, because of cross-marriage with all the differnet races like Bahuns, Magars, and Lamas we look like almost all people in Nepal. Some chhetris look like mongolian people and some look like bahuns becuase of heterogamy.

 

Thakuri is a post of ruling clans. If you observe minutely you can see there are two kinds of thakuris in Nepal. The far western thakuris with surnames Chand, Pal, Shahi, Berma, singh, Malla etc are of pure khas-aryan root. while, thakuris of mid-west like Sen, Shah, Malla etc are either mongrel of khas and magar or ones elevated from the magars. 

Once upon a time the great khas empire used to encompass area from Kumaon-Garhwal in the west to the  Gandaki in the east. Collapse of this empire in 15th century resulted the formation of baisi khasan stares and chaubisi khas-magar states. Khas (chhetri-thakuris) people have the closest traditional and sociological ties with magars not with brahmins unlike many people think now. Magars and chhetris have many common surnames. One theory is during khas empire when it extended to the easter gandak basin they gave khas surnames based on organizational post to the magars so they became Thapa, Bista, Budha, Budhathoki, Rokaya, etc. Budhathoki magars still believe themselves to be descents of khas. There are many theories regarding khas people. Some believe khas were the Persian-tajik nomadic gruop that setteled in arabale Karnali and Bheri basin in the remote past. During their migration towards the east they detoured the inhospitable kham region and extended to Gandak region also. Some theorists also believe Khas are the offsprings of tajik nomad men and local magar women. 

I, personally, am a big fan of Dor Bdr Bista. He is the most prolific in the socio-anthropological context of nepalese society. Guiseppe Tucci, a reknown Tibetologist, has also shed light on khas people. If you are intersted you can check KHAS-CHHETRI page in facebook that lets you know many things about chhetri and thakuris of Nepal.

Last edited: 28-Mar-12 12:25 PM