Khas Rajput facts for kids
The Khas Rajput (Devanagari: खस राजपूत) is a community of people who are part of the Khas people. They are known as Rajputs, which means "warrior-ruler." In the Indian state of Uttarakhand, this term often refers to Khas people who follow the Hindu Kshatriya traditions. In Nepal, the term Kshetri is used more often instead of Khas Rajput.
Some historians believe the Khas people are connected to the ancient Khasas mentioned in old Hindu writings. Historians like Bal Krishna Sharma and Dor Bahadur Bista think the Khas people might have come from an Indo-European background. Another historian, Baburam Acharya, suggests that the Khas are a smaller group of the Aiḍa, an ancient Arya clan from a place called Idavritt (which is now Kashmir).
It is thought that Khas people lived in Idavaritt around 3000 BCE. The word "Khas" might have originally meant "Raja" (king) or "Kshatriya" (warrior). Some even think Kashmir got its name from the Khas people. Around 2000 BCE, one group of Khas people moved towards Iran. Another group traveled east of the Sutlej River, settling in the hilly areas up to the Bheri River. Historian Balkrishna Pokhrel believes the Khas were not the earliest Vedic Aryans, but a later group of Aryans. He says these later Aryans were similar to the Vedic Aryans in their language and culture.
History of Khas Rajputs
Traditionally, the Khas people were divided into two main groups: "Khas Brahmins" and "Khas Rajputs." In Nepal, Khas Brahmins are also called Bahuns, and Khas Rajputs are called Chhetris.
In the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand, India, Khas Brahmins and Khas Rajputs used to have a lower social standing than other Brahmins and Rajputs. However, in western Nepal today, they have the same social status as other Brahmins and Rajputs. This might be because they held a lot of political power in the old Khasa Malla kingdom.
Khas Rajputs in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand were historically known for being recruited into the armies of local hill Rajas (kings). In Uttarakhand, Rajputs are generally divided into two types: Asal Rajput and Khas Rajput. Asal Rajputs are those who came from the lowlands of India. Khas Rajputs, on the other hand, are descendants of the local Khas people.
Notable Khas Rajput People
- MS Dhoni, Indian cricketer
- Trivendra Singh Rawat, Indian Politician
- Yogi Adityanath, Indian Politician
- Harish Rawat, Indian Politician
- Bipin Rawat, Indian army chief
- Unmukt Chand, Indian cricketer
- Urvashi Rautela, Indian actress
Images for kids
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Kalu Pande wearing Khukuri, a Pande Chhetri aristocrat; Kaji (Prime Minister and Army Chief) of Gorkha Kingdom.
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Bhimsen Thapa, a leading Chhetri Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister).
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Bir Shamsher JBR, a Rana Kshetri Maharaja, and Prime Minister and C-in-C of Nepal
See also
In Spanish: Kshetri para niños