Talk:Magar people

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There are information scattered here and there about Magars but some of these are not based on the evidences, some are incomplete, some contradict each others, and moreover information are missing in between the periods of history. There is a need for a much detailed research on the history, origin, language, culture of this community. Does any one have the idea of how it is possible. Is there someone interested in this work. I think it will be a great research work. Dr. Govind P. Thapa, 27 Mar 2005

[edit] Magars are central to Nepal's history

Understanding Magar history and culture seems essential to a deeper understanding of Nepal's political evolution over the past 400 years or more. Magars seem to first appear as "Kham" which perhaps refers to a kingdom that existed alongside the "Khas" in far western Nepal. The Khas may have been rice-growing Aryans in the Karnali-Bheri basin, while the Tibeto-Burman Kham kingdom occupied the less fertile highlands between there and the Gandaki basin which are now Pyuthan, Rolpa, Salyan and Rukkum districts in Rapti Zone.

Apparently the Shah family -- who seem to have Thakuri ancestors from the Karnali-Bheri region as well as Rajput ancestors from India -- were part of the Aryan migration bypassing the Kham/Rapti highlands to settle in the less elevated Gandaki basin that was also nicely suited to rice cultivation. Apparently there was contemporary or possibly earlier movement of Kham peoples into the Gandaki basin who became "Magars". Did they possibly accompany ancestors of the Shahs?

In any event, Magars were integrated into the military system that unified the country and became politically aligned with the Shah dynasty, whereas Kham peoples remaining in the Rapti highlands do not seem to have entered a symbiotic relationship with the Shahs -- and lately became a large part of the Maobadi rank and file.