Magars

The Magars are among the oldest ethnic people in Nepal. Their ancestral homeland in Nepal extends from the western and the southern edges of the Dhaulagiri range of the Himalayas to the Mahabharat foothills in the south and Kali Gandaki river basin in the east. According to 2011 Nepal census, they are the largest indigenous group in Nepal, constituting 7.13% of Nepal's population, which places them as the third largest group of people after Chhetris and Brahmans.

The Magars can also be found in large numbers in various parts of India, including Assam, Darjeeling, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh, and in Bhutan and Burma. Expatriate Magars can be found far and wide, from Japan to United States and from United Kingdom to United Arab Emirates.

Origin

A Magar woman dancing in traditional costume carrying traditional bamboo basket during the festival of Maghe Sakranti in Sydney.

Genetically and physically, Magar people are Mongoloid/east Asian. They are believed to have migrated from Tibet via Sikkim like other prominent ethnic groups.

Mythical stories on the Origins of Magars: There are interesting mythical stories describing the origins of Magars. Three different versions relative to three different language groups are presented.^[2]

The Magar of the Bara Magaranth (a group of twelve Magar kingdoms east of the Kali Gandaki River) are said to have originated in the land of Seem. Two brothers, Seem Magar and Chintoo Magar, fought, and one remained in Seem, while the other left, ending up in Kangwachen in southern Sikkim. The Bhutia people lived at the northern end of this region. Over time, the Magars became very powerful and made the northern Bhutia their vassals. Sintoo Sati Sheng ruled in a very despotic manner, and the Bhutia conspired to assassinate him. Sheng's queen took revenge and poisoned 1,000 Bhutia people at a place now called Tong Song Fong, meaning "where a thousand were murdered". The Bhutia later drove the Magar out, forcing them to again migrate further south. As part of this migration, one group migrated to Simrongadh, one group moved towards the Okhaldhunga region, and another group seems to have returned to the east. No dates are given.

A second Magar federation called Athar Magarat (18 Magar Kingdoms) was situated west of the Gandaki River, inhabited by Kham Magar.

The Tarali Magar are said to have originated from a woman who fled the region of Jumla during a war between Kalyal kings. It is not known who her spouse, was but she arrived at Tarakot on the verge of giving birth to a son. One day the boy saw a strange phenomenon in the jungle lake where he went with his cattle. The lake is said to have filled with milk, and seven shining creatures, like fairies, were bathing in the waters of the lake. He was enthralled and came to observe them daily. One day he told his mother about this strange sight, and she advised him to touch the youngest of these angels; this would cause her to become human so he could marry her, and he brought the beautiful damsel to his mother. When they asked her who she was she replied in an unknown tongue which was incomprehensible for them. The devi was offered some bread, and she uttered the words, "Tai khe nan." Slowly they began to learn the language of this woman, and Kaike was spread among themselves. The language was called "Kaike", meaning "language of the Gods".

History

The group was first mentioned in AD 1100.^[3] It is always understood, however, that they have resided around Palpa from time immemorial and that they were probably the earliest settlers from the north. This part of the country was formerly divided into twelve districts, each under its own ruler, being known as the Barah, or twelve Magarant^[4] or twelve Thams, the members of each supposedly being of common extraction in the male line. Some records show these twelve areas as being Argha, Gulmi, Isma, Musikot, Khanchi, Ghiring, Rising, Bhirkot, Payung, Garhung, Dhor and Satung.^[5] However, it is probable that some of the latter places should have been excluded in favour of Palpa, Galkot, Dhurkot, Char Hajar, Parbat, and even Piuthan and Salyan.^[6]

The Magars of middle and western Nepal played a role in Nepal's formative history. Their kingdom was one of the strongest of west Nepal in and around Palpa District during the time of the 22 and 24 rajya principalities (17th and early 18th centuries).^[7] The 18th-century king, Prithvi Narayan Shah, the founder of the modern Kingdom of Nepal announced himself as King of Magarat.

Many prominent historians of Nepal have claimed that Aramudi, an eighth-century ruler of the Kali Gandaki region, was a Magar King.^{[8][9][10][11]} "Aramudi" derives from the word for 'river' in the Magar language.^[12] 'Ari'-'Source of Water' + 'Modi'-'River'='Arimodi' or 'Aramudi', thus the literal meaning of Aramudi is 'source of river'.^[13] Jayapida [782-813 AD]^[14] also called Vinayaditta, a king of Kashmir, invaded Kali Gandaki Region, a traditional homeland of the Magars of Nepal. Aramudi resisted the invasion.^[15] After capture by Aramudi, Vinayaditta was taken to the right banks of the Kali Gandaki river,^[16] in a strongly built fort,^[17] where Aramudi imprisoned him.^[16] Jayapida was a powerful king of Kashmir who ruled for 31 years and defeated the kings of Kanyakubja(Kannauj),^[18] and Prayag/Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, India. He was in a conquering expedition to the valley of the Ganges.^[18]

Relation between Magars and Chhetris

King Prithivi Narayan Shah always loved him to call the King of Magrat i.e. Magar King. Although he was a Chhetri (Thakuri sub caste). From the time of unification of Nepal Magar and Chhetri always played a key role. Both of these caste including Gurung are the real Gurkha. It is believed that in past histories of Nepal Magar and Chhetri allow marriage between each other. Today also marriage between these caste are done but now different politicians have changed the mind of people and made them to talk about caste (Jaat vaat). Both of these cast belongs to Western Nepal. If there is majority of Magar you will surely find small amount of Chettri people too and if there is majority of Chhetri you will surely find small amount of Magar people. They fought together for protecting country from British, most of them are Hindus, most of them shares their caste system, they live together in every corners of Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Darjeeling. Magar and Chhetri of Nepal share their caste system highly with each other. For example the caste that both Magars and Chhetris have are Rana, Thapa, Khadka, Rokaya(Roka), Budha(Buda), Budhathoki, Gharti, and so on.

Subdivisions

The Magars are structured with septs, followed by sub-septs. The smallest groups are gotras. The seven historically prominent Magar septs, in alphabetical order, are: Ale, Burathoki, Gharti, Pun, Rana, Roka, and Thapa. Magar clans intermarry with one another and are equal in social standing.^[6]

Common Surnames of Magars: Rana, Ale, Thapa, Shrish, Khadka, Singjali, Rakhal, Gaha, Darlami, Budha (Buda), Gharti, Roka (Rokaya), Jhankri, Budhathoki, Khapangi, Suryabanshi, Raskoti, Bucha, Saru, Khamcha, Pulami, Rajali, Pun, Salami, Somai, Dhurel, Balal, Chhantyal, Sarangkoti, Kayat, Masarangi, Naamjyali, Palli, Paharai, Damarpal

Linguistically, the Magars are divided into three groups.

Magarkura-speakers: Rana, Ale, Thapa, Singjali, Rakhal, Gaha, Darlami, Masarangi, Khadka, Gharti, Naamjyali, Bucha, Saru, Baral, Khamcha, Pulami, Rajali

Khamkura/Magar Pang-speakers: Budha (Buda), Gharti, Roka, Jhankri, Budhathoki, Pun

Kaike-speakers: Tarali Magar of Dolpa/Budha, Gharti, Rokaya, Kayat, Jhankri

Language

Of the 2,064,000 Magar people in Nepal, nearly 788,530 speak a Magar language as their mother tongue. The Kham Magar of Rapti Zone speak Kham language. In Dolpa District, the Magar speak Tarali or Kaike language. The Magar languages are rooted in the Bodic branch of the Tibetan family. Magarkura speakers are Ale, Thapa, Singjapati and Rana. Similarly Khamkura speakers are Budha, Gharti, Roka, Pun, Shrees, Jhankri, and Kaike speakers are Tarali Magar of Dolpa, Budha, Gharti, Roka, Jhankri. Language expert Madhav Pokhrel says that there is 16%^[19] similarity between Magar Language and Hungary's Magyar Language.^[20] The 1971 census put the total population of those who spoke the Magar language at 288,383, i.e. 2.49 percent of the total population of Nepal, of which more than half lived in the Western hills of Nepal.^[21]

Magar Words in Use

Many Magar words are used even today, especially as location names. Magar toponyms in Nepali include: Tilaurakot ("place selling sesame seed"), Kanchanjunga ("clear peak"), and * Tansen("straight wood")^[22] Some scholars opine that the amount of Magar words in Nepali indicates that Magarat (historic Magar lands) were larger than generally believed, extending from Dhading to Doti.^[23] They note that the place suffix -Kot indicates a place from which Magar kings formerly ruled.

Religion

The original religions or beliefs of Magar people are Shamanism and Tengriism and the northern Magar practice Tibetan Buddhism, in which their priest is known as bhusal.

Magars of Western Nepal have been practicing shamanism during their kool pooja

The majority of Magars are Hindu, although buddhists is common in the Magar area, though are less evident in Kham hinterlands, particularly in the ranges along the boundary between Rukum and Pyuthan-Rolpa districts . These hinterlands are geographically, and therefore culturally, isolated from the beaten tracks of transhimalayan trade routes and from rice-growing lowlands (Hitchcock, 1966:25-34).

Animists and shamanism form part of the local belief system; their dhami (the faithhealer or a kind of shaman) is called Dangar and their jhankri (another kind of faithhealer or shaman) is called Rama. Bhusal was the traditional spiritual and social leader of the Magars.^[24] Magars have an informal cultural institution, called Bhujel, who performs religious activities, organizes social and agriculture-related festivities, brings about reforms in traditions and customs, strengthens social and production system, manages resources, settles cases and disputes and systematizes activities for recreation and social solidarity.^[25] Some educated and prosperous Magars are shifting closer to traditional Hinduism in recent years.

Dress and ornaments

The Magar of the low hills wear the ordinary kachhad or wrap-on-loincloth, a bhoto or a shirt of vest, and the usual Nepali topi. The women wear the pariya or sari or lunghi, chaubandhi cholo or a closed blouse and the heavy patuka or waistband and the mujetro or shawl-like garment on the head. The higher-altitude Magars wear an additional bhangra, and the ones living in the Tarakot area even wear the Tibetan chhuba. The ornaments are the madwari on the ears, bulaki on the nose and the phuli on the left nostril, the silver coin necklace and the pote (green beads) with the tilhari gold cylinder and kuntha. Magar males do not wear many ornaments, but some are seen to have silver or gold earrings, hanging from their earlobes, called "gokkul". The magar girls wear the amulet or locket necklace, and women of the lower hills and the high-altitude ones wear these made of silver with muga stones imbedded in them and kantha. The bangles of gold and glass are also worn on their hands along with the sirbandhi, sirphuli and chandra on their heads. These are large pieces of gold beaten in elongated and circular shapes.

Occupations

Agriculture and the military are the primary sources of income. Magars constitute the largest number of Gurkha soldiers outside Nepal.^[26][27] Sarbajit Rana Magar became the head of government during the regency of Queen Rajendra Laxmi.^[28] Biraj Thapa Magar, General Abhiman Singh Rana Magar and Sarbajit Rana Magar headed the Nepal army. Biraj Thapa Magar was the very first army chief in Nepal Army's history.^[29] Magars are famous as gallant warriors wherever they served in the past. The Magars are well represented in Nepal's military, as well as in the Singapore Police Force, the British and Indian Gurkha regiments, and they are also employed as professionals in the fields of medicine, education, government service, law, journalism, development, aviation and in business in Nepal and other countries.

Dor Bahadur Bista's observation of Magar's occupation during the 1960s was:

Some of the northernmost Magars have become quite prosperous by engaging in long-range trading that takes them from near the northern border to the Terai, and even beyond to Darjeeling and Calcutta. Were it not for their role in the Gurkha regiments of the Indian and British armies, their self-sufficiency might be endangered.^[30]

Toni Hagen, who did his field research in Nepal during the 1950s, observed:

Magars possess considerable skill as craftsmen: they are the bridge builders and blacksmiths among the Nepalese, and the primitive mining is largely in their hands. On the lower courses of the Bheri & Karnali rivers, a great number of Magars annually migrate to the Terai & there manufacture bamboo panniers, baskets, and mats for sale in the bazaars along the borders. In their most northerly settlement, on the other hand, the important trading centre of Tarakot on the Barbung river, they have largely adopted their way of life, their clothes, and their religion to that of the Tibetans; like the latter, they also live by the salt trade. As regard race, the Magars have almond-shaped eyes or even open eyes, whereas Mongoloid eyes are very rare.^[31]

Military service

A number of Magar have distinguished themselves in military service under the British military. Dip Prasad Pun Magar was the first Nepali winner of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross in Afghanistan in 2010. In the two world wars, total 5 Victoria Cross (out of 13 VCs awarded to Gurkhas) were awarded to the Magars:^[32]

• First World War:
  • Rifleman Kulbir Thapa, the very first Gurkha to win VC in recognition of his valor and bravery. He was from Palpa. He served in 2/3 Gurkha Regiment (GR). He received VC in France in 1915.
  • Rifleman Karanbahadur Rana, Gulmi, was from 2/3 GR. He received VC in Egypt in 1918.
• Second World War:
  • Subedar Lalbahadur Thapa, Nepal Tara^[33] was from 2nd GR. He received VC in Tunisia in 1943.
  • Subedar Netrabahadur Thapa,was from 5th GR. He received VC in Burma in 1944.
  • Honorary Lieutenant Tul Bahadur Pun,was from 6th GR. He received VC in Burma in 1944.

Notables

• Shintoo Sati Sheng/Sen- King of Kangwachan, Sikkim.
• Aramudi- King of Kaligandaki region/Magarat, 8th century, defeated Kashmiri king Jayapida's invasion."काश्मिरेतिहास " पृष्ठ ९९ " अथ अरमुदी एति प्रसिद्वो मायाबी नेपालदेश्यस्य राजा जयपीदम अभिसंधातुमैच्छ्त,^[34]
• Bali Hang Rana Magar- king of Baldeng Gadhi extended from Pokhara to Gorakhpur, 12th century,^[35] west of Palpa.
• Gajalaxman Singh, king of Makawanpur Gadhi.^[36]
• Mansingh Khadka Magar-king of Gorkha, till 27 Sept 1559 AD.
• Subarnakar Rana (1000 AD) writer of 'Treatise on Buddhism'.
• Ganga Rana from Lamjung, Nepal, wrote Asta Saahasrika Pragya Paarmita in 1070^[37] and Treatise on Buddhism in 1069.
• Shohab Rana (शोहब राना):, Panchali Pradhan of Magwar Bisaya,(Magar Kingdom - present Dullu-Dailekha area) 1100 AD.^[38]
• Kaji Sarbajit Rana, Moolkaji, The Chief Administrator (Prime Minister) 1778
• Kaji Biraj Thapa, the very first Chief of Nepalese Army, 18th Century.
• Kaji Jayanta Rana, chief of Gorkhali Troops, later chief of Nuwakot force, 18th century.
• General Abhimansingh Rana, Nepalese Army Chief, 19th Century.
• Master Mitrasen Thapa, famous Nepali folk singer, social worker, resident of Bhagsu/Dharmasala, (India).
• Gore Bahadur Khapangi, former minister and founding leader of Prajatantrik Janamukti Party .
• Giri Prasad Budhathoki, only Bada Hakim from Magars, Defense Minister, Honorary Major General of Nepalese Army.
• Mahabir Pun, Ramon Magsaysay Prize winner on his contribution in IT sector in Nepal's remote areas.
• Tap Bahadur Magar, justice of Nepal's Supreme Court.
• Dr Harsha Bahadur Budha, the first PhD degree holder from Magar community, writer and intellectual.
• Balaram Gharti Magar, held different ministries for 11 times including Defense Minister of Nepal Government.
• Lakhan Thapa Magar, first martyr of Nepali state.
• Teriya Magar, dancer.
• Geetanjali Thapa Indian actress who won National Film Award for Best Actress (2013)

Politics

Under the leadership of minister Giri Prasad Burathoki, a first ever Magar Convention was held in Bharse of Gulmi District, one of the 12 Magarats in 1957. The objective of the conference was to sensitize the Magars to come forward in the national spectrum.^[39]

Later Magar political and social organisations included Nepal Langhali Pariwar (1972), Nepal Langhali Pariwar Sang, and Langhali Pariwar Sangh.

Notes

References

• Acharya, Baburam, Nepalako Samkshipta Itihasa (A short history of Nepal), edited by Devi Prasad Bhandari, Purnima No. 48, Chaitra 2037 (March–April 1981), Chapter VII: Pachhillo Licchavi Rajya, (I. Sam. 642-880 Am.)
• Aryal, Jibnarayan. (2058BS). Dr Harsha Bahadur Buda Magar: Bigat ra Bartaman. Lalitpur: Dr Harsha Bahadur Budha Magar.
• Bajracharya, Dhanabajra. (2064 BS). Gopalraj Vanshawali Aitihasik Vivechana. Kirtipur: T.U.
• Bammi, Y.M. (2009). Gurkhas of the Indian Army. New Delhi: Life Span Publishers & Distributors.
• Bamzai, P.N.K. (1994). Culture and Political History of Kashmir. Vol 1. Ancient Kashmir. New Delhi: MD Publications Pvt Ltd.
• Bista, Dor Bahadur. (1972). People of Nepal. Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar.
• Budha Magar, Harsha Bahadur. (1992)Kirat Vansha ra Magar haru. Kathmandu: Unnati Bohora.
• Cross, J.P. (1986). In Gurkhas Company. London: Arms & Armour Press Ltd.
• Gharti Magar, Balaram. (1999). Roots. Taranath Sharma (Tr.). Lalitpur: Balaram Gharti Magar.
• Hagen, Tony. (1970). Nepal the Kingdom in the Himalayas. New Delhi: Oxford & IBH Publishing Co.
• Ministry of Defence. (1965). Nepal and the Gurkhas. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
• Nepal, Gyanmani. (2040BS). Nepal Nirukta. Kathmandu: Nepal Rajakiya Pragyapratisthan.
• Northey, W. Brook & C. J. Morris. (1927). The Gurkhas Their Manners, Customs and Country. Delhi : Cosmo Publications.
• Palsokar, R.D. (1991). History of the 5th Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force), Vol III. 1858 to 1991. Shillong: The Commandant, 58 Gorkha Training Centre.
• Rana, B. K. (2003). Sanchhipta Magar Itihas (A Concise Hiostroy of Magars)
• Shaha, Rishikesh. (1975). An Introduction of Nepal. Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar.
• Stein, M.A. (2007). Kalhana's Rajatarangini: A Chronicles of Kings of Kashmir. Vol I, II, & III (Reprint). Srinagar: Gulshan Books.
• Sufi, G.M.D. (1974). Kashir a History of Kashmir. Vol 1. New Delhi: Light & Life Publishers.
• Thapa Magar, Pradeep. (2000). Bir Haruka pani Bir Mahavir. Kathmandu: Bhaktabir Thapa Magar.
• Vansittart, Eden. (1993)(reprint). The Gurkhas. New Delhi: Anmol Publications.
• Pramod Thapa (Chief engineer at Dell international Services)

External links

Magars test of Wikipedia at Wikimedia Incubator

• Nepal Magar Association, Central Committee, Kathmandu Nepal.
• Magar Studies Center
• Magar Academic Group
• https://www.magarusa.org