Nepal History - II

Hey guys, this the topic which always fasinate me. Why? because I am a Nepali first, and if you ask me I am really proud of it.

I am always in search for the information on Magars and Nepal's history. As soon as I get some got content I try to write here.

Now I was going through this book called "History of Nepal", which I have found in one of the Mumbai's bookstore, though its hard to find the book related to Nepal except map & travel guide.

Now since I m going through this book and though my job is going a bit hectic too, somehow I manage some time to go through this book.

The one thing I have realised now is that its not in the recent times that in Nepal has this political crisis or issue. Its in the past of Nepal or simply saying its in blood of Nepal. Dont you guys think that the Kot massacre simply resembles the recent King assasination. Dont you think that Puspa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda want to be the next Jung Bahadur of Nepal. Its so surprising that if you compare the present scenario with one at the Jung Bahadur's time. I am very curious, what will be the fate of Nepal in next coming years. and I am very proud that we are an independent country. We have our own separate identity. But will this remain in future....this political parties and so call people's leader needs to think about it...

Magar History - I

The first mention of Magar is the fact that in A.D.1100, the Magar King of Palpa, one Mukunda Sen, invade and conquered the Nepal (Kathmandu) valley. It is always understood, however, that they have resided round about Palpa from time immemorial and that they were probably the earliest settlers of the Mongolian immigrants 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, Mangrath. [3]

Some historians write Aramudi, 8th Century ruler of Kali Gandaki Region, was a Magar King. Jayapid [782-813 AD] [4] whose other name was Vinayaditta, a king of Kashmir, invaded Kali Gandaki Region, a traditional homeland of the Magars of Nepal. Aramudi resisted the invasion and virtually defeated Jayapid. [5]

Owing to the geographical position of their country, the Magars were amongst the first to receive immigrants from the plains of India. It follows, therefore, that a great number of their customs and ceremonies conform very closely to those of the Hindus of India. The Brahmans first found their way into Nepal amongst the multitudes of Indians, fleeing before the Mohammedan invasion in the twelfth century. They were the first to convert the local peoples to Hinduism. It is clear that the Brahmans found in their new mountain homes many willing converts, yet a large number refused to adopt the new faith. To the former the Brahmans granted the sacred thread, but to the latter they denied it; hence there sprang up such tribes as Rokas, Thapas, Budhathokis, Ranas and Ghartis, names which are to-day found amongst the clans of both the Chetris and Magars, but only those belonging to the former are allowed to wear the thread. [6]

Of the 1,622,421 Magar people in Nepal, 770,116 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 Tibeto-Burman family. Magarkura speakers are Ale, Thapa, Rana. Similarly Khamkura speakers are Budha, Gharti, Roka, Pun, Jhankri and Kaike speakers are Tarali Magar of Dolpa/ Budha, Gharti, Roka, Jhankri. [7]

In addition to shamanistic practices possibly brought from Siberia, the northern Magar practice Tibetan Buddhism in which their priest is known as Bhusal. The social process of Sanskritization has drawn southern Magar populations to develop a syncretic form of Hinduism that combines animist and Buddhist rituals. Hindu Magar villagers recognize three classes of priests- Rama, Jaisi and Dhami.

Generally speaking, Buddhist and Hindu practices are best developed among Magars living in contact with Tibetan Buddhists and Indo-Aryan Hindus respectively. They are less evident in Kham hinterlands particularly in rugged 3-4,000 meter 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 colonized by Hindu Indo-Aryans.

Magar Victoria Cross (VC) Winners
On total, 5 Victoria crosses were awarded to the Magars, who are:

Rifleman Kulbir Thapa
Rifleman Karanbahadur Rana
Subadar Lalbahadur Thapa
Rifleman Tulbahadur Pun
Subadar Netrabahadur Thapa

Sourse: http://wapedia.mobi/en/Magar_people

Facts about magar

Guys, I have just found this new website:

http://www.joshuaproject.net/peopctry.php?rog3=NP&rop3=102848

Just go through this. Even myself have to read it throughly. Will get back soon on my view. If u have any comments please feel free to share. Though we all are busy in our respective job and its very difficult to find the time, but it interests, you will surely find your own time.

Magar Newspaper

Hey guys it is really thrilling to see a newspaper in Magar language. Actaually I was going through this website www.gorkhapatra.org.np and at left hand bottom side there is an option of in which we can view Naya Nepal in Magar language thats in pdf file. But thats completely thrilling to see a newspaper written in Magar language. Guys just check it out.

Why 'Magars' are still lagging behind.

Have you ever thought that almost all nationalities have there title attached with their name, like Gurungs write 'Gurung', so is Rai, Tamang, Tharu, Sherpa etc. Or, else they have their strong culture or identity like Bahun, Newars etc.

You might have known what I mean to say, all these are lacking in Magars. How do you know that a person with 'Thapa' title is a Magar or Chettri. Even there is no cultural similarity in the Magars of different region. For example, in Syangja itself, In Northern Syangja few magars strictly follow the Hindu rituals like Yagna and all in their marriage ceremony, however, in Southern part of Syangja they perform 'Dhog Bhet', which has no similarity with Hindu rituals.

Here, what I mean to say is that Like in other Nationality, where they show strong identity, the same is lacking in Magars. May be that could be one of the reason why we still didn't come up strongly. The first thing we need to sort out it is whoever Magar we are whether Rana, Gaha, Baral etc, 'Magar' should be written in our title and other thing is that we need to synchronize our culture, we should not forget our actual, ancestral culture and roots.

To Babs

Dear Babs I apologies for coming late on the reply,

However there was some problem with my orkut hence I am replying through my blog.

I very much agree and was always believe that "The History is always written by the conqueror."

And one thing I have obseved is that you really don't see the Nepal history in Nepalese history text book, it is basically a royal history and chronology and our great historian doesn't have much to offer us. In that too you see bahuns dominating all over so where do we people exist in history.

Once again I want to thank you for the detail discussion on the topic and surely try to update with the new findings.

'Magars' in Orkut

There is a very good information on 'Magars' on www.orkut.com u just have to login to orkut and join Magars-Mechi to Mahakali, and go to the discussion forum and read Magar History.

Its a very good article written by Babs Rai and there is some analysis by myself.

Here, again I want to emphasis that I am not looking for Magars glorious past, I m just simply looking for the history and the culture. and as I was going through the history I think before it was Shah Dynasty who exploited us and now its Prachanda in name of Maoism doing the same. I hope that all the Magars will soon realize it, and will understand what is good and what is bad for them. 

Magar Histroy - I (by William Brook Northy)

Magars is the largest group among the indigenous peoples and nationalities of nepal. They are mainly seettled in Gandaki, Lumbini, Dhaulagiri, Rapti and Bheri. Magars entered Nepal around 1100 BCE from eastern part, may be from Burma or Sikkim. Finally they have settled in along Kali Gandaki, Maryangdi and Rapti basin. They are belongs a Tibeto-Burman family, contrary to the fact which is mentioned in the William Brook Northy, book The Gurkhas, (This is one of the poorly written book I have ever gone through, please Mr. William if u don't have knowledge about Nepal please dont write, better write about ur own people, first go and study the facts, ok) that they come from India. They are one of the early settler in Nepal, and at that time they were neither Hindu nor Buddhist (Which in fact I think we are not both of them till now, both the religion has been forced on us, our so called Magar scholars are now claiming that Magars are Buddhist, these people could not even find there own identity, how they will guide the community). "Magars must have come from their place by way of tibet and since they show no trace of Buddhism in their religios activities, they most likely arrived in Nepal before Buddhism was introduced to Tibet in the seventh Century"(1933:11). Some Budhamagar has written that Magars had came from caves and some has mentioned that there were two brothers called Magars, and all this has been written by some Magar scholars. Magars had very strong presence in their respective region in Medivel period, hence the name Athara and Barah Magarat come into existence ( However we can discuss on this in detail, later).

I will keep on updating it if I will get more Facts and History.

Magars / Mangars

Here, through this blog we will explore more about Magars, the community, its culture, its past, its present and lot of other things which I seen is lacking in lot of Magars websites. Whatever, I will be writing here is purely my personal opinion. This blog is to share the things I know about the community and also would be delighted if have any more information to share or any suggestion about this blog, I will also welcome ur comments on my blog.

I hope this blog will help the students who are looking for some information regarding Magars in a single platform. 

So, today onwards we will start a journey towards knowing our own identity and ourselves in broad sense.