Bahun: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Bot
Last edited October 23, 2025
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
m Removing protection template from an unprotected page
added info
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Nepali Brahmins of Khas descent}}
{{Short description|Nepali Brahmins of Khas descent}}
{{Redirect|Brahmin-Hill|the tribe of the Western Ghats sometimes called Hill Brahmin|Kurichiya}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2020}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group       = Hill Brahmin
| group           = Khas Bahun
| native_name = Bahun
| native_name     = Bahun
| image       = Gaze of a priest.JPG
| image           =  
| caption     = A Bahun (Hill Brahmin) priest in Nepal
| caption         =  
| region1     = {{flag|Nepal}}
| region1         = {{flag|Nepal}}
| pop1       = 3,226,903 12.2% of Nepal (2011)<ref name="cbsb">{{Cite web|url=http://cbs.gov.np/image/data/Population/Population%20Monograph%20of%20Nepal%202014/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|title=Nepal Census 2011|access-date=2017-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918043750/http://cbs.gov.np/image/data/Population/Population%20Monograph%20of%20Nepal%202014/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|archive-date=2017-09-18|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| pop1             = 3,292,373 (11.2% of Nepal's population) (2021)<ref>{{cite report |date=2021 |title=National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report |author=National Statistics Office |work=Government of Nepal |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/downloads/caste-ethnicity}}</ref>
| languages   = [[Nepali language|Nepali]] (Khas-Kura), [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]
| languages       = [[Nepali language|Nepali]] (Khas-Kura)
| religions   = [[Hinduism in Nepal|Hinduism]] 99.56% (2011)
| religions       = [[Hinduism in Nepal|Hinduism]] 99.56% (2011), [[Christianity]] 0.31% (2011)<ref>{{cite report |date=2014 |title=Population monograph of Nepal |volume=II |author=Central Bureau of Statistics |publisher=Government of Nepal |url=https://nepal.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf}}</ref>
| related     =  
| related         = [[Chhetri]], [[Thakuri]] and other [[Khas people]]
}}
}}
{{Hinduism}}
 
'''Bahun''' ({{lang-ne|बाहुन}}) or  '''Khas Brahmin'''{{sfn|John T Hitchcock|1978|pp=116-119}} ({{lang-ne|खस ब्राह्मण}}) is a [[Caste system in Nepal|caste]] ([[Varna (Hinduism)|''Varna'']]) among [[Khas people]] of [[Nepal]]. Their origins are from the [[Indo-Aryan peoples|Indo-Aryan]] [[Khasas|Khasa tribe]] of Nepal and South Asia. According to the [[2011 Nepal census]], Bahun is the second most populous group after [[Chhetri]], another Varna within the hill Hindus in Nepal.<ref name="cbs2">{{Cite web|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsD/demographic/sources/census/wphc/Nepal/Nepal-Census-2011-Vol1.pdf|title=Nepal Census 2011}}</ref>
'''Bahun''' ({{langx|ne|बाहुन}}), also known as '''Hill Brahmins''',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Oberst |first1=Robert |title=Government and Politics in South Asia, Student Economy Edition |date=27 April 2018 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-97340-6 |page=284 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WptYDwAAQBAJ&dq=bahun+hill+brahmin&pg=PT284}}</ref> are a [[Brahmin]] [[Varna (Hinduism)|varna]] among the [[Khas]] of [[Nepal]]. They are a sub-caste of the [[Kanyakubja Brahmin]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Declan Quigley |first=David Gellner |url=https://archive.org/details/ContestedHierarchiesACollaborativeEthnographyOfCasteAmongTheNewarsOfKathmanduEdi/page/n166/mode/1up?q=Bahun+Kanyakubja |title=Contested Hierarchies: A Collaborative Ethnography of Caste Among the Newars of Kathmandu. edited by David Gellner & Declan Quigley |page=199|date=2017 |publisher=Macmillan and Company limited|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaturvedi |first=Shyam lal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=91ACAAAAMAAJ |title=In Fraternity with Nepal, An Account of the Activities Under the Auspices of the Wider Life Movement for the Furtherance and Consolidation of the Indo-Nepalese Cultural Fellowship |page=65|date=1945|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Hachhethu |first=Krishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fe3DEAAAQBAJ |title=Nation-Building and Federalism in Nepal|page=40|date=2023|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-887291-7 |language=en}}</ref> while their origins are from [[Kannauj]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hachhethu |first=Krishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fe3DEAAAQBAJ |title=Nation-Building and Federalism in Nepal|page=40|date=2023|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-887291-7 |language=en}}</ref>{{disputed inline|date=September 2025}} and the Himalayan belt of South Asia. According to the [[2011 Nepal census]], Bahun is the second most populous group after [[Chhetri]].<ref name="cbs2">{{Cite web|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsD/demographic/sources/census/wphc/Nepal/Nepal-Census-2011-Vol1.pdf|title=Nepal Census 2011}}</ref>


According to 1854 ''Muluki Ain'' (Nepalese Legal Code), Bahuns were regarded as caste among [[Upanayana|sacred thread bearers]] ([[Tagadhari]]) and [[Dvija|twice-born]] Hindus.{{sfn|Sherchan|2001|p=14}}
According to 1854 [[Caste_system_in_Nepal#Muluki_Ain_(1854)|''Muluki Ain'']], the first Nepalese civil code, Bahuns were regarded as caste among [[Upanayana|sacred thread bearers]] ([[Tagadhari]]) and [[Dvija|twice-born]] Hindus.{{sfn|Sherchan|2001|p=14}}
[[File:Bratabandh(traditional_customs_done_by_brahmins)_(4).JPG|thumb|A Bahun (Brahmin) man at the [[Bratabandha]] ceremony in Nepal]]


== Origin ==
== Origin ==
Traditionally, Bahuns were members of the Khas community together with [[Chhetri]]s and Hill Dalits.{{sfn|John T Hitchcock|1978|pp=116-119}} Possibly due to political power of the Khasa Malla kingdom, Khas Bahun and Khas Rajput (Chhetris){{sfn|John T Hitchcock|1978|p=116}} had high social status like plain Brahmins and Rajputs in the present-day western Nepal.{{sfn|John T Hitchcock|1978|pp=116-119}} Bahuns, regarded as upper class Khas group together with Chhetri, were associated mostly with the [[Gorkha Kingdom]].{{sfn|Whelpton|2005|p=31}}{{sfn|Whelpton|2005|p=31}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Nepal|title=Nepal -}}</ref> Bahuns were original inhabitants of [[Karnali Province|Karnali]] region of Nepal. The immigration of Brahmins into Nepal increased significantly from 1324 and continued up to 1769 due to the foreign invasion in the western portion of the [[Indian subcontinent]].<ref>"(O)r of (Brahmin) immigration to Nepal around 1324, continuing until c. 1769"{{harvcol|Witzel|1993|p=266}}</ref>
{{see|Khas people}}
Traditionally, Bahuns were members of the [[Khas community]] together [[Chhetri]]s.{{sfn|John T Hitchcock|1978|pp=116-119}} Possibly due to political power of the [[Khasa Malla kingdom]], Khas Brahmins and Khas Kshatriyas{{sfn|John T Hitchcock|1978|p=116}} had high social status in the present-day western Nepal.{{sfn|John T Hitchcock|1978|pp=116-119}} Bahuns, regarded as upper class Khas group together with [[Chhetri]]s, were associated mostly with the [[Gorkha Kingdom]] and its [[Unification of Nepal|expansion]].{{sfn|Whelpton|2005|p=31}}{{sfn|Whelpton|2005|p=31}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Nepal|title=Nepal -}}</ref>


==Clans==
There appears to be general agreement in historical records and family genealogy that Hill Brahmins (both Purbia and Kumai Bahuns) migrated from the [[Indo-Gangetic Plain|Gangetic Plains]] to the western Himalayas then from there to the eastern Himalayas including Nepal. Nepali historians have claimed that Hill Brahmins entered the Himalayan region from [[Kannauj]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=Prakash Raj|title=Brahmins in Nepal|date=1996 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4i1uAAAAMAAJ&q=kannauj+brahmins+nepal|page=14|publisher=Nabeen Publications |isbn=978-0-7855-7366-1 }}</ref>
Bahuns were divided into two clans on the basis of residency. The Bahun residents east of [[Mahakali river]] were known as Purbiya Bahun and west of the river were known as Kumai Bahun.{{sfn|Subba|1989|p=30}} Kumai or Kumain is a direct derivative of [[Kumauni people|Kumaoni]], meaning residents of [[Kumaon region|Kumaon]].{{sfn|Subba|1989|p=30}}
According to Acharya Bamsavali, Bahuns have migrated from Kanyakubja to Jumla in Nepal.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Prakash Raj|title=Brahmins in Nepal|date=1996 |publisher=Nabeen Publications |isbn=978-0-7855-7366-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4i1uAAAAMAAJ&q=kanyakubja+jumla}}</ref>


==Demography==
==Demography==
According to the [[2011 Nepal census]], Bahuns (referred as Hill-Brahmin) are the second most populous group after Chhetri with 12.2% of Nepal's population (or 32,26,903 people).<ref name="cbs">{{Cite web|url=http://cbs.gov.np/image/data/Population/Population%20Monograph%20of%20Nepal%202014/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|title=Nepal Census 2011|access-date=2019-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918043750/http://cbs.gov.np/image/data/Population/Population%20Monograph%20of%20Nepal%202014/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|archive-date=2017-09-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bahun are the second largest [[Hindu]] group with a population of 3,212,704 (99.6% of Bahuns).<ref name="cbs"/> Bahuns are the largest group in 15 districts in Nepal: [[Jhapa district|Jhapa]], [[Morang district|Morang]], [[Kathmandu district|Kathmandu]], [[Chitwan district|Chitwan]], [[Nawalparasi district|Nawalparasi]], [[Rupandehi district|Rupandehi]], [[Kaski district|Kaski]], [[Syangja district|Syangja]], [[Parbat district|Parbat]], [[Gulmi district|Gulmi]] and [[Arghakhanchi district|Arghakhanchi]]. Among these, Bahuns in [[Parbat district|Parbat]] (35.7%), [[Arghakhanchi district|Arghakhanchi]] (32.8%), [[Syangja district|Syangja]] (30.9%), [[Chitwan district|Chitwan]] (28.6%), [[Kaski district|Kaski]] (27.8%) and [[Gulmi district|Gulmi]] (25.2%) consist more than 25% of the district population. [[Kathmandu district|Kathmandu]] has largest Bahun population with 410,126 people (23.5%).<ref name="cbs"/>
According to the [[2011 Nepal census]], Bahuns (referred as Hill-Brahmin) are the second most populous group after Khas Chhetri with 12.2% of Nepal's population (or 3,226,903 people).<ref name="cbs">{{Cite web|url=http://cbs.gov.np/image/data/Population/Population%20Monograph%20of%20Nepal%202014/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|title=Nepal Census 2011|access-date=26 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918043750/http://cbs.gov.np/image/data/Population/Population%20Monograph%20of%20Nepal%202014/Population%20Monograph%20V02.pdf|archive-date=18 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bahun are the second largest [[Hindu]] group in Nepal with a population of 3,212,704 (99.6% of Bahuns).<ref name="cbs"/> Bahuns are the largest group in 15 districts in Nepal: [[Jhapa district|Jhapa]], [[Morang district|Morang]], [[Kathmandu district|Kathmandu]], [[Chitwan district|Chitwan]], [[Nawalparasi district|Nawalparasi]], [[Rupandehi district|Rupandehi]], [[Kaski district|Kaski]], [[Syangja district|Syangja]], [[Parbat district|Parbat]], [[Gulmi district|Gulmi]] and [[Arghakhanchi district|Arghakhanchi]]. Among these, Bahuns in [[Parbat district|Parbat]] (35.7%), [[Arghakhanchi district|Arghakhanchi]] (32.8%), [[Dhading district|Dhading]] (30.9%), [[Chitwan district|Chitwan]] (28.6%), [[Kaski district|Kaski]] (27.8%) and [[Gulmi district|Gulmi]] (25.2%) consist more than 25% of the district population. [[Kathmandu district|Kathmandu]] has largest Bahun population with 410,126 people (23.5%).<ref name="cbs"/>
 
Bahuns have the highest [[civil service]] representation with 39.2% of Nepal's bureaucracy while having only 12.1% of Nepal's total population. The civil service representation to population ratio is 3.2 times for Bahuns which is fourth in Nepal. Khas Chhetris represent 1.6 times in civil services to their percentage of population, which is the highest in Nepal.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Amit|last=Dhakal|url=http://archive.setopati.com/raajneeti/12636/|title=निजामती सेवामा सबैभन्दा बढी प्रतिनिधित्व राजपूत, कायस्थ र तराई ब्राम्हण|date=11 June 2014|newspaper=Setopati|archive-date=26 January 2018|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126070646/http://archive.setopati.com/raajneeti/12636/|url-status=dead}}</ref> As per the [[Public Service Commission (Nepal)|Public Service Commission]], Brahmins (33.3%) and Chhetris (20.01%) were two largest caste group to obtain governmental jobs in [[Fiscal year|F.Y.]] 2017-18 even though 45% governmental seats are reserved for women, indigenous and ethnic minorities, Madhesis, dalits, people with disability and those from the backward regions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kathmandupost.com/miscellaneous/2018/10/16/brahmins-and-chhetris-land-most-government-jobs|title=Brahmins and Chhetris land most government jobs|website=kathmandupost.com}}</ref> Similarly, in the fiscal 2018–19, Bahuns (24.87%) and Chhetris (9.63%) maintained 35% of their proportion in civil service as per Public Service Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2019/11/12/brahmins-and-chhetris-continue-to-dominate-entry-into-civil-service|title=Brahmins and Chhetris continue to dominate entry into civil service|website=kathmandupost.com}}</ref>


Bahuns have the highest [[civil service]] representation with 39.2% of Nepal's bureaucracy while having only 12.1% of Nepal's total population. The civil service representation to population ratio is 3.2 times for Bahuns which is fourth in Nepal. Chhetris represent 5.6 times in civil services to their percentage of population, which is the highest in Nepal.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Amit|last=Dhakal|url=http://archive.setopati.com/raajneeti/12636/|title= निजामती सेवामा सबैभन्दा बढी प्रतिनिधित्व राजपूत, कायस्थ र तराई ब्राम्हण|date=11 June 2014|newspaper= Setopati}}</ref> As per the [[Public Service Commission (Nepal)|Public Service Commission]], Brahmins (33.3%) and Chhetris (20.01%) were two largest caste group to obtain governmental jobs in [[Fiscal year|F.Y.]] 2017-18 even though 45% governmental seats are reserved for women, Madhesis, other caste and Tibetan tribes, people with disability and those from the backward regions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kathmandupost.com/miscellaneous/2018/10/16/brahmins-and-chhetris-land-most-government-jobs|title=Brahmins and Chhetris land most government jobs|website=kathmandupost.com}}</ref> Similarly, in the fiscal 2018–19, Bahuns (34.87%) and Chhetris (19.63%) maintained 55% of their proportion in civil service as per Public Service Commission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kathmandupost.com/national/2019/11/12/brahmins-and-chhetris-continue-to-dominate-entry-into-civil-service|title=Brahmins and Chhetris continue to dominate entry into civil service|website=kathmandupost.com}}</ref>
==Geographic distribution==
According to the [[2021 Nepal census]], 3,292,373 people (11.29%) of the population of Nepal are Bahun (Hill Brahmins).<ref>{{cite report |date=2021 |title=National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report |author=National Statistics Office |work=Government of Nepal |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/downloads/caste-ethnicity}}</ref> The frequency of Bahun (Hill Brahmins) by province was as follows:
* [[Gandaki Province]] (21.5%)
* [[Bagmati Province]] (18.3%)
* [[Sudurpashchim Province]] (13.0%)
* [[Lumbini Province]] (12.5%)
* [[Koshi Province]] (12.1%)
* [[Karnali Province]] (8.3%)
* [[Madhesh Province]] (2.3%)
 
The frequency of Bahun (Hill Brahmins) was higher than national average (12.2%) in the following districts:
* [[Parbat District|Parbat]] (35.8%)
* [[Arghakhanchi District|Arghakhanchi]] (32.8%)
* [[Syangja District|Syangja]] (30.9%)
* [[Chitwan District|Chitwan]] (28.7%)
* [[Kaski District|Kaski]] (27.9%)
* [[Jhapa District|Jhapa]] (23.8%)
* [[Nawalpur District|Nawalpur]] (23.8%)
* [[Kathmandu District|Kathmandu]] (23.7%)  
* [[Kavrepalanchok District|Kavrepalanchok]] (21.5%)
* [[Gulmi District|Gulmi]] (21.3%)
* [[Baglung District|Baglung]] (19.5%)
* [[Nuwakot District|Nuwakot]] (19.0%)
* [[Baitadi District|Baitadi]] (18.6%)
* [[Palpa District|Palpa]] (17.5%)
* [[Kalikot District|Kalikot]] (17.1%)
* [[Darchula District|Darchula]] (16.7%)
* [[Kanchanpur District|Kanchanpur]] (16.0%)
* [[Rupandehi District|Rupandehi]] (15.9%)
* [[Dadeldhura District|Dadeldhura]] (15.8%)
* [[Gorkha District|Gorkha]] (15.2%)
* [[Rasuwa District|Rasuwa]] (15.2%)
* [[Dhading District|Dhading]] (15.0%)
* [[Bhaktapur District|Bhaktapur]] (14.2%)
* [[Makwanpur District|Makwanpur]] (14.1%)
* [[Ilam District|Ilam]] (13.9%)
* [[Terhathum District|Terhathum]] (13.3%)
* [[Morang District|Morang]] (13.1%)
* [[Lalitpur District, Nepal|Lalitpur]] (13.0%)
* [[Lamjung District|Lamjung]] (12.8%)
* [[Kailali District|Kailali]] (12.4%)


==Notable people==
==Notable people==
=== Academics ===
* [[Surya Subedi]], legal academic
=== Artists ===
* [[Ragini Upadhyaya]], fine artist and lyricist
=== Athletes ===
==== Cricketers ====
* [[Basanta Regmi]]
* [[Kanishka Chaugai]]
* [[Sandeep Lamichhane]]
* [[Kushal Bhurtel]]
==== Footballers ====
==== Swimmers ====
==== Other athletes ====
* [[Shyam Dhakal]], alpine skier
=== Entertainment ===
==== Actors/Filmmakers ====
*[[Nabin K Bhattarai|Nabin k. Bhattarai]]
*[[Neeta Dhungana]]
*[[Aaryan Sigdel|Aryan Sigdel]]
*[[Arunima Lamsal]]
*[[Jiwan Luitel|Jeevan Luitel]]
*[[Sitaram Kattel|Sitaram Kattel(dhurmus)]]
*[[Kunjana Ghimire|Kunjana Ghimire(suntali)]]
*[[Anup Baral]]
*[[Jeetu Nepal]]
*[[Kedar Ghimire]]
*[[Keki Adhikari]]
*[[Nisha Adhikari]]
*[[Bijay Baral]]
*[[Raj Ballav Koirala]]
*[[Khagendra Lamichhane]]
*[[Mariska Pokharel|Marishka Pokharel]]
*[[Sunil Pokharel]]
*[[Usha Poudel]]
*[[Deepika Prasain]]
*[[Hari Prasad Rimal]]
*[[Aanchal Sharma]]
*[[Anna Sharma]]
*[[Pooja Sharma (Nepalese actress)|Pooza Sharma]]
*[[Reecha Sharma]]
*[[Mithila Sharma]]
*[[Barsha Siwakoti]]
*[[Hari Bansha Acharya]]
*[[Dayaram Dahal]]
* [[Subash Gajurel]]
* [[Tulsi Ghimire]]
* [[Manisha Koirala]]
* [[Deepa Shree Niraula]]
==== Singers ====
* [[Tika Bhandari]]
* [[Ram Prasad Khanal]]
* [[Pramod Kharel]]
* [[Nabin K Bhattarai]]
* [[Bhakta Raj Acharya]]
* [[Sugam Pokharel]]
* [[Bednidhi Poudel]]
* [[Pranil L Timalsena]]
==== Other entertainers ====
* [[Atul Gautam]], [[tabla]] player
* [[Hom Nath Upadhyaya]], [[tabla]] player
=== Entrepreneurs ===
=== Humanitarians ===
* [[Durga Ghimire]], founder of [[ABC Nepal]], an anti-sex trafficking organisation
* [[Jagadish Ghimire]], political analyst, founder of Tamakoshi Sewa Samiti community development organisation
* [[Anuradha Koirala]], founder of [[Maiti Nepal]], which supports victims of sex trafficking
=== Mountaineers ===
=== Politicians ===
*[[Madhav Prasad Devkota]]
*[[Madhav Prasad Devkota]]
*[[Chabilal Upadhyaya]]<ref>[[Chabilal Upadhyaya|Chabilal Upadhyaya - Wikipedia]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=May 2021}}
*[[Rabi Lamichhane|Ravi Lamichhane]]
*[[Ranga Nath Poudyal]]<ref>{{cite book | last = Raj | first = Prakash A. | title = Dancing Democracy: The power of a Third Eye | publisher = Rupa & Company | year = 2006 | isbn = 9788129109460 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=rVNuAAAAMAAJ&q=sarbajit+rana+magar}}</ref>
*[[Chabilal Upadhyaya]]<ref>[[Chabilal Upadhyaya|Chabilal Upadhyaya - Bharatpedia]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=May 2021}}
*[[Krishna Prasad Koirala]] and [[Koirala family]]<ref name="dawn">{{cite news|title= Girija Prasad Koirala: The architect of democracy in Nepal|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/822354|access-date=13 December 2017|newspaper= Dawn|date=23 March 2010}}</ref>
*[[Ranga Nath Poudyal]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Raj |first=Prakash A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rVNuAAAAMAAJ&q=sarbajit+rana+magar |title=Dancing Democracy: The power of a Third Eye |publisher=Rupa & Company |year=2006 |isbn=9788129109460}}</ref>
*[[Matrika Prasad Koirala]]<ref name="dawn"/>
*[[Krishna Prasad Koirala]] and [[Koirala family]]<ref name="dawn">{{cite news |date=23 March 2010 |title=Girija Prasad Koirala: The architect of democracy in Nepal |newspaper=Dawn |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/822354 |access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>
*[[Tanka Prasad Acharya]]<ref>{{cite book|title=Westminster legacies|publisher=UNSW Press|year=2005|isbn=978-0-86840-848-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JTg0ZTM8X4oC&pg=PA63|access-date= 2009-05-15}}</ref>
*[[Matrika Prasad Koirala]]<ref name="dawn" />
*[[Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala]]<ref name="dawn"/>
*[[Tanka Prasad Acharya]]<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JTg0ZTM8X4oC&pg=PA63 |title=Westminster legacies |publisher=UNSW Press |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-86840-848-4 |access-date=15 May 2009}}</ref>
*[[Girija Prasad Koirala]]<ref name="dawn"/>
*[[Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala]]<ref name="dawn" />
*[[Krishna Prasad Bhattarai]]<ref name="myrepublica">{{cite news|title =Flight of a free bird|url=http://www.myrepublica.com/archive/54381/Flight-of-a-free-bird|access-date=13 December 2017|newspaper= My Republica|date=7 March 2011}}</ref>
*[[Girija Prasad Koirala]]<ref name="dawn" />
*[[Man Mohan Adhikari]]<ref>{{cite news|title =Man Mohan Adhikari|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/1999/may/04/guardianobituaries.suzannegoldenberg|access-date=13 December 2017|newspaper= The Guardian|last=Goldenberg|first=Suzanne|date=4 May 1999}}</ref>
*[[Krishna Prasad Bhattarai]]<ref name="myrepublica">{{cite news |date=7 March 2011 |title=Flight of a free bird |newspaper=My Republica |url=http://www.myrepublica.com/archive/54381/Flight-of-a-free-bird |access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>
*[[Man Mohan Adhikari]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Goldenberg |first=Suzanne |date=4 May 1999 |title=Man Mohan Adhikari |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/1999/may/04/guardianobituaries.suzannegoldenberg |access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>
*[[KP Sharma Oli]]
*[[KP Sharma Oli]]
*[[Prachanda|Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda)]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-08/03/c_135561309.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805025844/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-08/03/c_135561309.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 5, 2016|title=CPN Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal elected as 39th Prime Minister of Nepal|publisher=Xinhuanet|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Prachanda-elected-Prime-Minister-of-Nepal/article15282412.ece|title=Prachanda elected Prime Minister of Nepal|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref>
*[[Prachanda|Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda)]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=CPN Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal elected as 39th Prime Minister of Nepal |publisher=Xinhuanet |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-08/03/c_135561309.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=13 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805025844/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-08/03/c_135561309.htm |archive-date=5 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Prachanda elected Prime Minister of Nepal |newspaper=The Hindu |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/Prachanda-elected-Prime-Minister-of-Nepal/article15282412.ece |access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>
*[[Madhav Kumar Nepal]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2014/05/23/cpn-uml-comrades-apart/| title = CPN-UML Comrades Apart | publisher = Spotlight Nepal Magazine| access-date=2017-12-13}}</ref>
*[[Madhav Kumar Nepal]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=CPN-UML Comrades Apart |publisher=Spotlight Nepal Magazine |url=https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2014/05/23/cpn-uml-comrades-apart/ |access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>
*[[Baburam Bhattarai]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=15581#.WoEo8YHA40M|title=Caste no bar|publisher=Nepali Times|date =16 January 2009|access-date =12 February 2018}}</ref>
*[[Baburam Bhattarai]]<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 January 2009 |title=Caste no bar |publisher=Nepali Times |url=http://nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=15581#.WoEo8YHA40M |access-date=12 February 2018}}</ref>
 
=== Scientists ===
* [[Bodhraj Acharya]], biochemist
* [[Lujendra Ojha]], planetary scientist
 
=== Writers ===
* [[Khagendra Sangraula]]
==== Poets ====
* [[Bhanubhakta Acharya]]
* [[Geeta Tripathee]]
* [[Gopal Prasad Rimal]]
* [[Ishwar Ballav|Ishwar Ballav Bhattarai]]
* [[Jagadish Ghimire]]
* [[Krishnahari Baral]]
* [[Kshetra Pratap Adhikary]]
* [[Laxmi Prasad Devkota]]
* [[Lekh Nath Paudel]]
* [[Mahananda Sapkota]]
* [[Motiram Bhatta]]
* [[Suman Pokhrel]]
 
==== Journalists ====
* [[Kanak Mani Dixit]]
* [[Narayan Wagle]]
* [[Naresh Bhattarai]]
* [[Prashant Aryal]]
* [[Rabi Lamichhane]]
* [[Rabindra Mishra]]
* [[Sudheer Sharma]]
* [[Vijay Kumar Pandey]]
 
==== Playwrights ====
* [[Abhi Subedi]]
* [[Krishna Dharabasi]]
* [[Bhim Nidhi Tiwari]]
* [[Gopal Prasad Rimal]]
* [[Guru Prasad Mainali]]
* [[Khagendra Lamichhane]]
* [[Laxmi Prasad Devkota]]
* [[Suman Pokhrel]]
 
==== Prose writers ====
* [[Abhi Subedi]]
* [[Amar Neupane]]
* [[Arbind Rimal]]
* [[Samrat Upadhyay]]
* [[Sanu Sharma]]
 
=== Other notables ===
* [[Bhawana Ghimire]], CEO of [[Cricket Association of Nepal]] from 2014 to 2016


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Caste system in Nepal]]
* [[Caste system in Nepal]]
*[[Varna (Hinduism)]]
* [[Varna (Hinduism)]]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 19:18, 23 October 2025


Khas Bahun
Bahun
Regions with significant populations
   Nepal3,292,373 (11.2% of Nepal's population) (2021)[1]
Languages
Nepali (Khas-Kura)
Religion
Hinduism 99.56% (2011), Christianity 0.31% (2011)[2]
Related ethnic groups
Chhetri, Thakuri and other Khas people

Bahun (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.), also known as Hill Brahmins,[3] are a Brahmin varna among the Khas of Nepal. They are a sub-caste of the Kanyakubja Brahmin[4][5][6] while their origins are from Kannauj[7][disputed – discuss] and the Himalayan belt of South Asia. According to the 2011 Nepal census, Bahun is the second most populous group after Chhetri.[8]

According to 1854 Muluki Ain, the first Nepalese civil code, Bahuns were regarded as caste among sacred thread bearers (Tagadhari) and twice-born Hindus.[9]

Origin[edit | edit source]

Further information: Khas people

Traditionally, Bahuns were members of the Khas community together Chhetris.[10] Possibly due to political power of the Khasa Malla kingdom, Khas Brahmins and Khas Kshatriyas[11] had high social status in the present-day western Nepal.[10] Bahuns, regarded as upper class Khas group together with Chhetris, were associated mostly with the Gorkha Kingdom and its expansion.[12][12][13]

There appears to be general agreement in historical records and family genealogy that Hill Brahmins (both Purbia and Kumai Bahuns) migrated from the Gangetic Plains to the western Himalayas then from there to the eastern Himalayas including Nepal. Nepali historians have claimed that Hill Brahmins entered the Himalayan region from Kannauj.[14] According to Acharya Bamsavali, Bahuns have migrated from Kanyakubja to Jumla in Nepal.[15]

Demography[edit | edit source]

According to the 2011 Nepal census, Bahuns (referred as Hill-Brahmin) are the second most populous group after Khas Chhetri with 12.2% of Nepal's population (or 3,226,903 people).[16] Bahun are the second largest Hindu group in Nepal with a population of 3,212,704 (99.6% of Bahuns).[16] Bahuns are the largest group in 15 districts in Nepal: Jhapa, Morang, Kathmandu, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Kaski, Syangja, Parbat, Gulmi and Arghakhanchi. Among these, Bahuns in Parbat (35.7%), Arghakhanchi (32.8%), Dhading (30.9%), Chitwan (28.6%), Kaski (27.8%) and Gulmi (25.2%) consist more than 25% of the district population. Kathmandu has largest Bahun population with 410,126 people (23.5%).[16]

Bahuns have the highest civil service representation with 39.2% of Nepal's bureaucracy while having only 12.1% of Nepal's total population. The civil service representation to population ratio is 3.2 times for Bahuns which is fourth in Nepal. Khas Chhetris represent 1.6 times in civil services to their percentage of population, which is the highest in Nepal.[17] As per the Public Service Commission, Brahmins (33.3%) and Chhetris (20.01%) were two largest caste group to obtain governmental jobs in F.Y. 2017-18 even though 45% governmental seats are reserved for women, indigenous and ethnic minorities, Madhesis, dalits, people with disability and those from the backward regions.[18] Similarly, in the fiscal 2018–19, Bahuns (24.87%) and Chhetris (9.63%) maintained 35% of their proportion in civil service as per Public Service Commission.[19]

Geographic distribution[edit | edit source]

According to the 2021 Nepal census, 3,292,373 people (11.29%) of the population of Nepal are Bahun (Hill Brahmins).[20] The frequency of Bahun (Hill Brahmins) by province was as follows:

The frequency of Bahun (Hill Brahmins) was higher than national average (12.2%) in the following districts:

Notable people[edit | edit source]

Academics[edit | edit source]

Artists[edit | edit source]

Athletes[edit | edit source]

Cricketers[edit | edit source]

Footballers[edit | edit source]

Swimmers[edit | edit source]

Other athletes[edit | edit source]

Entertainment[edit | edit source]

Actors/Filmmakers[edit | edit source]

Singers[edit | edit source]

Other entertainers[edit | edit source]

Entrepreneurs[edit | edit source]

Humanitarians[edit | edit source]

Mountaineers[edit | edit source]

Politicians[edit | edit source]

Scientists[edit | edit source]

Writers[edit | edit source]

Poets[edit | edit source]

Journalists[edit | edit source]

Playwrights[edit | edit source]

Prose writers[edit | edit source]

Other notables[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
  2. ↑ Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
  3. ↑ Oberst, Robert (27 April 2018). Government and Politics in South Asia, Student Economy Edition. Routledge. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-429-97340-6.
  4. ↑ Declan Quigley, David Gellner (2017). Contested Hierarchies: A Collaborative Ethnography of Caste Among the Newars of Kathmandu. edited by David Gellner & Declan Quigley. Macmillan and Company limited. p. 199.
  5. ↑ Chaturvedi, Shyam lal (1945). In Fraternity with Nepal, An Account of the Activities Under the Auspices of the Wider Life Movement for the Furtherance and Consolidation of the Indo-Nepalese Cultural Fellowship. p. 65.
  6. ↑ Hachhethu, Krishna (2023). Nation-Building and Federalism in Nepal. Oxford University Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-19-887291-7.
  7. ↑ Hachhethu, Krishna (2023). Nation-Building and Federalism in Nepal. Oxford University Press. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-19-887291-7.
  8. ↑ "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
  9. ↑ Sherchan 2001, p. 14.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 John T Hitchcock 1978, pp. 116-119.
  11. ↑ John T Hitchcock 1978, p. 116.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Whelpton 2005, p. 31.
  13. ↑ "Nepal -".
  14. ↑ Prakash Raj (1996). Brahmins in Nepal. Nabeen Publications. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7855-7366-1.
  15. ↑ Prakash Raj (1996). Brahmins in Nepal. Nabeen Publications. ISBN 978-0-7855-7366-1.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  17. ↑ Dhakal, Amit (11 June 2014). "निजामती सेवामा सबैभन्दा बढी प्रतिनिधित्व राजपूत, कायस्थ र तराई ब्राम्हण". Setopati. Archived from the original on 26 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  18. ↑ "Brahmins and Chhetris land most government jobs". kathmandupost.com.
  19. ↑ "Brahmins and Chhetris continue to dominate entry into civil service". kathmandupost.com.
  20. ↑ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
  21. ↑ Chabilal Upadhyaya - Bharatpedia
  22. ↑ Raj, Prakash A. (2006). Dancing Democracy: The power of a Third Eye. Rupa & Company. ISBN 9788129109460.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 "Girija Prasad Koirala: The architect of democracy in Nepal". Dawn. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  24. ↑ Westminster legacies. UNSW Press. 2005. ISBN 978-0-86840-848-4. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  25. ↑ "Flight of a free bird". My Republica. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  26. ↑ Goldenberg, Suzanne (4 May 1999). "Man Mohan Adhikari". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  27. ↑ "CPN Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal elected as 39th Prime Minister of Nepal". Xinhuanet. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  28. ↑ "Prachanda elected Prime Minister of Nepal". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  29. ↑ "CPN-UML Comrades Apart". Spotlight Nepal Magazine. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  30. ↑ "Caste no bar". Nepali Times. 16 January 2009. Retrieved 12 February 2018.

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Template:Ethnic groups in Nepal

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bahun&oldid=459338"
Discover more