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Thapa (Nepali: थापा) is the surname of a large social group of Nepali predominantly Aryan Chhetri people. Others also include Mongolian Magar people. Kshetri Thapa of Kshatriya Varna are addressed as Thapa Kaji while Thapa Magar are addressed as general Magar.
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Kshetri Thapa Family were one of the five family to be bestowed upon the hereditary title of Kaji along with Basnet, Bista, Pande and Kunwar. Pande and Thapa Courtiers exhibited extreme treachery against each other to gain the control of the Royal court of Nepal. Since the inception of rule of Shah dynasty, Thapas are the strong contender of Nepalese Politics and Administration competing against Pandes, Basnets, Kunwars and other Kshetris. Bhimsen Thapa is considered by far the greatest Thapa statesman ever to live. He was also a National Hero of Nepal. Another equally recognised Thapa was Bada Kaji Amar Singh Thapa who was a legendary military commander and National Hero of Nepal. Bhimsen's nephew PM Mathabarsingh Thapa was known for his charisma from whom Jung Bahadur Rana rose to power. Thus, the state of administrative Thapa rule in Nepal is politically termed as Thapadom.
Kshetri Thapa was divided into clans (subgroups) like Bagale Thapa, Godar Thapa, Deoja Thapa, Thakuryal Thapa, Mugali(Lamichhane) Thapa, Kalikote Thapa, Suyal Thapa, Punwar Thapa, Khulal Thapa, Sonal Thapa, Bhandare Thapa, Achhami Thapa, Ghimire Thapa, Maharaji Thapa, Patkheti Thapa, Gaunle Thapa and others. Gorkha Chronicles states that Bagale Thapa were powerful while residing in Jumla.
Bagale Thapa
Bagale Thapa (Nepali:बगाले थापा) is a prominent clan within Khas Thapa. Bagale Thapas were skillful at both warfare and administration. They belong to Aatreya Gotra in the Gotra system of Hinduism. Amar Singh Thapa, the war hero of Anglo-Nepalese war belongs to this clan. Similarly, Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa, the most revered among Thapas also belongs to this clan. His nephew Mathabarsingh Thapa was the seventh Prime Minister of Nepal.
Godar Thapa
Godar Thapa is a clan within Khas Chhetri Thapa. They belong to Kashyap Gotra. Bhakti Thapa, the national hero belongs to this clan.
Thapa Magar
Thapa Magar were believed to have come from upper Tibet region as a wild guess given their physique but it is still not been verified firmly about their origin. They fall under Magar ethnic group of Mongolian Tibeto-Burman Family Group. They speak Tibeto-Burman language Magar language as Mother Tongue. Thapa Magar are not addressed as "Thapa" but as "Magar".
Famous Thapa Magars include Arun Thapa, Lakhan Thapa Magar, Biraj Thapa Magar, Victoria Cross holders like Kulbir Thapa, Lalbahadur Thapa and Netrabahadur Thapa.