Karki is a family name in Nepal. karki's are of pure Chhetri origin.
They were a powerful warrior in ancient Nepal.Kazi Swaroop Singh Karki
was very much in power during the rule of king Pratap Singh Shah .Pratap
Singh Shah wanted to reform the internal administration of the country.
In this task, he took Kazi Swaroop Singh Karki into his confidence.
With his advice, Pratap Singh Shah divided the lands of Nepal valley
into 4 categories in order of productivity viz., `Awal', `Doyam', `Seem' and
`Chahar' and planned to lower the revenue to the rate of one-sixth of the gross
product.During the rule of Pratap Singh Shah, Swaroop Singh Karki was the most
powerful person. Swaroop Singh was more powerful than then king.But after the d
eath of King Pratap Singh Shah when Bahadur Shah return to Nepal Kazi Swaroop
Singh Karki fled to India.Roop Narayan Karki was the person who represented Nepal
during the treaty between Nepal and Tibet.According to Prof Surya Mani Adhikari,
history professor, Tribhuvan University, Karkis, Thapas, Khadkas, Basnets etc.
are descendents of the Khas of the Khas Kingdom from middle age
(ref to The Khasa Kingdom, by Prof Sury Mani Adhikary, TU, Kathmandu,
Nipple published by Nirala Publications, New Delhi.
Also in Nepali khas adhirajya, Sajha prakashan. Khasa or Khas were non-vedic
Aryans who lived in mountains. For many years they were highly influenced by Buddhism as well.
There are Matwali chhetris in Karnali region who also have Karki,
Thapa etc. surnames but do not wear Janai or Sacred thread,
who drink alcohol and have kul deuta. Anthropologists believe they
are the proto-type of present day tagadhari chhetris in Nepal.
Karki originating in Nepal are found to be of different categories:
- Mudula Karki
- Khulal Karki
- Sutar Karki
- Lama Karki
[edit]Mudula Karki
They mostly lived in gandaki zone.According to Mr. Himalaya Karki from Syangja,
Mudula Karki's ancestors are traced back to Karkineta. Karkineta is a village between
Syangja and Prabat district of Gandaki Zone in Western Hilly region of Nepal.
From Karkineta they sifted to Khahare, Pauwaigaunde and Bachpur. Some Mudula
Karki are living in Palpa district. Many Mudula Karkis nowadays are living in Pokhara,
Kaski district of Gandaki zone. A look at the genealogy of Mudula Karki traces them to
the midwest of the country, in the region of Syangja, parbat and Pyuthan and even further
to the Karnali region of Nepal. They are found all over Nepal with prominent distributions in
districts like Sindhuli, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Udaypur, Okhaldhunga and with migration to the
Terai regions in terai districts of Mahotarri, Sarlahi, dhanusha and Jhapa, Morang. Mudula Karki
community comes from Surya dynasty. They do not celebrate Gai Puja (cow worship) and do not
put tika in bhai tika during Tihar, festival of lights, as there is a legend saying that the cow climbed
a tree while being worshipped by Mudula Karki.
[edit]Lama Karki
Suryaman Singh Karki is the ultimate traceable ancestors of Lama Karki, this group today has
created a social organization by the name Surya Man Singh Karki Trust. With highly accomplished
members in the board, like doctors, engineers, government officials, foreign contributors and numerous
volunteers, they have successfully involved themselves in helping the poor, needy,
assisting in re-settlement after house fires, landslides and such. Besides, this trust
also has created awareness among its young members and bring most of their Karki
population together in an attempt to support for social causes. Lama Karki has strong
community in Sunsari , Moranag & More District in Nepal. According to Year Annual Prayers
(Dewali) holding time gather. At Sunsari District Madhesha V.D.C has strong Karki community.
Ref to Mr. Dipendra Karki from Madhesha Sunsari , they have almost more than 50 houses in this village.
[edit]Karkis in India
In India they basically reside in pithoragarh and sparsely in Almora region. They are also
found in Dehradun areas, both as natives and later day migrants from Nepal. In fact,
the Indian National movement boasts of these ethnic Karkis from Kumaon who formed
a great role in the national movement. more places in west bengal they living .
[edit]Karkis in the world
Karki as a surname is found in places as diverse as Turkey and Armenia along with places
like Finland. This has been seen in social networking sites like facebook, where Karkis
from different countries are surprised to see such similar surnames at such different places.
