KC (surname) explained

KC (or K.C, K.C.) is a surname of medieval Indian origin anglicized as an abbreviation of Khatri Chhetri in Nepal. The surname Khatri Chhetri was historically legally labelled to the children of Brahmin fathers and Kshatriya (Chhetri) mothers after the introduction of Muluki Ain (the Legal Code of Nepal) in 1854 by Jang Bahadur Rana of Nepal.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]} With its origin in the 12th century CE, the archaic form of the surname "Khatri" was ascribed as a local endonym for the progeny of Brahmins from Medieval India and Khas women of the Middle Himalayas in medieval western Nepal.

History

Dislodged by the Ghurid conquest of India and subsequent Delhi Sultanate, Brahmins from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Punjab and North India began emigrating to the hills of western Nepal seeking refuge primarily after the 12th century CE where they encountered another Indo-Aryan tribe called Khasas. The progeny resulting from the unions of Brahmin men and Khas women were called Khatris.

In contrast to the British rule in India and subsequent British Raj, Jang Bahadur Rana promulgated the legal code of Nepal called Muluki Ain in 1854 enforcing rigid social and matrimonial structures within Hinduism where the patriline of a caste and thereby the status of children legally depended upon the marriage choice of the father. As per this, the children born from the marriage of a Khas Brahmin father and a Kshatriya (Chhetri) mother were labelled as "Khatri or Khatri Chhetri", indicating that they were the descendants of a marriage between a Khas Brahmin man with a Chhetri woman in their ascendant patriline.^[5]

Khatris have played a vital role in the unification of Kingdom of Nepal and thereafter as administrators, political leaders, army commanders and warriors, as well as in the Anglo-Nepalese War against the British Empire, and on behalf of India during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945) and in the modern Nepali Armed Forces, Indian Armed Forces and British Army.^{[6] [7]} Khatris were among the first Nepalese to travel to England and France in the mid-19th century as a part of a royal mission.^{[8] [9]} Three Khatris of the Nepalese army namely Lieutenant Karbir Khatri, Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri and Kaji Karbir Khatri accompanied Nepal's ruler Jung Bahadur Rana's visit to Europe and Lt. Lal Singh Khatri, among them, was also the first Nepalese to study English in the British Residency at the Court of Nepal.^[10] The over time exposure of Khatris to United Kingdom and British English led to the anglicization of surname into a formally designated abbreviation of KC (or K.C.), from its original Khatri Chhetri. KCs are prominently visible in politics, cinema, army, arts, education, medicine, business, fashion and sports of Nepal, among others.

Notable KCs

• Arjun Narasingha K.C., former five-times minister of Nepal and Senior Nepali Congress Leader
• Chitra Bahadur K.C., former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal & Chairman of the Rashtriya Jana Morcha Party
• Dr. Govinda K.C., Nepalese orthopedic surgeon and philanthropic activist
• Kul Bahadur KC, late Nepalese Poet and laureate
• Nayan Bahadur Khatri, longest serving late Chief Justice of Nepal
• Kul Prasad KC, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province of Nepal
• Jyoti KC, first Nepalese-American astronaut and Commander crew of NASA's Sirius mission^{[11] [12]}
• Sugarika KC, former Miss Nepal
• Karishma K.C. (Manandhar), one of the most prominent Nepalese actress ^{[13] [14]}
• Ashma KC, Miss Nepal 2024^[15]
• Rajendra (Khatri) Chhetri, former head of Nepali Armed Forces and son of late colonel Gopal Bahadur Khatri Chhetri, Aide de Camp (ADC) to King Mahendra of Nepal^{[16] [17]}
• Guru Maharaj Narayan Gautam Khatri aka "Swami Hamsananda", Hindu saint and founder of Swargadwari Temple complex of Nepal in the 20th century^{[18] [19]}
• Atithi Gautam K. C, youngest singer in the world to release a professional solo album
• Avantika Khatri, Indian Bollywood actress, producer, and director
• Karan KC, Nepalese cricketer at Nepal national cricket team
• Renu KC, late mother of Nepalese movie superstar Rajesh Hamal^{[20] [21]}
• Hira Singh Khatri, first director of Nepalese Film industry with 1964's movie Aama
• Jit Bahadur K.C., first Nepalese athlete to win an international medal in sports (1971)^[22]
• Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri, first Nepalese to study English and an entourage of Jung Bahadur Rana's visit to Britain and France
• Nandita K.C., Nepalese actress
• Bhavna Khatri, Indian actress
• Sulakshana Khatri, Indian actress
• Bhuwan K.C., Nepalese actor, director, producer, singer and filmmaker
• Anmol K.C., actor and producer
• Sita KC, Nepalese singer
• Uma Devi Khatri, late Indian actress
• Dr. Kedar Narsingh KC, former Director of the National Tuberculosis Center and President of Nepal Medical Association^[23]
• Surya Bahadur KC, late Industrialist and Parliamentarian of Nepal; founder of Machhapuchhre Bank Ltd, Rara Noodle & 'KC Group Nepal' ^{[24] [25]}
• Shreedhar Khatri, Nepalese Ambassador to the United States^[26]
• Sarala KC, President of Nepal Nursing Council^[27]
• Kamal Khatri, Nepalese singer
• Nilam K.C., former Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens of Nepal
• Sushant KC, Nepalese singer and songwriter^{[28] [29]}
• Sher Bahadur KC, former President of Nepal Bar Association^[30]
• Krishna Khatri, Nepalese football player of national women's team
• Rajendra Kumar KC, former minister of Nepal and leader of Nepali Congress Party ^[31]
• Dr. Badri KC, President of Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA)^[32]
• Padma Bahadur Khatri, late former Foreign Minister of Nepal and Nepalese Ambassador to the United States
• Dr. Nagendra Bahadur KC, former Major general (Nepalese Army) and Director general of Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences ^[33]
• Neelam KC, President of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF-Nepal) ^[34]
• Phupu Lhamu Khatri (born 1996), Nepalese Olympic judoka
• Buddhi Bahadur KC, executive director of state-owned Radio Nepal^[35]
• Hira Chandra KC, State Minister of Health and Population of Nepal
• Bal Bahadur K.C., former minister of Nepal
• Sunil KC, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NMB Bank Nepal^[36]
• Kiran KC, prominent comedian and actor of Nepal
• Ramesh Kumar KC, former Chairman of Agricultural Development Bank of Nepal.^[37]
• Manoj Kumar KC, band member of 1974 AD
• Dr. Fatta Bahadur KC, former Chairman of National Insurance Board of Nepal (Rastriya Beema Sansthan)^[38]
• Dhruba KC, former coach of Nepal national football team
• Roshan KC, former Chairman of Machhapuchhre Bank Ltd
• Bhagawati Khatri, Nepalese sport shooter at the 2000 Olympics
• Anjan KC, national football player of Nepal
• Rupesh KC, national football player of Nepal
• Jenisha KC, Nepalese actress appearing in Nepalese and Bhojpuri Films^[39]
• Sandhya KC, Nepalese actress^[40]
• Sushil KC, national football player of Nepal
• Phuspa Ram KC, former Head of Armed Police Force (Nepal)^[41]
• Gyanu K.C., former Parliamentarian of Nepal

Fictional characters

• Fenisha Khatri, in the British television series Casualty^[42]

Notes and References

1. Subedi. Madhusudan. Caste System: Theories and Practices in Nepal. Himalayan Journal of Sociology and Anthropology. 2011. en. 4. 134–159. 10.3126/hjsa.v4i0.4672. 2382-5073. free.
2. Web site: Brahman and Chhetri of Nepal Encyclopedia.com. 2021-01-04. www.encyclopedia.com.
3. Book: Bista, Rachana. Dewali through sociological lens, ancestor worship among the chettri of Gaurada in Nepal. Sikkim University. 2019. Gangtok, India. 35.
4. Web site: Nepalese caste system . 2021-01-04 . www.linguateca.pt . en.
5. Doherty. Victor S.. The Organizing Principles of Brahmin-Chetri Kinship. INAS Journal. 28.
6. Kings and Political Leaders of Gorkhali Empire. Regmi Research Series. M.C. Regmi, 1995. Available at https://endconflict.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/2014-01-15-mahesh_c_regmi_kings-and-political-leaders-of-the-gorkhali-empire.pdf
7. Indian soldiers victoria cross - list of fallen soldiers during Second World War. Indian Embassy Release. Available at https://www.indianembassyrome.gov.in/docs/victoria%20cross.pdf
8. Book: Waterhouse, David . The Origins of Himalayan Studies: Brian Houghton Hodgson in Nepal and Darjeeling . 2004-10-28 . Routledge . 978-1-134-38364-1 . en.
9. Web site: Jang Bahadur in Europe: the first Nepalese mission to the West . 2023-07-28 . dokumen.pub . en.
10. Adhikari . Krishna . 2017-01-01 . The First Nepali in England: Motilal Singh and PM Jang Bahadur Rana. . European Bulletin of Himalayan Research.
11. "Space training completed by a Nepali Woman". Nepalnews; Available at https://nepalnews.com/s/nation/space-training-completed-by-a-nepali-women
12. Web site: Republica . Jyoti KC certified as an analogue astronaut . 2024-07-16 . My City . en.
13. Web site: Republica . Happy birthday Karishma Manandhar: Five facts about her that you may not know yet . 2022-05-16 . My City . en.
14. Web site: Biography Page - Film Development Board . 2022-05-16 . nmdb.film.gov.np.
15. Web site: Ashma Kumari KC crowned Miss Nepal 2024 . 2024-08-04 . kathmandupost.com . English.
16. Web site: Sri Lanka Army - Defender of the Nation . 2024-07-26 . www.army.lk . en.
17. Web site: 2017-04-11 . महारथी श्री राजेन्द्र क्षत्री प्रधान सेनापति को संक्षिप्त जीवनी « Naya Bato . 2024-07-26 . web.archive.org.
18. Web site: Yadav . Ram . 2020-02-10 . SWARGADWARI, Pyuthan - Nepal Tourism Hub . 2024-08-06 . en-US.
19. Web site: INS . स्वतन्त्र समाचार सेवा / . 2023-05-18 . धरतीको स्वर्ग अर्थात् स्वर्गद्वारी ! . 2024-08-06 . INS . en-GB.
20. Web site: Biography . The Digital . 2021-08-19 . Rajesh Hamal biography, Nepal’s Cinematic Legend . 2024-06-28 . Medium . en.
21. Web site: 2017-02-11 . Nepal & NepaliValentine Day special – Love story of Rajesh Hamal and his parents . 2024-06-28 . Nepal & Nepali . en-US.
22. Web site: Republica . Veteran athlete Jit Bahadur KC felicitated . 2024-07-16 . My Republica . en.
23. Web site: Nepal . Medical Council . 2022 . Past executive-tenure years . Nepal Medical Association.
24. Web site: 2020-11-03 . Lawmaker Surya Bahadur KC, who founded Rara noodle, no more - OnlineKhabar English News . 2024-07-11 . en-GB.
25. Web site: Former Chairman . 2022-03-22 . Machhapuchchhre Bank Limited . en.
26. Web site: 2022-02-27 . Shreedhar Khatri is Nepal's new ambassador to the US - OnlineKhabar English News . 2023-07-26 . en-GB.
27. Web site: Nepal Nursing Council > About Us > Executive Members . 2022-03-21 . nnc.org.np.
28. Web site: How Sushant KC made a mark on Nepali music . 2024-06-28 . kathmandupost.com . English.
29. Web site: Sushant KC – ArtistNepal . 2024-04-20 . artistnepal.com.
30. Web site: Mr. Sher Bahadur KC-Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs . 2022-03-21 . aidiaasia.org.
31. Web site: Farewell programme of Hon. Minister Rajendra Kumar KC and Hon. State Minister Teju Lal Chaudhary of Ministry of Youth and Sports. युवा तथा खेलकुद मन्त्रालय . 2022-03-22 . moys.gov.np.
32. Web site: Introductory meet between NTNC and NRNA . 2022-08-14 . ntnc.org.np . en.
33. Web site: Nepalese Army Institute of Health Sciences नेपाली सेना स्वास्थ्य विज्ञान संस्थान . 2022-03-26 . www.naihs.edu.np.
34. Web site: 2015-02-03 . PeaceWomen and WILPF-Nepal in Kathmandu . 2022-03-22 . PeaceWomen . en.
35. Web site: Radio Nepal's role imperative during times of need: Executive Director KC (audio report) . 2022-03-22 . Radio Nepal.
36. Web site: 2016-12-15 . NMB Bank appoints Mr. Sunil KC as new CEO . 2022-03-22 . sharesansar.com . en.
37. Web site: Ramesh Kumar K.C. Appointed Chairman of Agricultural Development Bank Banksnepal Banking and financial Info . 2022-03-22 . banksnepal.com . en.
38. Web site: Prof. Dr. Fatta Bahadur KC – Nirdhanorg . 2022-03-22 . en-US.
39. Web site: 2017-10-20 . 9 Nepali Actresses Who Has Worked In The Bhojpuri Films . 2022-04-25 . en-US.
40. Web site: Sandhya Kc . 2022-04-25 . IMDb.
41. Web site: KC promoted as new IGP of Armed Police Force, insignia presented . 2024-07-11 . रेडियो नेपाल . en-US.
42. Web site: New characters announced in BBC Studios' Casualty, as Osi Okerafor and Elinor Lawless join the cast . 2023-07-26 . www.bbc.co.uk . en.