This is what I found at http://www.nepaleseabroad.com/2008/08/fiji-islands/:
We are a small community of Nepalese in Fiji and scattered all over the two main Islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The Nepalese in Fiji are descendants of Indentured Laborers (known as Girmityas) brought in by the Colonial rulers. These Nepali Girmityas came together with the Indian people from India under the Indentured Labor System.
My late grandfather Mr. Kalu Thapa was a Gurkha soldier in the Indian Army and at age 22 years he was enticed in to coming to Fiji by an agent of the recruiters. Information passed down to my father by my grandfather was that he was from CHISOPANI GADHI, BHIMPHEDI NAGAR, KATHMANDU.
In brief: The Nepalese after finishing their years of labour under the indenture system mostly settled in Yalava and Kavanagasu in Sigatoka and some remained in the areas where they served their contract. Yalava and Kavanagasau used to be a well known Nepali sugar cane farming community. This is where majority of the Nepalese opted to spend their years and raised their families.My grandfather was one of those who stayed in Yalava in Sigatoka and spent his final years there.
Whenever a company of Gurkha Soldiers from British Army visited Fiji they never missed visiting above two communities because of this Nepali link.
Well I am still trying and hoping to trace my grandfathers family and if GOD wills then maybe I will meet my relations oneday.
Any assistance will be much appreciated. (As the song goes : Yo Man ta mero Nepali Ho?.)
Binay Thapa
Suva
FIJI
——————————————-
19 June 2005
Dear Dr. AB Thapa,
Please find below an email regarding your ancestor Bhakti Thapa that has come in the recent Samaya. I also bought the magazine and read it. You have, of course, been writing extensively about Bhakti Thapa, the Deothal battle and the British and Nepalese policies of those times.
This article is a fresh whiff from across the border by an author whose ancestors fought in those 1814 – 1816 war with the India/British. They, however, decided to make those battlefields (Kangra, Almora, Malaun, Nalapani etc.) where they shed their blood and sweat their homeland. We all know that Amar Singh Thapa refused to stay in the INTRIGUES ridden Nepal as Kathmandu was known till recently. Unfortunately, our present day intrigue ridden Nepalese politicians prefer to make their homeland, Nepal, their battle turfs shedding so much anguish, blood and lives of innocent Nepalese. When “things get hot” here, they are neither ashamed nor have any qualms in hopping over to Delhi for “medical check ups”!
In such a downturn atmosphere, Ms Jyoti Thapa’s article gives us, Nepalese, something to lift our heads high and look to the future in a positive manner.
With kind regards,
SB Pun
PS. By the way, Doctor Saheb, Trilok Singh Thapa is a retired Joint Secretary/HMGN. His ancestors had also followed in the footsteps of Amar Singh and Bhakti Thapa to the reverberating war drums of Kumaon and Garhwal for the Kashmir prize!
3 June 2005
Hi there
I am a Magar man living in India. I was wondering if I could join the web of Magars. If you could tell me the procedures to join, I would appreciate it. Also, I hope you won’t mind me telling my friends about the MSC website and MSC activities. By the way, nice website.
Bhupendra Thapa
Dear Magar Bandhus,
Namaskar. I hope everybody is fine. We have been talking. writing, doing numerous activities for the inclusiveness of Janajatis into the mainstream of national politics and state machineries. Lot have already been accomplished and many are still far away. The relentless efforts will ultimately bring resullts. But only wishing will not suffice. We should not be passive in the change process. We shall have to work hard to bring changes. Hard working is still a lot far away from our agenda. I was wondering whether we (Magar Studies Center) should include other jati and Janajatis in our area of concern. So that it becomes a center for the research and studies of the history, culture, socio-economic issues of the people of Nepal- not only of Magar. This has become necessary in the light of the broad vision that is to be envisioned than be limited to a very limited scope of studies. If we have to look for anything related to Magar we have to go through the whole list of literatures written and available on Nepal and Nepali. If it is so then why not include other jat jatis. If you agree on this point we need to change our statute or bidhan. Thanks for your attention.
Gpthapa, 5 may 2005
From: “Prem Rai” <premrai50@hotmail.com>
To: <dibrung@wlink.com.np>
Cc: <basun_t_2000@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 2:33 AM
Subject: your study centre
i ran into your excellent web site and thoroughly enjoyed it.it helped broaden my knowledge on bhumiputra magars.if you are seriously motivated to uplift our community you must prioritise 3 things.1.get rid of low self esteem among our brothers by wing/”advertising”successful personalities e.g.doctors,professors,high ranking officers etc.you can make use of media for this purpose AND educate common poor people to openly challenge anyone who tries to put them down.2.demand affirmative action/reservation/positive discrimination in all areas e.g.civil services ,forces,higher technical studies etc.3.educate,educate and educate our poor and marginalised ones.lastly,without upliftment of magars,tamangs and tharus,three most populous indigenous groups, our motherland will remain a very poor backward country.nepal must prosper and develop which is not possible without inclusive policy by the state.many thanks. sincerely p.rai.p.s.subedar sab’s poem made me cry.
Dear Prem Rai “Bhai”,
As I am a 62 year old man, I have ventured to call you my “Bhai” assuming that you are younger than me. Please do not mind that.
Thanks for browsing our Magar Study Center website. We do appreciate your very positive inputs about the upliftment of the community as a whole. Yes, we should get away from this “advertisement” of the more successful members of the community. But I would like to attach one condition: the very few of those who have sacrificed “theirs’ today” for the lot of “others’ tomorrow” do need to be advertized!
Yes, I fully agree with you that education, education and education is what the marginalized communities sorely need today. Affirmative action? A loud affirmative yes also. But this is where our genes badly handicap us! I do hope I am proved wrong on this. But I base this from the fact that the Magars apparently preferred to be assimilated with the “invaders” in their Magrant; whereas the defeated Kirats of the Kathmandu valley defiantly left the Valley to form another Kirat Kingdom in the east! Our purpose has been fulfilled when you say that you were touched by the Subedar Saheb’s poem. The poem really wrenches, not only yours, but our deep insides as well! Many, many thanks for dropping into our website. We look forward to hearing from you in the future as well!
With kind regards,
SB Pun
Thu 17 may 2005
Sat 19 jun 2004
Ithaca, NY dear Magar Studies Center,
I am very impressed with your website.
I am Director of the Digital Himalaya project based at Cambridge and Cornell and was hoping that you might provide a link from your home page to our project page;
http://www.digitalhimalaya.com.? and perhaps also my home page where I have provided all my published papers for free download? http://wwwiias.nl/host/Himalaya/turin
All for now, best wishes with your excellent project.
Mark
Mark Turin Director, Digital Himalaya project
Department of Anthropology, Cornell University, 260 MC Grow Hall,
Ithaca, NY 14853-4601, USA, email: mt272@cornell.edu
url: www.digitalhimalaya.com and http://www.thdl.org
url personal: http://www.iias.nl/host/himalaya/turin
indra Thapa
dear sir,
Patta koke jhorle. So many thanks for all the committee members and all other general members of this magarstudiescenter. I am chairman of Tanahun Jilla Magar Sangh. I am very happy I visited our website www.magarstudiescenter.org
I feel garb on it. Next time I will sent detail of our District Committee and oour activities. on last jestha 29, 2061 central committee meeting held on Damaulee Gumasta Bhawan (Magar Samaj Bhawan). We are happy about the mobile meeting policy of central committee. Next meeting will held in Narayanghat, by which we get opportunity to meet central committee members.
I want suggest to this center: please keep our Magar Dhutou Lipi (Akkha Lipi) on home page. Moir? on next letter. Waiting for ur reply.
With regards
Indra Thapa Sinjali Magar, Nepal Magar Sangh
Jilla Samaiti, Tanahun, Phone: 065-560875
Rashmi thapa rashmi_namsu@hotmail.com
Respected magar bandu,
Please now I am doing study related with magar worship god and goddess (paramparagat magar pujari ra sanskriti dharma sambandhi sano study gardai chhu).? Tesko lagi support and suggestion dinu hola. I hope. Thanks.
Rashmi Thapa
4.17.2003
righteduco@consultant.com
Prabal Pulamee Magar
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am really pleased to browse through this website with lots of information belongs to ?Magar?. Now, I could see the good beginning to highlight the history, nature, traditional and culture of Magars from intellectual community of Magars. I am sure this website would be milestone in advancing the progress of Magar community in the coming years to come. I would like to see this website marketed among literate Magars. So, they could surely feel something to be proud of. I hope the forum of this magar studies center would be filled with lots of interesting subjects that would enriched our brains with valuable resources. Finally, I would like to heartily congratulate to the intellectual rings of Magar community to take the bold step Magars have ever taken in this Century.
BK Rana
Dear AIG sap,
I think our Magar Studies Center should have a copy of Kalhan?s Rajtarangini [edited by M.a. Stein, Principal, Oriental College of Lahore, first publication 1892 reprint 1960]. If you could find the book in Delhi-publisher Sri Manoharlal Jain, Prop M/S Munshiram Manorlal, NaiSadak, Delhi 6, India. Thank you.
Rana
Thu 17 may 2005
Dear Dev Thapa,
Welcome to the MSC. I am happy tht you have located us. Magars of Nepal speak three different Magar languages?1) Magar Dhut bhasa which is spoken in your area i.e. Gulmi, Palpa, Baglung etc, 2) Kham Magar bhasa-which is spoken in the Mid Western region like Rolpa, Rukum, Salyan etc, 3) Kaike?which is spoken in few wadass of Dolpa district only. As for your concern of learning Magar language, I would suggest you to read more books on Magar Dhut bhasa and dictionary. MSC has recently published Kham Magar Bhasa-Nepali-English dictionary written by Mr. Jukti Pun Magar. Mr. Chitra bahadiur Garbuja Magar associated with Namkhan Fera Magar Dhut Tatha Akkharika Pahakcha Gomastha (established in 2049 BS) is conducting Magar language classes in an out of Kathmandu valley. I would suggest you to contact Cap Yam Bahadur Burathoki the President of Nepal Magar Sangh, Phone 5551893 (O). All the best. Please feel free to write me.
Govind Prasad Thapa, PhD
Dev thapa <slipknotgrg@yahoo.com>
Hi All Magar Community!!!
Namaskar!
While surfing on the Internet, I suddenly got this site. I had heard a bit about Magar Studies Center before but could not have chance to visit and to write as well. But as the time pass day by day, my interest on learning Magar language is increasing. Now, I am realizing that without Magar Language, I feel incomplete being a son of Magar and a part of Magar Community. As I said, I am Darlami Magar from Gulmi. I never had chance to learn about Magar Language even my parents and neighbors, don?t speak our own language at all. Feeling Shame. So I am really? interested to learn about Magar language. But how I can do, I don?t know. If you (organization) have any such program, any books, brochures etc then let me know so that I can dive into Magar Community. Please reply me on my email address. I will be waiting your response.
Remain Thanks!!!
Darlami Dev Bahadur
18 mar 2005
tb_rana@ukmagar.com
Dear president Mr. Tharka Bahadure Ranajiu,
Namaskar. I visited your website as soon as I received a letter asking me to write an article for UK Magar Association. I visited your site very interesting. It made feel as if I were physically with you all in UK. I find you all to be very sensitive and energetic young Magars. I am proud of being a Magar.
We have our own Magar Studies Center now. The objectives of this Center are to conduct research works on various issue related with Magar and other people of Nepal. Please find some time to visit our site?your own site?site of all Magars. Recently the Center has published Kham Magar Pang-Nepali-English dictionary written by Mr. Jukti Pun Magar. I shall be sending some copies of it in near future.
I shall be in touch again soon. My congratulations and my best wishes for the success in your missions of unity, prosperity, and development of Magars.
Dr. Govind Prasad Thapa
Rajendra Rai<rajenrai@hotmail.ocm >
Mr President,
This is Rajendra Rai again. I am very glad that the little old book
finally reached to its destination. I hope other members will enjoy
reading the book as much as I did. I don’t know if anybody in your
office?still know that village and the characters.
We the Rais in America has now an organization called Kirat Rai society
of America. I am not involved in the organization but try to help when I
can. We try to celebrate our Sakewa Silli every year. Other than that we
have not done much. It is hard to get organized and bring people
together. Some are way smart to push their view on others and some are
way inactive to work? for community. Plus We have the culture of
‘breaking up’. I guess every organizations in Nepal suffers from this
problem.
When we organized our Sakewa Sili last year we had to deal with other
Nepalis who thought we are being ‘Jatibadi’. I explained to some of them
what it really is. Many still thinks we are communal. Now I feel like
‘who cares’.
Well I talked little too much here I guess.? Well. Plz keep in touch.
Rajendra Rai
Denver, Colorado.
Sat 5 mar 2005
Dear Raiji,
Many thanks for ?The Magars of Banyan Hill?. [I had received it on 23 feb ]Thanks for the person who delivered it. This book will remain in our library as souvenir from you and your family. I believe that your will always keep helping attitude for the upliftment of ethnic communities and dalits of Nepal which will ultimately help in the development of Nepal as a great nation fit to live for all. I appreciate your interest in our web site also. Thank you for the beautiful greeting card of Colorado. With best regards.
Dr Govind Prasad Thapa
Mar 15 2004
Namaste Dr. Thapa jiu,
Greetings from Rockies of Colorado. This is Rajendra Rai in Denver. How are you? I hope everything is alright with you.
This little research book ?Magars of Banyan Hill? is what I am I was talking about in my emails. I am glad to be able to send it to you through the help of my friend Raju Pun. I know, as a very high ranking police officer, you are really busy with your extraordinary duties and responsibilities specially at this critical moment of the country. Despite all that I hope you will have fun reading the book.
Please let me know if there is anything I can help you in future.
Thanks you for sparing your valuable time out of your busy schedule. We feel honored to be introduced to you.
Sincerely yours
Rajendra Rai
Denver Colorado, phone 303-882-7167
Mar 15 2004
______________________________
Sat 7 feb
Dear Rajendra ji,
Namaskar. Thanks for the mail once again. Well as a profession I am a policeman, holding a rank of Additional IGP in Nepal police HQ. currently I am Chief of CID (Crime InvestigationDepartment). We (Adivasi/Janajati) have had enough street campaigns for the recognition. Now we have to be more self-helping. I am just trying to help the government?s policies and programs bein implemented successfully. Yours contribution will always be expected in days to come. Thanks for your kind cooperation in advance. Please as your friend to give me a call when s/he is here in ktm.
Dr. Govind P. Thapa
Sat feb 7
That?s perfect. Thanks for your prompt reply. By the way, it would be nice if you could provide is more information about you and your field of work. I know Magars are quitre active in organizing their community and they are successful too.
Ranjendra
Thu 5 feb
Dear Rajendra ji,
Namaskar. Please note down the number. 4420541 (O), 5535024 (Res), 9851041459 (mobile). Thanks.
Dr. Govind P. Thapa
Mon feb 2, 2004
Namaste,
Actually I am in USA Colorado. I will send it though one of my Magar friend who is coming to Nepal in this Spring. I hope that works for you. Plz give me your number so when she gets there she can call you. Thank you.
Rajendra
Sat 31 jan 2004
Dear Rajendra ji,
Thanks for the mail. It is very kind of you to have written us. We shall be very grateful to receive the book as a gift from you. Please send it to us in the following address:
Dr. GP Thapa, Post Box 12451, Kathmandu,Nepal. We hope you will continue to study on the past history of Adivasi/Janajati. Thanks.
Gpthapa
Sat. 31 jan 2004
Namaste,
My name is Rajendra Rai. I am from East Nepal, Bhojpur. The reason I am emailing you is I have a book (a research paper) named ?Magars of Banyan Hill? written by an American professor back in 1960s. I guess intellectuals of Magar Studies know about this. I read this book and it is very beautiful. It gives a very picturesque description of Magar village, I don?t know exact place but somewhere around Kaski. After I read that book I tried to correspond with the write[r] and emailed to those Universities where he worked. Finally one of the university in Chicago official told me he died in the 90s. anyway, the reason I am telling all this is I liked the book and I guess all the Magar community will like it if they get chance to read. After I read that book, I wanted to go to that village and see the changes, I wanted to meet those people he mentioned in the book. Well it is truly a nice document for Magar community. If you are interested I can provide the book. Thanks.
Rajendra Rai
Mon 6 oct 2003
rabinpoon@hotmail.com
Hi This is Robin from Australia, Sydney?I am doing Bchellor ib Civil Engineering at the University of New Castle? Well what can I say?.that this web site Rocks man?.keep up the excellent work?sure to make any Magar proud ?.and I thank u for that ?.Pls free to contact me?.MAGARS ARE BACK?.THANKS.
Sat 28 jun 2003
danny_nir@yahoo.com
Hello & Respected Magar People,
My name is Danny Thapa, and I belong to the Razan Clan of Magar Tribe. As my family was settled down in India (Assam) so I have a very little idea about the origin of my people. I browse the site daily to know about my people and their history, but there is very little information available. I was happy to go through the site. Try to provide more information on the site. Ia m working in IT field in Bangalore, I will be ready to help you in technical related issue.
Dear everyone,
Thank you Dr. Thapa for your initiation and congratulation on having been able to start our own new website. Below are my preliminary remarks:
- What about Magar languages [Kham, Kaike and central Nepal Magar kura]? I am interested in Magar language(s). [Please check there in Kham Magar kura?Kusunda, Dravidian and Sanskrit links]. If possible, why not plan a cultural exchange /study visit to Kham province of Tibet? I am interested to be in the team. The ?China Study Centre? Kathmandu?Chairman Madan Regmi/Chinese Embassy may support. Madan Regmi has received substantial support from Chinese Embassy/Government. I may request from here Madan Regmi or some other in the China Study Centre to assist us.
- What about Kham and Kaike Magar cultures? Central/Eastern Nepal Magar culture is already ?diluted?. Have already lost anthropological flair and importance, however, it may also be viewed from ?Hinduistic? perspective.
- What about Magar folk-lore including ?Kaura Naach? etc? [Khem Thapa ji can support this section].
- What about ?Budha Magars of Rolpa Rukum? and their ancestral/historical importance, if any? Why not try to go into deep studies with the ?Magyars of Hungary? But, we should keep in mind intellectual/elite Hungarian do not seem prepared to view Magar-Magyar ?relations? of any importance.
- What about ?Bheja? of Palpa?the early Magar indigenous social management system (?) Surendra Rana ji, Yam Jhedi or Sangini Rana may elaborate this section.
- If we could announce an international seminar on ?Magars of Nepal: From Cultural Asian historical perspectives? and upload the program in the website. Invite scholars from other countries to participate in. we may invite them on their own expenses as many of such organizations in Europe do that. At least Hungarians and Mongolians might be interested in participating.
- Or, if we needed some money actually?I do hope UNICEF might help. We may ask Henning Karcher of UNDP also.
If we could upload some materials on above mentioned themes that might be of interest to international academic community also.
Please keep me posted, I will be sharing with you there.
Rana Gorkhali
Harvard University, USA
Mar 24 2003
Dear Dr. Govind Prasad Thapa,
I would like to know about the culture in general around the communities of the Nepal in specially the Magar community. I am a Colombian anthropologist that study in a Master Degree in Territory and Interculturality and have a Superior Degree in Social Sciences with specialization in Anthropology and history. With this background and research interest, I want to study and research about Magar community.
Rodrigo Martinez, Bolivia
Dec 1, 2001
Dear GP Thapaji,
ii. Magar community, planning for Change?: Thank you for sharing this thought provoking email with me. You have done a wonderful analysis with the analytical mind of a police officer. I fully agree with you that the Magar community should: a) identify the problems; b) analyze the causes; c) analyze possible solutions and then d) develop plans for actions. The Nepal Magar Sangh has done a commendable job in bringing together the Magar brethrens scattered all over Nepal and arousing general consciousness not only among ourselves but in other communities as well. The Magars have done a heroic job in the task of first the unification of Nepal with King Prithvi Narayan Shah and later in the Expansion of Nepal. History speaks volumes on this. We got totally marginalized during the Rana rule of 104 years through our prowess was recognized and used by the clever British. We got to disseminate this information to our Magar brethrens. Yes, we are totally bereft of political power and it is high time that as the third largest community of Nepal we should be proportionately represented in the ?government of the day.?..
With warm regards, Sant Bahadur Pun
Nov 18, 2001
Dear friends,
I have been receiving mails from many Magars, which have always been thought provoking. Although I don?t find time enough to ponder upon many issues of Magar Community, I find myself always attached to the impending threats and vast future opportunities. Please find some of the sentimental ideas on the basics of any organization and few tips for turning any such orgn an effective one. I hope it will help generate environment t consultation.
There are problems and reasons from being lagging behind in the race. I think our leaders and all responsible Magars must be sensitive and aware of the situation and the proper diagnosis of the situation. The process of problem solving could be: 1) Identify the key problems/discovery and valuing; 2) Analyze the causes/envisioning; 3) Analyzing the possible solutions/dialogue; and 4) Develop plan of actions/consulting the future. The professionals have a real task of going through these steps of development or improvement in the lot.
The one reason for our failure is for sure?the powerlessness. The politics is for power. Politics occurs when there are differentials in power. Political power is the capacity to affect the behavior of another person or group by the threat of some form of sanctions?sanctions can be both positive and negative. The sanctions can be exercised either by making promises (positive) or by the use of threats (negative). It, therefore, demands political power and skills to bargain and negotiate with others in order to influence others, or to protect their groups from any outside influence.? Making an attempt at changing the practices, policies and outputs of an orgn requires tact. Changing something depends upon the power of those attempting to do so and how the end result will fulfill their expectations from the system. This means any organization, including Magars?, seeking to bring changes must possess power?the political power.
All individuals tend to get power from the organization they work with, in order to maintain and develop their identity, self esteem and relative independence. Generally, members of any orgn have three basic choice: 1) to stay and contribute to the orgn, 2)to exit; 3) to stay and try to change the system through the ?voice?. Anyone who is really concerned with the causes of Magar community should not exit from the scene but help develop it in whatever way possible. That would be the real contribution. To be effective, all of us must be adept in the art of understanding, reading and analyzing organizations as living human being.
We must also remember that no community can survive all alone in this earth. Therefore, all our efforts must not be guided by negative approach of management. Ours approach should rather be nicely integrated with national interests of harmony,. Peace and security.
With best wishes.
Govind P. Thapa