Rajdhoves

In Mythology

The history of origin of the Rajdhov is a mystery.^[2][3] There are different sayings about the origin of Rajdhov People. It is heard that Father of Parshuram (Said by a Brahmin Teacher, 2016) was assassinated by a Chhetry king in Treta Yuga (in Hindu mythology regime of King Ram of Ayodhya). After that assassination, Parshuram wanted to take revenge and promised that he will extinguish all the clans of Chhetri from the world. He started to kill all the Chhetris searching one by one. During his mission of annihilating Chhetris, inorder to save life from Parshuram some of scared people started to lie that they are not Chhetris. To prove that they were not Chhetri, some of them hide their blooded sword into soil. Blood is called RAJ(Rakta in Sanskrit) and to hide in soil is called DHOP(bury under soil). Hence those Chhetri who did the act was called Rajdhop. Later it was pronounced as Rajdhov. Some foetuses of pregnant Chhetri women even though they lied, again become Chhetri after their birth. This is the myth got in Rajdhov society(NIRS, 2006). Panipat is a place located at Punjab region of India, now in Hariyana. It is 97 km north of Delhi and co-ordinates are 29.39⁰ N and 76.97⁰ E. In history, battle was fought thrice at that place. It was happened in 1526 AD, 1556 AD and 1761 AD. In first battle, Mughal Akabar fought against Delhi Sultan Ibrahim Lodi. In the second battle, Mughal Akabar fought against the Hindu ruler Hemu. In third battle, Durrani Empire of Afghanistan fought against Maratha Empire. In second battle, although Hemu’s force was greater in number, they lose the battle against Akabar. After the battle, Hemu was beheaded and his skull was sent to Kabul to display outside the Delhi Darwaja. His torso was sent to Delhi and hanged outside Purana Quila on a "gibbet": to intimidate the Hindu people. Bairam Khan ordered mass executions of Hindus which continued for many years. Hemu's relatives were caught and many of them beheaded. Minarets were made of their skulls at different places. Hemu's 82-year-old father who had escaped to Alwar was traced after six months, and was beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam.

During the third battle of Panipat (1761 AD) again the Afghans (Muslims) repeated the same massacre. Mass of surrendered Maratha soldiers were handcuffed and then murdered, their heads chopped off by Afghans. The Afghan cavalry and pikemen ran wild through the streets of Panipat, killing tens of thousands of Maratha soldiers and civilians. The women and children seeking refuge in streets of Panipat were hounded back in Afghan camps as slaves. Children over 14 were beheaded before their own mothers and sisters. Afghan officers who had lost their kin in battle were permitted to carry out massacres of 'infidel' Hindus the next day also, in Panipat and the surrounding area. They arranged victory mounds of severed heads outside their camps. According to the single best eye-witness chronicle- the bakhar by Shuja-ud-Daula's Diwan Kashi Raj, about 40,000 Maratha prisoners were slaughtered in cold blood - the day after the battle. According to Mr. Hamilton of Bombay Gazette about half a million Marathi people was present there in Panipat town and he gives a figure of 70,000 prisoners as executed by Afghans. Many of the fleeing Maratha women jumped into the Panipat wells rather than risk rape and dishonor (NIRS, 2006).

In fact, second and third battle of Panipat was religious battle. Muslims fought against Hindus. It was the campaign of extinction of Chhetri. Mogri, Sultan Khan, Nurjam, Mogal continued the campaign. During the regime of King Maharana Pratap Singh, the Sultan of Delhi Samsudin Tublak Haque accelerated the campaign and started to search and destroy mission for killing each and every Chhetris. As per Rajdhov mythology, there were 18 MAN (MAN is a unit of weight and 1 MAN = 40 kg) JANAI (a sacred thread of Hindu wear by Chhetri and Brahman) was collected from the dead body of Chhetris (Field Survey, 2016).To save one’s life some of Chhetri escaped away from the war to the far northern forest and hide by the side of Koshi River. But the Muslim soldiers followed them and found in warrior uniform with blooded sword. The enemy soldier asked them that either you are Chhetri or not. If you are not Chhetri then we will leave you otherwise kill you. As Chhetris were scared of the enemy, they lied that they are not Chhetri. Then they asked that which cast do you belong to but Hindu soldiers could not reply (David, 1997). Then the Muslim soldiers could not believe that they are not Chhetri and asked for a proof. They said that if you break/remove your JANAI and clean the blood of your sword with water immediately then we will believe that you are not a Chhetri and will not kill you. The frightened Chhetris have no other option for their survival and they did the same violating the rule and tradition of Chhetri. As they washed the blood from sword they started to call Rajdhov (blood is called RAJ and to wash is called DHOV. Later, it started to pronounce as Rajdhov (Field Survey, 2016).

During that war many Chhetris were escaped and chose the northern belt which lies in Nepal. But they hid in scattered way so that Muslim warriors could not find them. Later they could not meet each other as there were no means of communication at that time. A few people hid in the forest near Koshi River which now lies in Saptari. As there were forest, fertile land and water of Koshi River available at that area, they started growing crops and raising livestock to sustain their life. Later on agricultural farming and livestock farming become their profession. It is heard that escaped Chhetris scattered in the northern Forest (now southern belt of Nepal) out of which only 18 people settled in this area. They mixed in the communities around the area. The 18 people were recognized as the 18 titles for this caste. They established in the community by these names and sustain their life anyway (Bhattarai, 1994).

In Fact

David,1997 has described about Rajdhov caste in page no. 164 is as follows: Rajdhov caste people are densely populated in northern Mithila region and in Terai region of Nepal. Although Suffix Dhovi is added in the name of this caste, they are not Dhovi. As per older local sayings, some afraid people from religious fight of Parshuram had hid in Dhovi family to save their life. As long time they stayed in Dhovi circle, they forget their main practice but they could not become Dhovi as per their inner culture and inherent feelings. Finally, they become famous caste with agriculture/farming cultural values in society. There are so many clans (Thar/ Titles) of this caste. The proof of being warrior is still alive. There is a tradition of putting bow and arrow in a ceremony called CHHATHIHAR ( celebration of childbirth after on 6th day ). So, in conclusion this caste has been transformed from Chhetris. There are so many brave figures of the community. Out of them Lakhay Madar is most popular. He was born in 17th century in Bhardah, Saptari. During his time, whatever he spoke proved right. Whatever, he told for some one that became true (Bhattarai, 1994). His death was also mysterious. He left the world along with his body in front of his followers during milking the cow. He was accepted as the "King of His Caste". Nowadays, also the Rajdhoves chants the slogan “Lakhai Baba Ki Jay” ( Nepali : लखाइ बाबा की जय ). Now, he is accepted as the God of the caste.

14 numbers of ancestors of Rajdhoves came from forest area of Nepal and settled in Madhesh and Koshi River area. Out of them 6 settled in Bhardah, 4 in Basaha, Bhaptiyahi and 4 in Dholi (Mahadevmanth, Saharsha, Bihar) and become famous classes of Rajdhov (Bhattarai, 1994).

Detail Status In Nepal

^[4]

• Total Population Of Nepal = 2 64 94 504
• Total Population = 13 422 ( 0.05% of Nepal)
• Male = 6 794(50.62%)
• Female = 6 628(49.38%)
• Rural Population = 12 721(94.78%)
• Urban Population = 701(5.22%)
• Terai = 13 210(98.42%)
• Hill = 201(1.50%)
• Himalaya = 11(0.08%)

Settlement In Nepal

^[5] 1. Saptari

         = Kataiya
            Labkatol, Kataiya
         = Bhardah  
            Bhardah, Koshi Barrage
         = Rajbiraj
            Kharsal tol,rajdevi
            tol, tetrigachi,
            lanka tol, lilja
            tol, himalaya tol,
            pokharel tol
         = 2 No. Joginiyaa
            sSakardahi
         = Portaha 
            Bhaluwa
         = Kamalpur 
            Bhagni maleth
         = Kanchanpur 
            Ladbedhi
         = Bathanaha
            Dhikuli, laugitol
         = Pakri
            Sonara
         = Parasbani
            Chimti
         = Mahdeba
            Mahdeba
         = Theliya
            Gorpar
         = Sitapur
            Itharba
         = Terhauta
            Birendrabazaar
         = Jamuni Madhepura
            Bajitpur, Chhapki,
            Bhathaul
         = Nakti Raypur
            Harirawa,Rupani
         = Simraha Singyaun
            Kankatta, belha
         = Banaula
            Banaula, ranjitpur
         = Bhuthihi
            Hariraha, basantpur
         = Kabilasha
            Madhubani, madhopur
         = Manraja
            Fulhara
         = Pato
            Kataiya, fatehpur
         = Fattepur
            Gangajali
         = Ghoghanpur
            Quater maleth
         = Jagatpur
            Kabilasha
         = Dharampur
            Rupnagar
         = Bakdhuwa
            Mahulibazar
         = Madhwapur
            Ari
         = Hariharpur
            Matigadha
         = Malepur
            Kurhuriya
         = Arnaha
            Basanpatti
         = Fakira
            Inuruwa
         = Jhutki
            Kajratol
         = Khojpur
            Kharchuiya
         = Kalyanpur
            Kalyanpur
         = Mohnpur
            Kathauna
         = Bhangaha
            Debghar
         = Sambhunath
            Sirakjari, narhaiya
            , kathmandutol
         = Khoksar Prabha
            Khoriya
         = Basbalpur
            Bodrahat
         = Banauli
            Banauli
         = Bode Barsain
            Bode barsain

2. Sunsari

         = Kusaha
            Paschim kusha
         = Bha. si.
            Jhumka, tanmuna

3. Morang

         = Biratnagar
            Thalaha

4. Jhapa

         = Korobari
            Aamgachi

5. Siraha

         = Pokarvinda
            Parsa
         = Sothiyaeen 
            Patna
         = Bhawanipur
            Madhopur

6. Udaypur

         = Triyuga
            Deuri

7. Dhanusa

         = Janakpur Dham

8. Parsa

         = Birgunj

9. Chitwan

         = Bharatpur
         = Narayanghat

10. Kathmandu

         = New baneshwor,
           shantinagar,
           Balkhu,
           Gaushala

11. Lalitpur

         = Dhapakhel,
           bhaisenpati,
           lagankhel, sanepa

12. Bhaktapur

         = Balkot, dadhikot