THE KHAS OF DARJEELING AND SIKKIM: HISTORY, FAITH, AND CULTURE

Manika Thapa

THE KHAS OF DARJEELING AND SIKKIM: HISTORY, FAITH, AND CULTURE

This paper investigates the history, beliefs, and cultural practices of the Khas community in the Eastern Himalayan region, particularly of Darjeeling and Sikkim. Historically, the community traces its roots to the western Himalayan region of Nepal, and later extended to the Darjeeling Hills and Sikkim in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Their movement was driven by political uncertainties in Nepal and the growing demand for labour in colonial India. Over a period of time, the Khas people, comprising primarily Bahun and Chettri groups with Brahmin and Kshatriya status, adapted to the indigenous traditions of Darjeeling and Sikkim while preserving their Vedic religious foundations. The study further investigates the engagement of the Khas people with reformist religious movement, such as the 'Pranami Sampradaya' and its promotion of syncretic practices that reflect the plural religious milieu of the Himalayas. This research examines the linguistic shift of the Khas from Khas Kura to modern Nepali, analyzing oral traditions, festivals, rituals, and social status within the community. It also explores how caste, kinship, and language have continued to shape the life and identity of the Khas community while negotiating modernity, state, and identity politics. The study also scrutinizes the active involvement of the Khas Community in regional ethno-political movements, including 'Gorkhaland Movement' and political representation in Sikkim. Ultimately, the paper analyses how the Khas balance traditions with modernity and how their dynamic cultural identity connects past with present experiences linking local and diasporic contexts.

Volume 13 Issue 1, January-2025

Pages : h864-h871