Khas people

Khas people (Nepali: खस) are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group who speak the Khas language (now called the Nepali language) in present-day Nepal and Kumaon region of India. They were also known as Parbattias or Paharis. The term "Khas" has now become obsolete, as the Khas people have adopted other identities such as Bahun, Chhetri, Thakuri, Badi people, Sarki, Sanyasi, Damai, Kami and Gaine.

The origin of the Khas people is uncertain. They have been connected to the Khasas mentioned in the ancient Hindu literature, as well as the medieval Khasa Malla kingdom. The Khas people appear to have entered present-day Nepal from the north-west. It is likely that they absorbed people from different ethnic groups during this immigration. Therefore, genetically, Khas is not a well-defined group.

Traditionally, the Khas were divided into "Khas Brahmins" and "Khas Rajputs" (also called Chhetri). In the Kumaon region, the Khas Brahmins and Khas Rajputs had a lower social status than the other Brahmins and Rajputs. However, in the present-day western Nepal, they had the same status as the other Brahmins and Rajputs, possibly as a result of their political power in the Khasa Malla kingdom.

Until the 19th century, the Gorkhali referred to their country as Khas des ("Khas country"). As they annexed the various neighbouring countries (such as Newar of the Newar people) to the Gorkha kingdom, the terms such as "Khas" and "Newar" ceased to be used as the names of countries. The 1854 legal code (Muluki Ain), promulgated by the Nepali Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana, no longer referred to "Khas" as a country, rather as a jāt (species or community) within the Gorkha kingdom.

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