KC (surname)

"Khatri (Nepal)" redirects here. For the Kshatriya caste of Punjab, India of the same name, see Khatri.

"Khatri Chhetri" redirects here. For other uses, see Khatri.

Further information: Khatri (surname)

KC (or K.C, K.C.) is a surname of medieval origin anglicized as an abbreviation of Khatri Chhetri in Nepal.^[1][2] 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.^[2]

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.^[2]

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.^[5] As per this, the children born from the marriage of a 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 Brahmin man with a Khas/Chhetri woman in their ascendant patriline.^[5][1]

Khatris have played a vital role in the unification of Kingdom of Nepal and thereafter as administrators, governors, political leaders and military commanders.^[6] Large number of Khatri commanders became governors (Kaji) of various regions during the unification of Nepal by King Prithvi Narayan Shah; Kaji Ram Khatri, Kaji Bhim Khatri, Kaji Bir khatri and Kaji Hari Khatri each governed newly consolidated Kingdom of Palpa, regions surrounding Gorkha and Kathmandu valley, central Nepal and hilly regions of eastern Nepal respectively.^[7] Between 1768 and 1814, Chandrabhan Khatri, Ranabir Khatri, Shiva Narayan Khatri, Gaja Simha Khatri, Damu Khatri and Vamsha Raj Khatri were appointed as the Chief of administration and military, called Sardars, by king Prithvi Narayan Shah and subsequent Shah kings after the merging of Kingdom of Gorkha into the unified Kingdom of Nepal.^[8] During the Rana dynasty rule, Kaji Bishnu Khatri was appointed to govern hill regions of eastern Nepal, Kaji Tribhuvan Khatri governed Terai in a close proximity to British India and Kaji Bhairav Khatri governed hill regions of the western frontier.^[7]

In 1850 AD, Khatris were among the first Nepalese to travel to England and France as a part of a royal mission.^[9][10] Three Khatri commanders 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][11] 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-time minister of Nepal and Senior Nepali Congress Leader
• Kul Bahadur KC, late Nepalese Poet and laureate
• Chitra Bahadur K.C., former deputy prime minister of Nepal and chairman of the Rashtriya Jana Morcha Party
• Dr. Govinda K.C., Nepalese orthopedic surgeon and philanthropic activist
• Karishma K.C. (Manandhar), one of the most prominent Nepalese actress^[12][13]
• Bhuwan K.C., Nepalese actor, director, producer, singer and filmmaker
• Nayan Bahadur Khatri, longest serving late Chief Justice of Nepal
• Lieutenant Lal Singh Khatri, first Nepalese to study English and an entourage of Jung Bahadur Rana's visit to Britain and France^[11]
• Jyoti KC, first Nepalese-American astronaut and Commander crew of NASA's Sirius mission^[14][15]
• Atithi Gautam K. C, youngest singer in the world to release a professional solo album
• Hira Singh Khatri, first director of Nepalese Film industry with 1964's movie Aama
• Anmol K.C., actor and producer
• Sugarika KC, former Miss Nepal World^[16]
• Ashma KC, Miss Nepal World^[17]
• Sumana KC, Miss Nepal Earth ^[18]
• Roshni Khatri, actress and former Miss Nepal Earth^[19]
• Dikshya KC, former Mrs. Nepal World^[20]
• Renu KC, late mother of Nepalese movie superstar Rajesh Hamal^[21][22]
• Avantika Khatri, Indian Bollywood actress, producer, and director
• Nandita K.C., Nepalese actress
• Bhavna Khatri, Indian Bollywood actress
• Sita KC, Nepalese singer
• Sulakshana Khatri, Indian Bollywood actress
• Uma Devi Khatri, late Indian Bollywood actress
• Madan Khatri Chhetri (KC), Royal Nepal army Lieutenant Colonel glorified as "Captain Madan KC" in the Hollywood movie Everest^[23][24]
• Dr. Khadga KC, Rector of Tribhuvan University^[25]
• 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^[26][27]
• Guru Maharaj Narayan Gautam Khatri aka "Swami Hamsananda", Hindu saint and founder of Swargadwari Temple complex of Nepal in the 20th century^[28][29]
• Kul Prasad KC, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province of Nepal
• Karan KC, Nepalese cricketer at Nepal national cricket team
• Jit Bahadur K.C., first Nepalese athlete to win an international medal in sports (1971)^[30]
• Dr. Kedar Narsingh KC, former director of the National Tuberculosis Center and President of Nepal Medical Association^[31]
• Surya Bahadur KC, late industrialist and Parliamentarian of Nepal; founder of Machhapuchhre Bank Ltd, Rara Noodle & 'KC Group Nepal' ^[32][33]
• Shreedhar Khatri, Nepalese Ambassador to the United States^[34]
• Sarala KC, president of Nepal Nursing Council^[35]
• Kamal Khatri, Nepalese singer
• Nilam K.C., former Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens of Nepal
• Sushant KC, Nepalese singer and songwriter^[36][37]
• Sher Bahadur KC, former president of Nepal Bar Association^[38]
• Krishna Khatri, Nepalese football player of national women's team
• Jagat Bahadur KC, Vice-Chancellor of Purbanchal University^[39]
• Rajendra Kumar KC, former minister of Nepal and leader of Nepali Congress Party ^[40]
• Dr. Badri KC, president of Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA)^[41]
• 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 ^[42]
• Neelam KC, president of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF-Nepal) ^[43]
• Phupu Lhamu Khatri (born 1996), Nepalese Olympic judoka
• Buddhi Bahadur KC, executive director of state-owned Radio Nepal^[44]
• Hira Chandra KC, State Minister of Health and Population of Nepal
• Bedraj KC, Vice-Chancellor of Pokhara University^[45]
• Bal Bahadur K.C., former minister of Nepal
• Sunil KC, chief executive officer (CEO) of NMB Bank Nepal^[46]
• Kiran KC, prominent comedian and actor of Nepal
• Ramesh Kumar KC, former chairman of Agricultural Development Bank of Nepal.^[47]
• Manoj Kumar KC, band member of 1974 AD
• Dr. Fatta Bahadur KC, former chairman of National Insurance Board of Nepal (Rastriya Beema Sansthan)^[48]
• Dhruba KC, former coach of Nepal national football team
• Roshan KC, former chairman of Machhapuchhre Bank Ltd^[33]
• 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^[49]
• Sandhya KC, Nepalese actress^[50]
• Sushil KC, national football player of Nepal
• Phuspa Ram KC, former Head of Armed Police Force (Nepal)^[51]
• Gyanu K.C., former Parliamentarian of Nepal

Fictional characters

• Fenisha Khatri, in the British television series Casualty^[52]
• Captain Madan KC, in the Hollywood movie Everest based on real life story of Lieutenant Colonel Madan Khatri Chhetri (KC)^[53]