Rajdhoves

Rajdhob or Rajdhov is an indigenous group of people based mainly in Terai of Nepal. In general, they are categorized as Madhesi.^[1]

Rajdhov or Rajdhob
Abbreviation	RD
Classification	Other Pure Castes
Veda	Rigveda
Devak	Lakhai Baba
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Hindi and Maithili
Country	Nepal and India
Populated states	Supaul and Saptari
Region	Bihar of India and Province No. 2 of Nepal
Ethnicity	Madhesi
Population	17000+
Victory weapon	Bow and Arrow
Endogamous	Monogamy by marriage
Notable members	C. K. Raut
Status	Indigenous
Website	www.facebook.com/groups/166701086777926

Demography

The total Rajdhob population in Nepal is estimated to be 15,391 among them 7,849 males and 7,542 females. Saptari district of Madhesh Province has 13,423 Rajdhob people which is the highest of all.^[2]

Surnames

1. Mandal/Madar(Nepali: मण्डल/मड़र)
   Not to be confused with Dhanuk.
   ^{[note 1][citation needed]}
2. Khadga(Nepali: खड्गा)
   Not to be confused with Khadka.
3. Raut(Nepali: राउत)
4. Majhi(Nepali: माझी)
   Not to be confused with Mallaah.
5. Singh
6. Adhikari(Nepali: अधिकारी)
   Not to be confused with Adhikari.
7. Das(Nepali: दास)
   Not to be confused with Bania (caste).
8. Laugi(Nepali: लौगी)
9. Sant(Nepali: संत)
10. Ishar(Nepali: ईसर)
11. Kapair(Nepali: कापैर)
12. Bishwas(Nepali: विश्वास)
13. Pramani(Nepali: प्रमाणी)
14. Paik(Nepali: पाईक)
15. Parihast(Nepali: परिहस्त)
16. Padey(Nepali: पाड़े)
17. Paikra(Nepali: पैकरा)
18. Gami(Nepali: गामी)

Inclusiveness

As of 18 December 2019, only three of total Rajdhoves are in Nepal Army.^[3]

Language

Mainly they speak Maithili and Angika. Nepali, Bhojpuri, Hindi and English are the preferable secondary language.^{[citation needed]}

Events

1. Honour programme of Satya Narayan Mandal in DDC, Saptari meeting hall, Rajbiraj was organized by the Rajdhob Federation India/Nepal on 16 December 2017. This is the honorific moment after his win in the election of Provincial Assembly of Province No. 2.^[4]

Rajdhov Diwas Programme

2. Rajdhov Diwas: Rajdhov people organize a meeting day every year on the day of Saraswati Puja. They spend some time together and discuss the issues for the upliftment of Rajdhoves.^[5][6]

Poem

मैन्जनी, देबानगिरी करैत आबि रहल मडरजी,
संगमे राउत, माझी, खडगा, अधिकारी

ईशर, कापैर, गामी स विचारैत पैकराजी,
सन्त, दास, बिश्वास साथ लौगी करे लौगीदारी

पाँडे, पाइक, परिहस्त, प्रमाणी बाँकी,
नाबोल भेल पैरा, १८ मे एक पद्वविधारी

            -Yugal Kishor Rajdhov

Notable persons

1. Birendra Majhi - Mayor of Hanumannagar Kankalini Municipality, Saptari district ^[7]
2. Satya Narayan Mandal – CPNUML leader, former youth and sports minister of Nepal and first minister from Rajdhoves.^[8]
3. CK Raut - President of Janamat Party Nepal^[9]
4. Prakash Mani Raut - National President of Backward Castes Association, Nepal^[10]
5. Sameer Satyarth - Director at Raidonnews Media Group^[11]

Notes

1. The surname Mandal has been used by other castes like Dhanuk, Khatbe, Mahishya, Gangai, Kewat and even Kayastha in Nepal and India respectively. Bengali uses Mondal instead Mandal.