Mahat

Mahat
—  Village development committee  —
Mahat Location in Nepal
Coordinates: 28°32′N 82°39′E / 28.53°N 82.65°E / 28.53; 82.65Coordinates: 28°32′N 82°39′E / 28.53°N 82.65°E / 28.53; 82.65
Country	Nepal
Zone	Rapti Zone
District	Rukum District
Population (1991)
- Total	4,240
Time zone	Nepal Time (UTC+5:45)

Mahat is ekthariya Chhetri surname of Nepal having Khasa root. Historically, one of the Jumli Malla king in medieval time made his younger brother Dharma Malla chief of army staffs entitling him as MAHAT (meaning great). Afterwards, his descendants started writing Mahat as their surnames. Like other Khasa chhetris such as Thapa, Basnyat, Karki, Khadka, Rawat etc. Mahats are also Masta, local non-vedic deity of Karnali region, worshipers. Among twelve Mastas Khaapar Masta is their kuldevata. Since Khasa Chhetris are referred by the place they originated in the past, Mahats are also called as Kalikote Mahat. Mahats are an integral part of the Nepalese Army from the time of Shah kings. Even today, many Mahats are serving in Nepal Army in different designations, both high officers and non-officer.

At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 4240 people living in 799 individual households. Most prominent population of Mahat can be seen in Mahat gaon of Jumla. Notable settlements of Mahats have been found in Jumla [Mahat Village Development Committee (Now falls under Chandan Nath Municipality)] Rukum, Parbat, Myagdi, Pokhara (Mahat gauda), Nuwakot (Kabilas and Kholagau), Tanahun, Kabhre (Pasthali), Bhaktapur, Lalitpur (Lele, Satdobato), Makwanpur (Hetauda), Charikot, and Ilam (Sangrumba, Ilam municipality, Kholagaun). Mahats living in Lele of Lalitpur are believed to settle there from Valley Malla era, after khasa attack on Kathmandu led by Jumli Khas king Punya Malla. Sporadically, they are also residing in places like Jhapa (Mechinagar, Sanischare, Damak), Sunsari (Dharan, Paanmara), and outside Nepal in West Bengal (Bagrakot) and Assam in India.

NOTABLE MAHATS

Narayan Singh Mahat : Judge (During the regime of King Rajendra Bikram Shah he served as a chief judge in Prince Ranendra poison case against Bhimsen Thapa)

Mahendra Bahadur Mahat (Nuwakot) : Chief Justice, Supreme court

Shailendra Bahadur Mahat (Nuwakot) : Colonel of Nepal Army, WW II veteran in Burma and recipient of the British Military Cross, hero and field commander of anoperation against Khampa insurgents.

Haris Chandra Mahat (Jumla) : Minister

Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat (Nuwakot): Leader of Nepali Congress, ex-Finance Minister-Nepal Government

Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat (Nuwakot): Leader of Nepali Congress, ex-Energy Minister-Nepal Government

Keshav Raj Mahat (Kabhre)Panauti 13 Pasthali: General, Nepal Army

Baldev Raj Mahat (Kabhre)Panauti 13 Pasthali :General, Nepal Army

Prem Raja Mahat (Tanahu): One of the famous folk singer of Nepal

Ramesh Raj Mahat (Kabhre)panauti 13 pasthali :General, Nepal Army

Narayan Mahat (Kabre) Panauti 13 Pasthali:Deputy Managing Director Nepal Telecom

Er.Upaj Mahat (Kabre) panauti 13 Pasthali:Engineer Nepal Telecom

References