Kaji () was a title and position used by nobility of Gorkha Kingdom (1559–1768) and Kingdom of Nepal between 1768 and 1846. During the era of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the primary high-ranking titles given to close advisors and commanders were Chautariya, Kaji, and Sardar.
Etymology Historian Mahesh Chandra Regmi suggests that Kaji is derived from Sanskrit word Karyi which meant functionary.
History Ganesh Pande was the first Kaji under King Dravya Shah of Gorkha Kingdom. He helped Dravya Shah to become King of Gorkha and was later appointed Kaji of Gorkha in 1559 A.D. Another significant Kaji of Gorkha was Kalu Pande born in the family of Ganesh Pande. He was son of Bhimraj Pande who was also a Kaji during the reign of King Nara Bhupal Shah. During Nara Bhupal Shah's reign, Kaji Biraj Thapa Magar also served as a highly important Gorkha Bhardar and the first Army Commander of Gorkha who successfully ascended the King to the throne. Kalu Pande led Gorkhalis in the Battle of Kirtipur. He had set up a base on Naikap, a hill on the valley's western rim, from where they were to mount their assaults on Kirtipur.Vansittart, Eden (1896). Notes on Nepal. Asian Educational Services. . Page 34. He was killed in the battle after being surrounded by enemy forces. Page 227. The ministers and officials of Kantipur Kingdom also had the title of Kaji. Following the defeat of Jayanta Rana Magar in 1744, Kashiram Thapa was a Kaji and army commander in the reign of King Jaya Prakash Malla.
Both as per Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and Dilli Raman Regmi, there were 4 Kajis forming the government in Nepal. In the rule of King Rana Bahadur Shah, 4 Kajis were appointed and were to work under the direction of King and Chautariya. The number of officers including Kajis changed after King Rana Bahadur abdicated in favour of his minor son Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah. During the reign of Bhimsen Thapa, there were inner and outer circle of Kajis who acted as decision-making body and military commander and governors respectively. Kaji along with Chautariya and Bada Hakim were appointed to run the administration as governors. No single family had full dominance in the position of inner circle of government. All Thapas, Pandes and Basnets held similar shares in the inner circle.
Mulkaji
Chief (Mul) Kaji was considered equivalent to Prime Minister of Nepal before King Rana Bahadur Shah created the position of Mukhtiyar in 1806 and carried executive powers of nation to completely control Nepalese administration. In 1794, King Rana Bahadur Shah came of age and appointed Kirtiman Singh Basnyat as Chief (Mul) Kaji among the newly appointed four Kajis though Damodar Pande was the most influential Kaji. Kirtiman had succeeded Abhiman Singh Basnyat as Chief Kaji. Kirtiman was secretly assassinated on 28 September 1801, by the supporters of Raj Rajeshwari Devi and his brother Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat, was then given the post of Chief (Mul) Kaji. Later Damodar Pande was appointed by Queen Rajrajeshwari as Chief Kaji. After the execution of Mulkaji Damodar Pande in March 1804, Ranajit Pande was appointed as Mulkaji (Chief Kaji) along with Bhimsen Thapa as second Kaji, Sher Bahadur Shah as Mul Chautariya and Ranganath Paudel as Raj Guru (Royal Preceptor).
List of people with title Kaji Biraj Thapa Magar (Kaji of Gorkha, the 'King Maker' and the first Chief of Gorkhali Army, 18th century) Jayant Rana Magar (Kaji and Gorkhali General for both the Gorkha Kingdom and Kantipur during the 18th century) Sarbajit Rana Magar (Mulkaji (Chief Kaji) and Prominent Minister in Nepal during the 18th century) Abhiman Singh Rana Magar (Kaji Mulki Dewan, General and Minister of Nepal) Bandhu Rana Magar (Kaji, brother of Mulkaji Sarbajit Rana Magar, key courtier and military strategist who served under Queen Regent Rajendra Laxmi during the crucial phases of Nepal's unification campaigns, 18th century) Deva Dutta Thapa Magar (Kaji, influential military commander who held high-ranking political status and managed critical state affairs under Queen Regent Rajendra Laxmi in the 18th century) Bhimsen Thapa (1st Prime Minister of Nepal-Kaji/Dewan during the 19th century) Swarup Singh Karki (2nd Prime Minister of Nepal-Kaji/Dewan) Abhiman Singh Basnet (Mulkaji) Dhokal Singh Basnyat (Kaji) Bakhtawar Singh Basnyat (Mulkaji) Karbir Khatri (Kaji), entourage of first Nepalese mission to Europe Shiva Narayan Khatri (Kaji) kajiraj Chitrodhan Narsingh Gurung ("Kajiraj" title given by Shah kings, friend of PN Shah and fight with 78 kilo sword by one hand against traitors and predators, first kaji to start "Digvijay Pratha") Suryaman Singh Gurung (kaji, fought with Amar Singh Thapa for khas and Gorkha Unity) Narsingh Gurung (kaji, taksariya later kaji by Rana Bahadur Shah) Kaji Jhagal Singh Gurung (Thakur Saheb /Thaku title given by PN Shah for killing Parshuram Thapa, many padey Basnyats Mahara Mahat Kunwar Rayamajhi Khadka Karki Kalikote Budhathoki Raskoti Bam pal Sen Thapa for betraying and trying to defeat PN Shah, title of "One man army" "Son of Kali", weapon/khukuri given by PN Shah to kill betrayals of Gorkha kingdom alone by himself, Cousion of Kajiraj Chitrodhan Singh Gurung) Bansha Raj Gurung (kaji fought against British with Balbhadra kunwar, Amar Singh Thapa, Bhakti Thapa, Ujir Singh Thapa) Banshu Gurung (Kaji, first Sardar later Kaji, first warrior to fight with Khukuri against Captain kinloch in Sindhuli Gadhi with Birbhadra Upadhyaya, Harsha Pant) Kajiraj Bhobeswor Singh Gurung (MulKaji, first appointed him then later another to fought with Captain Kinloch then immediately come back in Gorkha for another region Palpa, later known as "Mul-Jimmawal" or kendriya "Mul-Jimmawal khalak" of Tanahun District in Jaspur and Lakuribot. Kaji Banshu Gurung and Kaji Bhobeswor Singh Gurung were In-Laws. Both are from different clans "Yoza" and "Ghotane" ) Kehar Singh Basnyat (Kaji) Kirtiman Singh Basnyat (Mulkaji) Shivaram Singh Basnyat (Senapati Kaji) Gagan Singh Bhandari (Kaji) Ram Krishna Kunwar (Kaji Jethabudha) Bal Narsingh Kunwar (Kaji) Jung Bahadur Kunwar (Kaji, later Prime Minister) Damodar Pande (Mulkaji) Kalu Pande (Kaji of Gorkha) Bamsa Raj Pande (Dewan Kaji) Rana Jang Pande (Kaji later Mukhtiyar) Gajianesh Pandey (Kaji of Gorkha) Kaji Manik Lal Rajbhandari (Bada Kaji) Amar Singh Thapa (Sanukaji) Amar Singh Thapa Chhetri (Badakaji) Bhimsen Thapa (Kaji later Mukhtiyar) Mathabarsingh Thapa (Kaji later Mukhtiyar) Nain Singh Thapa (Kaji General) Ranabir Singh Thapa (Kaji General) Ranadhoj Thapa (Kaji) Kashiram Thapa (Kaji of Kantipur)
List of people with name Kaji Kaji was also used as given name and middle name. Notable Nepalese people with first name and middle name Kaji:
Chin Kaji Shrestha, Nepalese politician Kaji Man Samsohang, Nepalese politician Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Nepalese politician Nati Kaji, Nepalese singer Purna Kaji Tamrakar, Nepalese merchant and journalist Raju Kaji Shakya, Nepalese footballer and coach
See also Mukhtiyar Senapati Sardar Kaji Pratha, a social practice of offering Kaji title to Thakuri, Gurung, Magar, khas caste
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