Doti (), also known as Dotigarh (डोटीगढ़) or the Far-Western Development Region was a development region of Nepal situated between River Kali bordering Kumaon division of Uttarakhand, India in the west and the Ghaghara River river on the east.[Prof.Dr. Jay Raj pant wrote "Far-Western region of Nepal is called Doti Culturally " : In History of Doti Kingdom (2013)] Doti was one of eight different princely states of the Katyuri kings.
Districts
Doti covered the nine districts of modern Sudurpashchim Province combined into two zones. They are:
Kailali and Kanchanpur District are in the Terai and the rest are mountainous.
Etymology
The name Doti is believed to have originated from the word Doab which means the land area between the confluence of two rivers.
Other view is that the original name of Doti was = + or ( meaning Hindu God and meaning the place of re-creation or the place of attaining a meditation in Sanskrit).[R.D Prabhas Chataut (2001) ; Dotyali Dictionary]
History
Doti was an
ancient kingdom in far western region of
Nepal which was formed after the disintegration of the
Katyuri Kings Monarchy of
Kumaon Kingdom around the 13th century.
[Dr.Y.S Kathoch, A New History of Uttarakhand; On Katyuri Dynasty "Around,13th Century Katyuri Dynasty established in Ranachulihat was broken into many sections" Doti was among them]
Doti was one of eight different princely states Katyuri Kingdom was divided into Eight for their eight Prince and became different independent Kingdom.
Later on, the whole land between Ramganga on the west (Kumaon division) and the Ghaghara River on the east came under the Raikas after the origin of Raikas of Katyuri Kings in Doti.[Advin T. Atkinson; Gazetteer Hindi Edition (2003); He wrote (Page 274) Whole territory to the east of Ram gang was belongs to Raikas during the late 16th century.]
"Brahma Dev Mandi" at Kanchanpur District of Mahakali Zone was established by Katyuri king Brahma Dev.[Dr. Madam Chandra Bhatt; A New History of Uttarakhand (2006): " Champawat ke Chand Raja.]
Raikas of Doti
Niranjan Malla Dev was the founder of Doti
Monarchy around the 13th century after the fall of the
Katyuri Kings Kingdom. He was the son of Last Katyuris of united
Katyuri Kings kingdom.
[Dr. Y.S
Kathoch; A New History of Uttarakhand(2006).Founder of Doti was Niranjan Mall Dev..]
Kings of Doti were called Raikas (also Rainka Maharaj).[Badri Datt Pandey ; History of Kumaun (1937)] Later on Raikas, after defeating the Khas Malla of Karnali Zone, were able to establish a strong Raika Kingdom in Far Western Region of Nepal (Doti) . So far, the historical evidences[..Sources of these historical evidence are taken from the books mentioned in the references.] of following Raikas have been discovered:
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Niranjan Malla Dev (Founder of Doti Kingdom)
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Nagi Malla (1238)
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Ripu Malla (1279)
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Nirai Pal (1353): maybe of Askot
[Prof. Maheshwor Prasad Joshi; "The Raikas of Kumaon and Western Nepal : The apigraphical survey", JOURNAL OF INDOLOGICAL STUDY, Haryana Sahitya Academy (1998);.page 68..Nirai Pal of Askot had captured Sira because of political vacuum in Sira...] his historical evidence of 1354 A.D has been found in Almora too[Advin T. Atkinson ; Himalayan Gazetteer; ( Translated by Ramesh Thapaliyal ) Hindi Edition (2003) ;..Page 267..An old stone has found on the hills of Almora in which name Niraipal and 1348 written.]
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Nag Malla (1384)
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Dhir Malla (1400)
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Ripu Malla (1410)
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Anand Malla (1430)
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Balinarayan Malla: not known
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Sansar Malla (1442)
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Kalyan Malla (1443)
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Suratan Malla (1478)
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Kriti Malla (1482)
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Prithivi Malla (1488)
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Medini Jay Malla (1512)
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Ashok Malla (1517)
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Raj Malla (1539)
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Arjun Malla/Shahi: not known but he was ruling Sira as Malla and Doti as Shahi
[Dr. Ram Singh; A New History of Uttarakhand(2006).Mall Raikas of Sira..]
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Bhupati Malla/Shahi (1558)
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Sagaram Shahi (1567)
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Hari Malla/Shahi (1581): last Raikas King of Sira
[Advin T. Atkinson ; Himalayan Gazetteer; ( Translated by Ramesh Thapaliyal ) Hindi Edition (2003) ;..Page 285..Rudra Chand had captured whole territory east of kaliriver in 1581 along with Sira..]
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Rudra Shahi (1630)
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Vikram Shahi (1642)
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Mandhata Shahi (1671)
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Raghunath Shahi (1690)
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Hari Shahi (1720)
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Hrishna Shahi (1760)
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Deep Shahi (1785),
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Prithivi pati Shahi (1790): he had fought against Nepali Ruler (Gorkhali Ruler) with British in 1814 A.D.
[Advin T
]
Atkinson ; Himalayan Gazetteer Hindi Edition translated by Ramesh Thapaliyal (2003);;..Ousted King of Doti Prithivipati Shah offered his help in war with Nepal which seemed very significant
Mogul invasion on Far-Western Nepal
During the period of
Akbar's rule in the 16th century, the
Mughal Empire had attacked the Raikas of Doti. They invaded Ajemeru, capital of the Raika Kingdom. Ajemeru is now in Dadeldhura District of far western region of
Nepal. Hussain Khan, army chief of Akbar residing in
Lucknow had led the attack. According to `Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni (c. 1540 - 1615), Indo-Persian historian during
Mughal Empire,
Mughal Army chief of
Lucknow, Hussain Khan, lured by the wealth and treasures of the kingdom of the Raikas, wanted to plunder the state, this being the motive behind the assault; he managed to capture some cities and after his successful campaign he returned to
Lucknow.
Gorkha Invasion
The historic place of war between the Doti Kingdom and Nepal (
Gorkha Kingdom) during the period of Gorkha Expansion in 1790, according to the history of Nepal, is
Nari-Dang which lies on the bank of the
Seti River and Dumrakot was the base of the Doti Kingdom during the fighting against the Gorkhalis.
In the war with the Gorkhalis, the Doti kingdom was defeated and Doteli King fled to
Pilibhit.
Khairgarh-Singhai State
Raja Deep Shah of Surajbanshi clan was expelled from Nepal in 1790 A.D and on arriving to Terai of Oudh (now Lakhimpur Kheri District of Uttar Pradesh of India) he established Khairgarh-Singhai State in Khairigarh under British India.
[http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/k/khairigarh.]
Kanchanpur Praganna (now the District of Kaillali and Kanchanpur of Nepal) was also the parts of his State or
Zamindari. He succeeded in defeating the Banjaras rulers of Khairigarh and establishing himself not only in that Pargana but also in parts of Bhur
Geography
The Far-Western Development Region has
Karnali Province to the east,
Uttar Pradesh (
India) to the south,
Uttarakhand (
India) to the west and the
Tibet (People's Republic of China) to the north.
The highest mountain in the region is the Api Peak, with high; it is in the Darchula district. Other high mountain is Saipal, high, in the Bajhang District district.
The most important rivers in the Far-Western Development Region are the Seti River and the Mahakali River rivers; both rivers are Tributary of the Ghaghara river.
Demographics
It is the smallest Development Region of Nepal with an area of and also with the lowest population with 2,552,517 people living there;
its population density is the second lowest of all the regions, with 130.6 persons/km
2. Main ethnic group are
Khas peopleChhetri making total population of 76%.
Language and culture
The major local languages are
Dotiyali and
Kumaoni language each spoken respectively by and people according to the 2011 census.
Inhabitants of two terai districts Kailali District and Kanchanpur District speak different languages. Rana-tharu and Dangaura-tharu speaks their own language. Language spoken by Rana-tharus and Dangaura-tharu speak variousTharu languages.
Traditional dance and songs Chholiya, Bhada, Jhora Chhapeli, Rung Culture of Rung people (Sauka), Baira song, Deuda song, Chait and Jagar are part of the culture. Jagar and Chait tales of bravery is most important culture in Doti since Katyuri period. Chait tales about bravery of Senapati Piri Bohara (Doti) is singing in Gaura Parva . Jhusia Damai of Baskot of Baitadi District was famous Jagar singer. The major festivals of Doti are mainly Gora (Gamra), Holi, Bishpati, Harela, Raksha Bandhan, Dashain, Makar Sankranti, and others.
See also
Further reading
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A New History of Uttarakhand Y. S. Kathoch
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Dotiyali language
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Dotyali Dictionary by R. Chattaut
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Stars of Seti by Punya Nepal
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History of Karnali Zone by R. Subedi
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