ORIGIN OF THARUS

Tharus are one of the earliest inhabitants of Nepal. There are many controversies about the origin of Tharus. Scholars have not been able to come at definite & clear conclusion. Regarding the origin of Tharus there are many arguments, stories & claims made by different scholars.

 Some scholars have derived Tharu origin through etymologies & some tried to trace the origin through alleged. Historians tell that Tharus are originated from India.  Tharus migrated from Thar Desert of India to Nepal in 13 to 15 century. Tharus got name as Tharus since they migrated from Desert Thar. Another logic about Tharu origin is that while settling down in Terai , people started to make plain lands cutting trees , slopping hilltops & made it land suitable for cultivation & good settlement; in Nepali as people living in mountains i.e ‘pahad’ are called ‘pahadis’ , similarly as people started living in plain lands which is called ‘samathar’ in Nepali, people living in ‘samathar’ lands get called Tharus which seems influenced from word ‘Thar’.

Likewise some stories tell that Tharus are originated from Mongolians , kirati , Arya race . But these stories don’t hold true fact. Many writers & researchers have criticized this saying.

Nowadays many new facts are being discussed on topic of Tharu origin .Recent researchers in Nepal have started saying that Tharus are of Nepalese origin. They originated in Nepal around the Kapilvastu & are found all over Nepal. Many researchers have claimed that Tharus are the genera of Buddha.