Nepali language

Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language. It is the official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken by a significant amount of Bhutanese and some Burmese people. In India, Nepali is listed in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. It has official status in the Indian state of Sikkim and in West Bengal's Darjeeling district. Nepali developed in proximity to a number of Indo-Aryan languages, most notably the Pahari languages and Magahi, and shows Sanskrit influences. However, owing to Nepal's geographical area, it has also been influenced by Tibeto-Burman languages. Nepali is mainly differentiated from Central Pahari, both in grammar and vocabulary, by Tibeto-Burman idioms owing to close contact with the respective language group. Nepali language shares 40% lexical similarity with the Bengali language. British Resident at Kathmandu Brian Houghton Hodgson has observed that it is, in eight-tenths of its vocables, substantially Hindi.

Historically, the language was first called the Khas language (Khas kurā), then Gorkhali or Gurkhali (language of the Gorkha Kingdom) before the term Nepali was coined. Other names include Parbatiya ("mountain language", identified with the Parbatiya people of Nepal) and Dzongkha Lhotshammikha ("Southern Language", spoken by the Lhotshampas of Bhutan). It is also known as Khe language among the Newar people and Pahari language among Madhesi and Tharus.

Nepal

Nepal (ⁱ/nəˈpɔːl/;Nepali: नेपाल [neˈpal]), officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country located in South Asia. With an area of 147,181 square kilometres (56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 27 million, Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by area and the 41st most populous country. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by China and to the south, east, and west by India. Nepal is separated from Bangladesh by the narrow Indian Siliguri Corridor and from Bhutan by the Indian state of Sikkim. Kathmandu is the nation's capital city and largest metropolis.

The mountainous north of Nepal has eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest (Nepali: सगरमाथा Sagarmāthā). More than 250 peaks over 20,000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level are located in Nepal. The southern Terai region is fertile and humid.

Hinduism is practiced by about 81.3% of Nepalis, the highest percentage of any country. Buddhism is linked historically with Nepal and is practiced by 9% of its people, followed by Islam at 4.4%, Kiratism 3.1%, Christianity 1.4%, and animism 0.4%. A large portion of the population, especially in the hill region, may identify themselves as both Hindu and Buddhist, which can be attributed to the syncretic nature of both faiths in Nepal.

Nepal (surname)

'Nepal'(नेपाल) is a surname used by Khas Brahmin people of Nepal. They are the Aryans who have Persian ancestry. Nepal's are the family descendents of Rishi or sage Ghritakaushik which is also their Gotras. Nepal are said to be Kanyakubja Brahmin which fall under category Pancha-Gauda (worldwide classification) which means 'Northern Brahmin' and under Upadhyaya Brahmin in Nepalese classification of Brahmin.

Origin of Nepal as a surname

Before origin of surname Nepal, Nepals used to write their surname as Pandit or Upadhyaya. During the regime of 'Malla' King around 12th century in Khas Empire (present western Nepal) Pandit Jayabidyadhar was an advisor to the royal throne and administrator of Empire. In Khas empire there was tradition of honoring the people who dedicated their life for welfare of nation by providing them ownership rights of certain regions of Empire. Also they used to be called by name of that region. This system was known as 'Birtabarichalan' or 'Birtapratha' Following the tradition on 5th Magh, 1192 Bikram sambat (Nepalese Year) Malla king 'Akshay' Son of King 'Jitaridev' honored 2nd son of Bhagavan Bhaskar Pandit (Royal Priest) 'Jayabidyadhar Pandit' by providing him ownership of 3 different parts of empire named 'Nepa','Khaan', Barala (now lies in Western Nepal) as he dedicated his life for political and economic development empire and settling the trade dispute with Tibet. These 3 different regions were divided among sons of Jayabidyadhar Pandit where ownership of "Nepa" was granted to 1st son Sarwagyadhar Nepal. Nepa (name of region) was added to suffix aalaya (Nepa+aalaya) and then Nepal surname was introduced which was firstly used by 'Sarwagyadhar Nepal' and followed by his generations.

Nepal (disambiguation)

Nepal is a republic in Asia. The word may also refer to: