Kaji (Nepali: काजी) was a title and position used by nobility of Gorkha Kingdom (1559–1768) and Kingdom of Nepal between 1768 and 1846. Many other contemporary kingdoms used the same title for their ministers.
Etymology
Historian Mahesh Chandra Regmi suggests that Kaji is derived from Sanskrit word Karyi which meant functionary.[1]
History
Ganesh Pande was the first Kaji under King Dravya Shah of Gorkha Kingdom.[2] He helped Dravya Shah to become King of Gorkha and was later appointed Kaji of Gorkha[note 1] in 1559 A.D.[3][4] Another significant Kaji of Gorkha was Kalu Pande born in the family of Ganesh Pande.[1] He was son of Bhimraj Pande who was also a Kaji during the reign of King Nara Bhupal Shah.[1] 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.[5] He was killed in the battle after being surrounded by enemy forces.[6][7] The ministers and officials of Kantipur Kingdom also had the title of Kaji. Kashiram Thapa was a Kaji and army commander in the reign of King Jaya Prakash Malla.[8][9]
Both as per Francis Buchanan-Hamilton and Dilli Raman Regmi, there were 4 Kajis forming the government in Nepal.[10] In the rule of King Rana Bahadur Shah, 4 Kajis were appointed and were to work under the direction of King and Chautariya.[11] The number of officers including Kajis changed after King Rana Bahadur abdicated in favour of his minor son Girvan Yuddha Bikram Shah.[10] 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.[12] Kaji along with Chautariya and Bada Hakim were appointed to run the administration as governors.[13] 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.[14][15][page needed]