Chat Bhat

Introduction to Chat Bhat

Chat Bhat was a Government Officer who had to collect taxes and Land Revenue from Each Village. They traveled from One Gram to another Gram or even Tala or Drang and actually collected Taxes from the Government. They were prevalent in India as well as Nepal.

In the context of Nepal, Chat Bhat was prohibited from entering many Local Administrations and therefore, which resulted in various inconveniences. They could have possibly been Part of the Kuther Tribunal and acted as the Government Officers of that Tribunal. They could have also collaborated with Sulli, Ligwal, Mapchowk, Bhattadhikaran, etc.

Many Historians have been in conflict about the actual basis or meaning of Chat Bhat. They were said to have been the Police Officers of the Ancient Period. It is now deemed false. In one of the Fort Villages of Ancient Nepal, they had been prevented from entering it. It isn’t logical to prevent Police Officers from entering any fort. Therefore, they weren’t actually Police Officers but Tax Collectors of the Local Administration. Dandanayak and Sarvadandanayak were the actual Police Officers.

Many Inscriptions have actually mentioned the Functions and other Characteristics of Chat Bhat. One of the Inscriptions of King Shivadeva Second where the Taxation of Bhag, Bhog, and Kar have been exempted and Chat Bhat have been prevented from entering the Local Levels.

Not only that, they were prohibited from entering many other Villages and Areas of Ancient Nepal such as :

1. Changu
2. Yangalahiti
3. Deupatan
4. Yagbahal
5. Balambu
6. Anantalingeshwor

Chat Bhat was prohibited from entering those Villages or Grams that had contributed to the Central Administration or had pleased the King or De-Facto Ruler of the Period. The Villages could have also pleased Sarvadandanayak or Mahapratihar to get this privilege.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Chat Bhat was a plain administrative Position in Nepal and India. In the Ancient Period, they were responsible for collecting taxes and land revenue from various villages. Despite being considered police officers by some Historians, it is now known that they were tax collectors of the local administration.