Historically, one of the Jumli Malla king in medieval time made his younger brother Dharma Malla chief of army staffs entitling him as MAHAT (Meaning great). Afterwards, his descendants started writing Mahat as their surnames. Like other Khasa chhetris such as Thapa, Basnyat, Karki, Khadka, Rawat etc. Mahats are also Masta, local non-vedic deity of Karnali region, worshipers. Among twelve Mastas K
haapar Masta is their kuldevata. Since Khasa Chhetris are referred by the place they originated in the past, Mahats are also called as Kalikote Mahat. Mahats are an integral part of the Nepalese Army from the time of Shah kings. Even today, many Mahats are serving in Nepal Army in different designations, both high officers and non-officer. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 4240 people living in 799 individual households. Most prominent population of Mahat can be seen in Mahat gaon of Jumla. Notable settlements of Mahats have been found in Jumla [Mahat Village Development Committee (Now falls under Chandan Nath Municipality)] Rukum, Parbat, Myagdi, Pokhara (Mahat gauda), Nuwakot (Kabilas and Kholagau), Tanahun, Kabhre (Pasthali), Bhaktapur, Lalitpur (Lele, Satdobato), Makwanpur (Hetauda), Charikot, and Ilam (Sangrumba, Hattidhunga, Khammang, Ilam Municipality, Kholagaun). Mahats living in Lele of Lalitpur are believed to settle there from Valley Malla era, after khasa attack on Kathmandu led by Khas king Jitari Malla. Sporadically, they are also residing in places like Jhapa (Mechinagar/ Kakarbhitta, Sanischare, Damak), Sunsari (Dharan, Paanmara), and outside Nepal in West Bengal (Bagrakot) and Assam in India. NOTABLE MAHATS:-
Narayan Singh Mahat : Judge (During the regime of King Rajendra Bikram Shah he served as a chief judge in Prince Ranendra poison case against Bhimsen Thapa)
Mahendra Bahadur Mahat (Nuwakot) : Chief Justice, Supreme court
Shailendra Bahadur Mahat (Nuwakot) : Colonel of Nepal Army, WW II veteran in Burma and recipient of the prestigious British Military Cross, hero and field commander of operation against Khampa insurgents. Haris Chandra Mahat (Jumla) : Minister, Nepal Government
Jitendra Mahat Abhilashi (Nuwakot) : Known widely by his famous radio dramas. He was basically a radio drama writer and actor. Played various role in Nepali Cinemas. Has inspired many new comers to the stage. Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat (Nuwakot): Leader of Nepali Congress, ex-Finance Minister-Nepal Government
Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat (Nuwakot): Leader of Nepali Congress, ex-Energy Minister-Nepal Government
Dilli Bahadur Mahat (Jumla) : Peace-State Minister, Nepal Government
Uttam Mahat (Siraha): Memeber of Parliament
Keshav Raj Mahat (Kabhre) : General, Nepal Army
Baldev Raj Mahat (Kabhre) :General, Nepal Army
Prem Raja Mahat (Tanahu): One of the famous folk singer of Nepal
Ramesh Raj Mahat (Kabhre):General, Nepal Army
Gyanendra Bikram Mahat (Parbat): DIG, Nepal Police
Narayan Mahat (Kabhre) :Deputy Managing Director Nepal Telecome
Sunil kumar mahat (Lele ) :Founder mahat samaj
Chandra Kala Kiran Mahat (Dolakha ) :First lady Secretary, Nepal government
Tej Bahadur Singh Mahat(Parbat) Founder of community based forest system.
