Roper Lethbridge

“ Such an institution, provided due regard were paid to Indian sentiments and prejudices, would be immensely popular among the Chiefs and notables of India ; and a very considerable revenue might yearly be raised, with the greatest goodwill on the part of those who would pay it, from a moderate duty, similar to the one levied in the United Kingdom, on the authorised use of hereditary cognisances or armorial bearings. At present an Indian noble is justly proud of a cognisance that has been honourably borne for centuries by his ancestors, and would prefer to use it with full legal authority ”

“ The curious Marumakkatayam law of inheritance which prevails in Malabar and the extreme south of India under which the succession is to the offspring of the female members of the family, among whom the next eldest to the Rájá is the heir-apparent makes it very fitting that the rank of an heir-apparent, in those parts of India, should be marked by special titles. The heir-apparent to His Highness the Mahárájá of Travancore is often called by Europeans the First Prince of Travancore; but his proper courtesy title is "the Elaya Rájá." ”

“ The Vikár has always taken an active share in the administration of His Highness's government, and is one of the most experienced and accomplished statesmen in India. He is also famous as the first sportsman in India; and in this capacity has always been most generous in providing the finest tiger-shooting for many distinguished visitors. On the occasion of the visit of the Viceroy to Hyderabad in November 1892, the Vikár was entrusted by His Highness the Nizám with the duty of meeting His Excellency and bringing him into Hyderabad. ”

“ The title of Mahárájá Saheb Mehrban Doston is said to have been conferred on the Rájá's ancestors by one of the Mughal Emperors of Delhi. Vináyakadevu, who is described as a Rájput of the Chandravansa or Lunar race, is said to have married the daughter of one of the Gajapati Kings of Orissa, who conferred on him this extensive Zamindari, and subsequently, to confirm his authority over the wild tribes of the mountainous districts of Jaipur, he took as his second wife the only surviving Princess of the ancient Sila Vansa dynasty. ”

“ The results of this neglect are already deplorable, and must ere long receive the attention of the Government of India. Indian titles are officially defined to be, either by grant from Government, i.e. a new creation by Her Imperial Majesty the Queen Empress through her representative; or "by descent, or by well-established usage." The Government alone can be the judge of the validity of claims, and of their relative strength, in the case of titles acquired by "descent" or by "well-established usage." ”

“ But the chief difficulty has been owing to the fact that India stands alone among civilised nations in possessing no special Department, College, or Chancery, charged with the duty—a very necessary duty from the point of view alike of expediency and of national dignity—of recording and certifying national honours and titles, of regulating their conferment, and of controlling their devolution where hereditary. ”

“ The title of Khan was conferred, as a personal distinction, on 2oth May 1870, and that of Shams-ul-Ulama, for his eminence in oriental learning, on 16th February 1887, on the occasion of the Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign. The latter honour entitles him to take rank in Darbar immediately after titular Nawabs. He is the grandson of the late Nawab Shaikh Ghulam Hasan Khan, Jdgirddr of Basi. In addition to his Arabic scholarship, which is of the very highest order, he is a profound mathematician, and has a considerable knowledge of physical science. ”

“ Under his descendants the estate was largely increased in area. The late Raja of Venkatagiri, Kummara Yachama Nayudu, was born in 1832; and was created a Companion of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India. He was succeeded by the present Raja, who was appointed a Member of the Legislative Council of Madras in 1888, and again in 1890. In 1888 he was created a Knight Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire. His title of Panch-Hdzdr Mansabddr was of Mughal origin, indicating the military command of 5000. The title of Raja of Venkatagiri was recognised as hereditary in 1890. ”

“ But no rank below that of Rájá for Hindus, or Nawáb for Muhammadans, is now created hereditary.
Rai (or Rao in Southern and Western India) for Hindus, and Khán for Muhammadans, are the first or least considerable titles conferred by the British Government. These, with or without the affix of Saheb, which adds to the dignity, are very commonly ex officio titles, held by the subordinate officers of civil departments. Next above Rai Saheb, Rao Saheb, or Khán Saheb comes the title Rai Bahádur, Rao Bahádur, or Khán Bahadur ”

“ He died in 1876, when campaigning in Panghul; and was succeeded by his son, who at the early age of four had received from the Nizám the titles of Ba-ud-din Khán, Imám Jang, Khurshid-ud-daulá, and Khurshid-ul-Mulk. He succeeded to all the honours of his father, and became a famous scholar and savant, receiving at various times the titles of Teg Jang, Shams-ud-daulá, Shams-ul-Mulk, Shams-ul-Umará, Bahádur, and in 1827 the title of Amir-i-Kabir. In 1849 he became for a short time Prime Minister of Hyderabad. ”

“ Has been a distinguished officer of the 2nd and 3rd Baluchi Regiments, with an honour- able service of thirty -two years, having received the three medals of the Persian, Afghan, and Egyptian wars. With the title of Sarddr Bahddur he had the honour of receiving the Gold Star at the hands of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Empress ; and he also received the Egyptian Star from His Highness the Khedive of Egypt. Was one of Lord Roberts's officers in the famous march from Kabul to Kandahar, for which he received the Star. He served also in the China war. Is married, and has issue one daughter. ”

“ In the case of a Mahárájá Bahádur, or other noble of that rank, the khilat and sanad are presented, in full Darbár, by the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or other Chief Civil Officer of the Province; or if they are unable to be present, by the Commissioner of the Division at the sudder-station (or capital) .
To the Darbár are invited all the civil and military officers available, also all the Indian notables and gentry of the neighbourhood. ”

“ Tukaji Rao was only eleven years old at the date of his accession, and was the second son of Bhao Holkar. In 1852 he attained his majority, and was invested with the full management of the State. In 1857 the Indore army mutinied, and besieged the British Resident, Sir Henry Durand, at Indore, who was exposed to much difficulty and danger in taking off the women and children to a place of safety at Bhopal. ”

“ The chair of the Presiding Officer is placed in the middle, and that of the nobleman to be installed on his right. The brother, son, and any of the relatives of the nobleman who may be present, occupy places, according to their station, in the right-hand line.
The chairs for all the public functionaries are placed, according to their rank, on the left hand of the Presiding Officer's chair.
The local notables and gentry occupy chairs, also according to their rank, on the right hand of the Presiding Officer.
A company of soldiers is drawn up in front of the stairs, as a Guard of Honour. ”

“ Then, too, there is endless confusion in the banners, badges, and devices that are borne, either by the custom of the country or by personal assumption, by various families and individuals. Tod's learned work on The Annals of The Annals of Rájásthán [1] taught us long ago that badges and family emblems were as characteristic of Rajput chivalry as of the feudalism of Europe—appealing to similar sentiments, and similarly useful for historical and genealogical purposes. ”

“ The Editor has received the most kind and valuable assistance from all those Indian officials who have charge of matters relating to Dignities and Titles; but he is alone responsible for the contents of The Golden Book of India. Much of the information has been derived from the Princes, Noblemen, and Gentlemen whose names are included herein. ”

“ Belongs to a Khatri family of Sikh Sardars, descended from Hazuri Singh, whose eldest son, Sardar Dharam Singh, was the grandfather of Sardar Natha Singh, father of the late Sardar Dewa Singh of Dhanaura. The younger brothers of Sardar Dharam Singh were the Sardars Karam Singh and Sada Singh, both of whom made considerable conquests in the Punjab the last-named being the conqueror of Dhanaura and the neighbouring territory, which descended to the posterity of his elder brother, Sardar Dharam Singh. ”

“ In population it may be compared with the Grand Duchies of Hesse or Baden, being more populous than the former, and less so than the latter. His Highness maintains a military force of 3231 cavalry, 6128 infantry, and 65 guns. He is entitled to a salute of 21 guns within the limits of Indore territory, and 19 guns elsewhere.
⁠Residence.—Indore, Central India. ”

“ An Asaf (Solomon's Wazir, according to the Muhammadans) in dignity. Very great. The greatest of the nobles. Most powerful. Brave ; a hero ; at the 'end of a name a title = the English "Honourable." Desdi (Mar/^Truler of a province. Brave in war. Offspring of a Bardr (a Jat tribe. The Raja" of Faridkot is head of the tribe Griffin) . Sirmur^ a crowned head. Lady ; queen ; title of Mughal ladies. Lord of lords. The Governor of Shiraz holds this title in Persia. ”

“ Succeeded to the gadi 26th October 1831. Is a co-sharer with Rahim Bakhsh in the Chiefship of this State, which contains a population of 716, chiefly Hindus. The Chiefs are descendants of Rajan Khan, brother of the Pmdari leader Chitu (see Jabria Bhil and Khajuria) , who received from the British Government, on the settlement of Malwa, the/^Vj of Piplianagar, Khajuria, Jabria Bhil, and Jabria. On his death these jdgirs were made perpetual, and divided among his five sons.
Residence. Piplianagar, Bhopdl, Central India. ”