Page:The Golden Book of India.djvu/15

Rh Majesty has, in a few very special cases, authorised a change of title among the Feudatories; as, for instance, when a Thákur Saheb has been authorised to use the higher title of Mahárájá Bahádur. But, generally speaking, when it is wished to confer honour on a ruling prince, it is conferred, not by a change in the ancient title of chiefship, but by appointment to one or other of the classes of the Orders of the Star of India or the Indian Empire by the addition of descriptive titles by an increase in the number of guns authorised for the salute, such increase being usually a personal one or by the conferment of Honorary military rank in the Imperial army.

In British India there is now a well-established order and gradation of nobility; in which creations and promotions are made by Her Gracious Majesty's representative, the Viceroy, just as similar creations and promotions are made in England. In the higher ranks of this nobility, an additional step or grade in each rank is made by the custom, unknown as yet in England, of making the creation or promotion in some cases personal, in others hereditary. 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; and this is the title though it has sometimes also been made simply an ex officio title which is usually first conferred on Indian gentlemen who have distinguished themselves by their munificence, by their patriotism, or in any other way. Rai Bahádur is commonly used as the Hindu title in the Bengal Presidency, Rao Bahádur as that in the west and south of India, and Khán Bahádur for Muhammadans and Parsis; and this rank seems exactly analogous to that of Knight Bachelor in England.

Above this rank is the title of Rájá (with the feminine Ráni) for Hindus, Nawáb (with the feminine Begam) for Muhammadans; and this may be hereditary or personal a remark which applies to all the higher ranks. Next higher is a Rájá Bahádur, or a Nawáb Bahádur. Higher again, for Hindus, is the title of Mahárájá, and above that is Mahárájá Bahádur. It is one of the many anomalies of the Indian system as at present existing, that there do not seem to be any Muhammadan analogies to these last two highest Hindu titles, so that a Nawáb Bahádur may be the equal either of a Rájá Bahádur, or of a Mahárájá Bahádur, according to circumstance. These seem to be very analogous to the various steps in the British Peerage.