This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(June 2022) |
Raiis a historical title of royalty and nobility in theIndian subcontinentused by rulers and chieftains of manyprincely states.It is derived fromRaja(king). The Marathi/Telugu variant Rai was used as a substitute to King.
WhenBaburconqueredHindustan,he found many principalities which had been subordinated by the Emperor of Hindustan and innumerable others which never have been effectively subdued. WhenAkbarascended to the throne, Hindustan had numerous autonomous and semiautonomous rulers. These hereditary rulers were known by various names such asRais,Rajas,Ranas,andRawals.[1]
During Mughal rule, while conferring a title on aHinduchief the word Raja or Rai was added to the name of person. The Mughals seems to have inherited the practice of bestowing titles from the Sultans ofDelhi.[2]The appellation "Rai" is primarily applied to men, while for women the appellation "Rani"is used.
DuringBritish Rule,Rai SahibandRai Bahadurwere titles of honour given for service of visionary leadership to the nation. They were given immense power too and were equivalent to autonomous native rulers within their feudal estates
Other variations ofRaiareRoy,RayandRao.These are also used as titles byKolis,[3][4]Bhumihar Brahmins,[5]Karanas,KayasthasandYadavs.Rai was the title used by theZamindars(landowners) of EasternUttar PradeshandBiharduring the colonial rule after the Permanent settlement system introduced inBengal-Bihar and the state ofBenaras.
The descendants of these earlier rulers, chieftains and leaders still use these titles as patronymics, but these titles although having social acceptance and prestige as per local customs, holds no recognition and privilege in the eye of law after the abolition of titles in 1971 from the Indian Constitution.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Khan, Ahsan Raza (1977).Chieftains in the Mughal Empire during the reign of Akbar.Simla.
- ^Phul, R.K.Armies of Great Mughal.pp. 198–199.
- ^Gafoor, Khaja Abdul (1955).Social Services in Hyderabad.New Delhi,India,Asia:Citizen Press. pp. 17: The figures ofKoliandRai Koliare included for the first time as the tribe in the C. P. andBeraris shown as an aboriginal tribe though muchHinduised,and it has not previously been classed as aboriginal inHyderabad.The Hyderabad and Berar Koli inter marry.
- ^Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1920).Shivaji and His Times.New Delhi, India:Longmans, Green and Company.pp. 221: FATE OF KOLI RAJAHS.... We may conclude the history of the Koli Rajahs here.... His son escaped, and joining Dhara Rai Koli ( another dispossessed chief ) took to brigandage, causing considerable loss to Maratha territory.
- ^KS Singh (1998).India's Communities vol 6.OUP. p. 471.ISBN978-0-19-563354-2.
In Bihar, the Babhan are also known as Bhumihar Brahman. They have titles such as Rai, Singh, Pandey, Tiwari, Chaudhry and Thakur.
- ^"The Gazette of India, 1971".1971.
Bibliography
edit- WorldStatesmen – India
- Jain, Vijay K. (2015),Acarya Samantabhadra's Svayambhustotra: Adoration of The Twenty-four Tirthankara,Vikalp Printers,ISBN978-81-903639-7-6,
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. - "Sheikhupura Chamber of Commerce & Industry".scci.net.pk.Retrieved2015-11-15.
- Pakistan; Bhatti, R.M.Z.; Mushtaq, M.I. (2013).Federal & Provincial the Minor Acts: Civil & Criminal.Retrieved2015-11-15.