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Rai (indian)





PRINCELY TITLE

Rai was a title of honour for certain rulers in Northern India.
  • It was the style since 1887 (earlier: Thakur ) in Sangri .

  • Rais (?Rai) was the style of the ruler of Sohawal till 1911 (since then Raja ).



COURT TITLES

In the major Islamic state of Hyderabad , it was the lowest of the aristocratic ranks (in the Mughal Padshah court's Persian tradition) for Hindu retainers of the ruling Nizam , under '' Raja , Raja Bahadur,'' ''Raja Rai Bahadur'', '''''Raja Rai-i-Rayan Bahadur''''', ''Vant, Maharaja'' and (the highest) '' Maharaja Bahadur ''.

The equivalent of Rai for Muslim retainers was the style Khan , under the higher ranks, in ascending order: Khan Bahadur, Nawab, Jang, Daula, Mulk, Umara and Jah.

When obtaining a higher rank, the nobleman would generally keep following it with the lower one(s), in most cases preceded by a personal (poetic) title.


COMPOUND TITLES

Apart from the above-mentioned uses of Rai or combinations for ennobled Hindu court retainers, there also were also titles of honour for Hindus, awarded with a decoration during the ''raj'' (British colonial rule):
  • Rai Bahadur

  • Rai Sahib



DERIVED TITLES

Raikat: ruler.


SOURCES AND REFERENCES