Thakore
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Thakore,Thakar, Thakrar, Thakhor etc., is an Indian feudal and colonial title in Hindi. A Thikana is the state or (more often) estate of a Thakur. A Thakurani is the wife of a Thakur.
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[edit] Princely ruler titles
Since feudal times Thakur, meaning "lord," was the relatively lower-ranking Hindi title (below Raja) for the hereditary ruler of a (usually minor) princely state usually born of rajput clan bloodlines, particularly in Western India.
Thakur is the usual rendition of "Thakore" in northern and central parts of India. The Bengali form is Thakur, but in its anglacized version is often written as Tāgore.
[edit] Nominal Thakores
The following Non-salute states (and probably several others) were ruled by a Thakur, in some cases later promoted to a higher rank (confusing, but sources don't always specify whether this is done on a personal basis or actually a permanent upgrading of the state's status):
- Belsan; since 1858 Rana
- Baraundha Pathar Kachhar; since 1908 Raja
- Bija
- Kawardha
- Khaneti
- Kharsawan (till 1857 an estate)
- Kunihar
- Mahlog=Mahilog
- Maihar; since 1869 Raja
- Sangri; since 1887 Rai
- Tharoch; since 1929 Rana
- Wadagam
[edit] Compound titles
Thakore Sahibs ('Lord Thakore') was loftier, and indeed used till their accession to independent India by the rulers of four salute states (the official elite amongst the British Crown's Indian 'vassals'; no 'simple' Thakore included), be it only of the lowest class in British India, 'merely' 9-guns, the only one that didn't qualify them for the predicate 'His Highness' (all four in the western state of Gujarat):
Curiously, both elements were maintained in the full style of the Maharaja of Morvi (11 guns, so HH; originally held as primogeniture by the Heir of the Maharaja of Cutch, independent after a coup there in 1697-98), Maharaja Thakore Shri (personal name) Sahib Bahadur, while neither term was used for other members of his dynasty; last incumbent since 1926 Thakur Sahib Maharaja
In the following salute states, a higher title was assumed before India's independence:
- Bhavnagar (in Gujarat; preceded by the states Sejakpur, Umrala and Sihor till the 1722 founding of the eponymous capital; promoted Maharaja Rao in 1918)
The following Non-salute states have been ruled by a Thakore sahib or Thakur sahib till India's independence (list probably incomplete):
- Bhadarwa
- Jambughoda
- Khirasra (founded as by a scion of Dhrol, see above; originally styled just Thakur)
- Lakhtar
- Vala (Vallabhipur)
- Wadhwan.
Other Thakore sahibs (junior branches and/or later promoted to higher ruler styles) were those in Amod, Gogha, in Gondar, in Kharia (in Jaisalmer), in Kerwada and Khadal, in Khirasra, in Kotda-Sangani, in Lakhtar, in Mahlog, in Malia, in Mansa, in Mengni (in Rajkot), in Muliby, in Ranapur, in Ranpur, in Sejakpur, in Vala, in Vanod (now in Gujarat), in Virpur.
Thakur Shri (with the politically meaningless suffix S(h)ri) was used in the following Non-salute states:
- Chuda
- Gondal
- Ranasan (title till 1914 just Thakur)
[edit] Other uses
- As a formal title Thakur was also (in fact far more often) used for a non-ruling nobleman, either with an estate (compare jagirdar, zamindar) or merely honorary.
- In Jodhpur (in Rajasthan), until the reign of Maharaja Umaid Singhji, the title of Maharaj (not Maharaja!) was inheritable by all legitimate males, in the male line, for three generations, since then for seven generations, in conformity with Rajput marriage customs. Their sons are styled Rajkumar during their father's lifetime, and Maharaj afterwards. The eighth generation and beyond, inherit (a bit like a British courtesy title for younger brothers of a peer's heir, also generally at least one rank lower in the peerage; but not linked to an individual estate, so really more like the Chinese type of title devaluation per generation) the lower title of Thakur, through the eldest son, and Kumar Shri through the younger sons.
- Like many oriental titles, Thakur has also been used as (usually part of) a name, without any noble or other qualifications, as say the surname King and the first name Rex (Latin for King) in English.
[edit] Equivalents
In South India, the term "thakore" was not used. Rather, Eshmanan and Thirumukom were used. These titles were often afixed to people of the Nayanar, Nambiar, Unnithan castes who were feudal landlords.
