Kaisar-i-Hind

The Kaisar-i-Hind (sometimes misspelt as Kaiser-i-Hind) was a medal awarded by the British monarch between 1900 and 1947, to civilians of any nationality who rendered distinguished service in the advancement of the interests of the British Raj.^[1]

The name literally means "Emperor of India" in the vernacular of the Hindi and Urdu languages. The word kaisar, meaning "emperor" is a derivative of the Roman imperial title Caesar (via Persian, Turkish - see Kaiser-i-Rum - and the Greek Καίσαρ). The title is derived from the Roman general and dictator, Julius Caesar, to whom the first Roman Emperors were related. The latter used "Caesar" as a cognomen to indicate the family relationship with him. Subsequently, it became an imperial title regardless of the Emperor's family origins. It is cognate with the German title Kaiser, which was borrowed from the Latin at an earlier date.^[2]

Kaisar-I-Hind was also inscribed on the obverse side of the India General Service Medal (1909).^[3]

History

Empress of India or Kaisar-i-Hind, a form coined by the orientalist G.W. Leitner in a deliberate attempt to dissociate British imperial rule from that of preceding dynasties^[4] was taken by Queen Victoria from 1 May 1876, and proclaimed at the Delhi Durbar of 1877.

The medal was instituted by Queen Victoria on April 10, 1900.^[1][5] The name translates as "Emperor of India", a name also used for a rare Indian butterfly Teinopalpus imperialis. The Royal Warrant for the Kaisar-i-Hind was amended in 1901, 1912, 1933 and 1939. While never officially rescinded, the Kaisar-i-Hind ceased to be awarded following the passage of the Indian Independence Act 1947.^[6] Recently discovered, this award has been given out a total of 142 times. The awards are published in the London Gazette.

Medal grades and design

The medal had three grades. The Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal for Public Service in India was awarded directly by the monarch on the recommendation of the Secretary of State for India. Silver and Bronze medals were awarded by the Viceroy.

The medal consisted of an oval-shaped badge or decoration in gold, silver or bronze with the Royal Cipher and Monarchy on one side, and the words "Kaisar-i-Hind for Public Service in India" on the other. It was to be worn suspended from the left breast by a dark blue ribbon. The medal has no post-nominal initials.^[6]

Its most famous recipient is Mohandas Gandhi, who was awarded the Kaisar-i-Hind in 1915 by Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst for his contribution to ambulance services in South Africa. Gandhi returned the medal in 1920 as part of the national campaign protesting the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.^[1][7]

Recipients

• The Rt Hon. Alice Isaacs, Marchioness of Reading
• HH Ayilyam Thirunal, Maharaja of Travancore
• Commander-in-Chief Gen. Maharajkumar Pudma Jung Bahadur Rana (KIH Gold Medal 1877) - son of Maharaja Jung Bahadur Rana of Lamjung and Kaski
• Dr. L. N. Virasinghe-Chinnappa, awarded twice Medal 1937 & Bar to the Medal 1941, Pioneered Maternity & Child Health on the Indian Sub-Continent
• HH Chandra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, Maharaja of Lamjung and Kaski
• Dr. Constance Whittaker received the Kaiser-i-Hind for public service during WW2
• Dr. Tongul Kuki Gangte, awarded on 14 June 1945 for his work during WW2 as a Red Cross Doctor.
• Dr. Margaret O'Hara awarded in 1932 for her long and valued service to India
• Dr. Lilian Arratoon, surgeon, awarded the silver medal in the New Year's Honours list 1945.
• HH Dungar Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner
• Edward Sell, missionary and Islamic scholar
• Frederick Booth-Tucker, Commissioner in the Salvation Army
• HH Ganga Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner
• Herbert Frederick Mayes, Barrister-at-Law, Indian Civil Service, awarded 9 Nov 1901
• Gertrude Edith Mary Middleton-Stewart, awarded 6 May 1935
• HH Jashwant Singh, Maharaja of Bharatpur
• HH Jayajirao Scindia, Maharajah of Gwalior
• John Nisbet (b 1852), author and professor of botany
• HH Kalb Ali Khan, Nawab of Rampur
• Khan Bahadur Raja Jahandad Khan
• Khan Bahadur Sher Jang (Second Class) (1916)
• HH Khengarji III, Maharao of Kutch
• Kulsoom Shahid Husain Member Legislative Assembly great aunt of Dr. Ali M. MIr
• Laxmidas Pitambardas Adodra (Second Class)
• HH Madho Rao Scindia, Maharaja Scindia of Gwalior
• HH Bhagvatsingh, Maharaja of Gondal
• HH Sayajirao Gaekwad III, Maharaja of Baroda
• HH Pratap Singh, Maharaja of Idar
• HH Asaf Jah VI, Nizam of Hyderabad
• Major Herbert Edward Deane, R.A.M.C., awarded 9 Nov 1901
• Reverend Herbert Anderson, Baptist Missionary, awarded 3 Jun 1918
• Reverend Dr Frederick Vincent Thomas, Baptist Medical Mission, Palwal
• Mary Barrington-Smith, engaged in counter-propaganda at G.H.Q. in India and awarded for her work as Diversional Therapy Officer during WW2.
• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (returned 1921)
• HH Muhammad Mushtaq Ali Khan, Nawab of Rampur
• Pandita Ramabai
• HH Partab Singh, Maharaja of Kashmir
• Parukutty Nethyar Amma
• Rachel Emanuel (according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission record of the death of her son, Flt Lt William Vernon Emanuel, RAFVR).
• Raja Ravi Verma (1904) ^[8]
• HH Ram Singh, Maharaja of Bharatpur
• HH Nihal Singh, Rana of Dholpur
• HH Ranbir Singh, Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir
• Renaudip Singh Bahadur
• Sir Robert Stanes
• Shankar Madho Chitnavis, Deputy-Commissioner, Central Provinces (1901)
• HH Shivaji IV, Raja of Kolhapur
• Sir Vasudeva Raja Ravi Verma, Rajah of Kollengode, awarded 1925
• Sir Vicar-ul-Umra
• HH Sultan Shah Jahan, Begum of Bhopal
• Dr. Thomas Franklin Pedley, a Doctor in Rangoon
• HH Tukojirao Holkar II, Maharaja of Indore
• Vadasseri Ammaveetil Srimathi Karthyayani Pillai Bhagavathy Pillai Kochamma, daughter of Maharajah Moolam Thirunal of Travancore
• HH Visakham Thirunal, Maharaja of Travancore
• Sir William James Wanless
• William Egerton (First Class)
• William Stokes (First Class)
• Kizhakkethara Chandu(1921), Station Master of Tirur, Station unscathed during mappila rebellion, Kerala
• Walter Samuel Sharpe, Director of Telegraphs, Bombay, 1st Class Medal awarded 1 Jan 1916
• Major M.Subramanyam, Health Officer Sholapur, awarded in 1938
• Dr N K Guha, Dacca, Bangladesh (formerly East Bengal) in recognition of his philanthropic and humanitarian work during the 1940s.
• Rev. Alan Gordon MacLeod, Presbyterian missionary, for relief work in the Bengal famine of 1943.
• Reverend Ernest Bell Sharpe for his work as a missionary and superintendent of the Purulia Leper Asylum. Awarded the First Class Medal in 1929 for services to India.
• Rev. William Summers Sutherland, K.I.H., M.A., D.D., Missionary in India.
• Charlotte Melina Viall Wiser, co-author of Behind Mud Walls with husband, William H. Wiser, nutritionist, Presbyterian missionary

See also

• British and Commonwealth orders and decorations

References

External links

• Image of obverse side of Gold Kaiser-i-Hind

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