Rai Sahib

Rai Sahib / Rao Sahib / Roy Sahib abbreviated R.S., was a title of honour issued during the era of British rule in India to individuals who performed great service in visionary leadership to the nation. The title was accompanied by a medal. Translated, sahib means "leader".^[2][3]

Image of the medal awarded during reign of George VI. To see another image of Rai Sahib medal see link^[1]

This was the start level title usually awarded to civilians, which could later be upgraded to Rao Bahadur and then to Dewan Bahadur titles.^[4]

The title styled Rai Sahib were awarded to Hindu people of North India and styled Rao Sahib to Hindu people of South India, however, they were both of same category and spelling was altered to meet with regional differences of pronunciation.^[5]Whereas, another spelling variation Roy Sahib was awarded to Hindu people of Bengal region of British India.

The Rai Sabib/Rao Sahib/Roy Sahib and other similar titles issued during British Raj were disestablished in 1947 upon independence of India.^[6]

Some people awarded the Rai Saheb/ Rao Saheb title

• Rai Saheb Rekhchand Mohota, Bombay - industrialist^[7]
• Rao Sahib Ramnath Goenka, Bombay - newspaper editor and businessman
• Rai Saheb Mulji Jagmal Sawaria, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh - miner
• Rai Saheb Ruda Ladha Chawra, Hoshangabad - industrialist
• Rai Saheb Koovarji Karsan Rathor - businessman
• Rao Sahib P.K.Varughese - Ernakulam - lawyer, founder of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral Ernakulam and adviser to the Maharajah of Cochin^{[8] [9]}
• Rao Saheb Vithalseth Narayanseth Kedari, Excise Contractor, philantropist, Pune^[10]
• C.R. Krishnaswamy Rao Sahib, Padma Vibhushan, Madras - noted Indian administrative officer.^[11]
• Rai Sahib H. B. Kanoi of Dibrugarh - tea planter^[12][13]

See also

• Rai Bahadur
• Dewan Bahadur
• Raj Ratna

References

External links

• Image of Indian Title Badge, George V, first variety, 3rd class, Rai Sahib