Rao Bahadur

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Rao Bahadur (also Raobahadur, Rai Bahadur[1] or Roy Bahadur (in Bengal)), abbreviated R.B., was a title of honour issued during the era of British rule in India to individuals who had performed great service to the nation. It was awarded to Indians, both Hindu and Christian. It is the equivalent of an OBE. The title was accompanied by a medal called a Title Badge. Translated, "Rao" means "prince", and "Bahadur" means "brave" or "most honourable."

The equivalent title for Muslim and Parsi subjects was Khan Bahadur. For Sikhs it was Sardar Bahadur.

The people with Rai Sahib title, which was base level title were usually elevated to title of Rao Bahadur. Rao Bahadur could be elevated to level of Dewan Bahadur and so on.[2]

In some cases, the British gave Indians titles that no Indian had previously been awarded. These were the hereditary Barony, Baron Sinha of Raipur and several Baronetcies e.g. Cowasjee Jehangir.

Examples of people awarded the Rai/Rao/Sardar Bahadur title


  • Rao Bahadur Sir Kurma Venkata Reddy Naidu, Chief Minister of Madras Presidency.
  • Rai Bahadur Chaudhary Dewan Chand Saini, MBE, Gurdaspur, Punjab
  • Rao Bahadur P. K. Monnappa, South Indian Police Chief of three states, Madras, Hyderabad and Mysore.
  • Rai Bahadur Saligram, Pipal Mandi, Agra
  • Sardar Bahadur Jagat Singh, Lyallpur, pre-partition Punjab
  • Jagan Nath Bhandari, Rai Bahadur, Raj Ratan, Dewan of Idar State[3]
  • Ray Bahadur Ranadaprasad Saha, philanthropist
  • Rao Bahadur C. Jambulingam Mudaliar, Indian politician and freedom-fighter.
  • Rai Bahadur Jagmal Raja Chauhan, industrialist and noted railway contractor
  • Rai Bahadur Jairam Valji Chauhan, industrialist
  • Rai Bahadur Gujar Mal Modi, Founder of theModi Group
  • Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, founder of Oberoi Group
  • Rai Bahadur Bakshi Badri Nath Chhibber
  • Rai Bahadur Tirath Singh Bakshi
  • Rai Bahadur Amba Prasad, philanthropist of Delhi
  • Rai Bahadur S. A. Saminatha Iyer, Indian independence activist.
  • Rao Bahadur A. Veeriya Vandayar, philanthropist.
  • Rao Bahadur P. I. Chinnaswamy Pillai, First Municipal Chairman - Palakkad.
  • Dharmarathnakara Rai Bahadur Arcot Narrainsawmy Mudaliar, philanthropist.
  • Rao Bahadur Ranchhodlal Chhotalal, textile mill pioneer and philanthropist
  • Rai Bahadur Purna Chandra Lahiri, Indian Police Officer, Calcutta

See also

References

  1. ↑ RoyalArk Glossary - India
  2. ↑ as rewarded successively with the titles “Rai Sahab”, “Rai Bahadur” and finally, towards the end of the Second World War, “Dewan Bahadur”.
  3. ↑ Bhandari Jagan Nath Rai Bhadur, Raj Ratan, Dewan of Idar State, The Times of India directory and year book including who's who, Volume 32, 1945
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