Rai is a historical title of royalty and nobility in the Indian subcontinent used by rulers and chieftains of many princely states. It is derived from Raja (king). The Marathi/Telugu variant Rai was used as a substitute to King.
When Babur conquered Hindustan, he found many principalities which had been subordinated by the Emperor of Hindustan and innumerable others which never have been effectively subdued. When Akbar ascended to the throne, Hindustan had numerous autonomous and semiautonomous rulers. These hereditary rulers were known by various names such as Rais, Rajas, Ranas, and Rawals.[1]
During Mughal rule, while conferring a title on a HinduorSikh Chief the word Raja or Rai was added to the name of person. The Mughals seems to have inherited the practice of bestowing titles from the Sultans of Delhi.[2] The appellation "Rai" is primarily applied to men, while for women the appellation "Rani" is used.
During British Rule, Rai Sahib and Rai Bahadur were titles of honour given for service of visionary leadership to the nation. They were given immense power too and were equivalent to autonomous native rulers within their feudal estates
Other variations of Rai are Roy, Ray and Rao. These are also used as titles by Kolis,[3][4]Yadavs. Rai was the title used by the Zamindars (landowners) of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during the colonial rule after the Permanent settlement system introduced in Bengal-Bihar and the state of Benaras.
The descendants of these earlier rulers, chieftains and leaders still use these titles as patronymics, but these titles although having social acceptance and prestige as per local customs, holds no recognition and privilege in the eye of law after the abolition of titles in 1971 from the Indian Constitution.[5]
^Gafoor, Khaja Abdul (1955). Social Services in Hyderabad. New Delhi, India, Asia: Citizen Press. pp. 17: The figures of Koli and Rai Koli are included for the first time as the tribe in the C. P. and Berar is shown as an aboriginal tribe though much Hinduised, and it has not previously been classed as aboriginal in Hyderabad. The Hyderabad and Berar Koli inter marry.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
^Sarkar, Sir Jadunath (1920). Shivaji and His Times. New Delhi, India: Longmans, Green and Company. pp. 221: FATE OF KOLI RAJAHS . ... We may conclude the history of the Koli Rajahs here . ... His son escaped, and joining Dhara Rai Koli ( another dispossessed chief ) took to brigandage, causing considerable loss to Maratha territory.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
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