Editing Nawab (section)

{{short description|Mughal title given to Muslim rulers of princely states in the Indian subcontinent}}
{{About|the honorific title|the nawab butterfly|Polyura}}
{{redirect|Naib}}
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{{Indo-Persian royal and noble ranks}}

'''Nawab'''{{efn|[[Balochi language|Balochi]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]], [[Urdu]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] {{small|([[Shahmukhi]])}}, [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]: {{nq|نواب}}<br> {{langx|ar|نواب}}<br> {{langx|bn|নবাব/নওয়াব}}<br> {{langx|hi|नवाब}}<br> [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] {{small|([[Gurmukhi]])}}: ਨਵਾਬ}}{{efn|"also spelled Nawaab, Navaab, Navab, Nowab, Nabob, Nawaabshah, Nawabshah or Nobab}} is a [[royal title]] indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of [[Prince]]. The relationship of a Nawab to the Emperor of India has been compared to that of the [[Kingdom of Saxony|Kings of Saxony]] to the [[German Emperor]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sir Robert |first1= Lethbridge |title=The Golden Handbook of India |date=1893 |page= x}}</ref> In earlier times the title was ratified and bestowed by the reigning [[Mughal emperor]] to semi-autonomous [[Muslim]] rulers of subdivisions or [[princely states]] in the [[Indian subcontinent]] loyal to the [[Mughal Empire]], for example the [[Nawabs of Bengal]].

"Nawab" usually refers to males and literally means ''Viceroy''; the female equivalent is "[[Begum]]" or "''Nawab Begum''". The primary duty of a Nawab was to uphold the sovereignty of the Mughal emperor along with the administration of a certain province.

The title of "nawabi" was also awarded as a personal distinction by the paramount power, similar to a [[British peerage]], to persons and families who ruled a princely state for various services to the Government of [[British Raj|India]]. In some cases, the titles were also accompanied by [[jagir]] grants, either in cash revenues and allowances or land-holdings. During the [[British Raj]], some of the chiefs, or [[sardar]]s, of large or important tribes were also given the title, in addition to traditional titles already held by virtue of chieftainship.

The term ''"[[Zamindar]]i"'' was originally used for the ''[[subahdar]]'' (provincial governor) or viceroy of a ''[[Subah (province)|subah]]'' (province) or regions of the Mughal Empire.