Editing Nawab

{{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}}
{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{More footnotes|date=September 2010}}
{{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.

==History==
[[Image:Lord Clive meeting with Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.90|[[Robert Clive]], meeting with [[Mir Jafar]] after the [[Battle of Plassey]], by [[Francis Hayman]]]]
[[File:Sadeq Mohammad Khan.jpg|left|thumb|upright|[[General]] [[Sadeq Mohammad Khan V|Nawab Sir Sadeq Mohammad Khan V]], the last ruling Nawab of [[Bahawalpur]]]]

Nawab was a [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] term, used in [[Urdu language|Urdu]], [[Hindi]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]] and many other North-Indian languages, borrowed via [[Persian language|Persian]] from the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] honorific plural of ''naib'', or "deputy". In some areas, especially [[Bengal]], the term is pronounced ''nobab''. This later variation has also entered English and other foreign languages as [[:wikt:nabob|nabob]]. 

[[File:Asif musicians 1812.jpg|250px|thumb|The winter [[Divan|diwan]] of a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] nawab]]

The [[Subahdar]] was the head of the Mughal provincial administration. He was assisted by the provincial ''Diwan'', ''[[Bakhshi (Mughal Empire)|Bakhshi]]'', ''[[Faujdar]]'', ''[[Kotwal]]'', ''[[Qadi|Qazi]]'', ''Sadr'', ''Waqa-i-Navis'', ''Qanungo'' and ''[[Patwari]]''. As the [[Mughal empire]] began to dissolve in the early 18th century, many ''subahs'' became effectively independent.<ref name="Whitworth1885">{{cite book |last=Whitworth |first=George Clifford |title=An Anglo-Indian Dictionary: A Glossary of Indian Terms Used in English, and of Such English Or Other Non-Indian Terms as Have Obtained Special Meanings in India |publisher=K. Paul, Trench |year=1885 |pages=301– |chapter=Subah |access-date=13 July 2020 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7tAOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA301 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209112831/https://books.google.com/books?id=7tAOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA301#v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=9 February 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> The term ''nawaab'' is often used to refer to any Muslim ruler in north or [[south India]] while the term ''[[nizam]]'' is preferred for a senior official; it literally means "governor of region". The [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] had several nawabs under him: Nawabs of Cuddapah, Sira, Rajahmundry, Kurnool, Chicacole, et al. ''Nizam'' was his personal title, awarded by the Mughal Government and based on the term ''nazim'' as meaning "senior officer". ''Nazim'' is still used for a district collector in many parts of India. The term ''nawab'' is still technically imprecise, as the title was also awarded to Hindus and [[Sikh]]s, as well, and large [[zamindar]]s and not necessarily to all Muslim rulers. With the decline of that empire, the title, and the powers that went with it, became hereditary in the ruling families in the various provinces.

Under later British rule, nawabs continued to rule various [[princely states]] of [[Amb (princely state)|Amb]], [[Bahawalpur]], [[Balasinor]], [[Baoni]], [[Banganapalle]], [[Bhopal]], [[Cambay]], [[Jaora]], [[Junagadh]], [[Kurnool]] (the main city of Deccan), [[Kurwai]], Mamdot, [[Multan]], [[Palanpur]], [[Pataudi]], [[Radhanpur]], [[Rampur, Uttar Pradesh|Rampur]], [[Malerkotla]], [[Sachin, Gujarat|Sachin]], and [[Tonk (princely state)|Tonk]]. Other former rulers bearing the title, such as the nawabs of Bengal and [[Oudh State|Awadh]], had been deprived by the British or others by the time the Mughal dynasty finally ended in 1857.
 
Some princes became nawab by promotion. For example, the ruler of [[Palanpur]] was "diwan" until 1910, then "nawab sahib". Other nawabs were promoted are restyled to another princely style, or to and back, such as in [[Rajgarh State|Rajgarh]] a single rawat (rajah) went by nawab. 

The style for a nawab's wife is ''[[begum]]''. Most of the nawab dynasties were male [[primogeniture]]s, although several ruling [[Begum of Bhopal|Begums of Bhopal]] were a notable exception.

Before the incorporation of the [[Indian subcontinent#The Subcontinent|Subcontinent]] into the [[British Empire]], nawabs ruled the kingdoms of Awadh (or Oudh, encouraged by the British to shed the Mughal suzerainty and assume the imperial style of Badshah), Bengal, [[Arcot]] and Bhopal.

==Ruling nawab families==
[[File:The procession of Yusef Ali Khan.jpg|right|thumb|''The Procession of [[Yusef Ali Khan]]'', a painting depicting Yusef Khan on his way to an encampment for the [[durbar (court)|durbar]] held at [[Fatehgarh]] in 1859]]

===Nawabi dynasties acceding to India===
{{div col}}
* Nawab of Akbarpur - Asmatara Farida Begum
* Nawab [[Mir Osman Ali Khan|Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur]], the 7th [[Nizam of Hyderabad]]
* Nawab of Ashwath
* Nawab Babi of [[Balasinor State|Balasinor]]
* [[Nawab of Banganapalle]], previously [[Nawab of Masulipatam|Masulipatam]]
* Nawab of [[Baoni State|Baoni]]
* Nawab of Basai, Nawab Khwaja Muhammad Khan
* Nawab of [[Berar Province|Berar]] styled Mirza of Berar (title held by the heir to the [[Nizam of Hyderabad]])
* Nawab of [[Bhikampur and Datawali (Aligarh) State|Bhikampur and Datawali]]
* [[Nawab of Bhopal]] (female rulers were known as Nawab Begum)
* [[Cambay State|Nawabs of Cambay]] 
* the former [[Nawab of the Carnatic|Nawabs of the Carnatic]], restyled Princes of Arcot
* Nawab of Dujana
* [[Nawab of Farrukhabad]]
* Nawab of [[Jaora State|Jaora]]
* Nawab Sahib of [[Junagadh State|Junagadh]]
* Nawab of [[Malerkotla State|Malerkotla]]
* Nawab of [[Mohammadgarh State|Muhammadgarh]]
* Nawab Sahib of [[Palanpur State|Palanpur]] (''Diwan'' until 1910)
*Nawab of Awadh
* Nawab of [[Pathari State|Pathari]]
* [[Nawab of Radhanpur]]
* [[Nawab of Rampur]]
* [[Nawab of Sachin]]
* [[Nawab of Sardhana]]
* [[Nawab of Tonk]], India
* Nawab of [[Ghazipur]]
{{div col end}}

===Nawabi dynasties in India abolished before independence===
* [[Nawab of Kurwai]]
* [[Nawab of Pataudi]]
* [[Nawab of Savanur]]
* [[Nawab of Mamdot]]
* Nawab of [[Tarakote State]]
* Nawab of Farukhnagar
* Nawab of Jhajjar
* [[Nawab of Surat]]
* Nawab of Mohna

===Nawabi dynasties acceding to Pakistan===
{{div col}}
* [[Nawab of Kalabagh]]
* [[Nawab of Amb]]
* [[Nawab of Bahawalpur]]
* Nawab of [[Dir (princely state)|Dir]]
* Nawab of [[Swat (princely state)|Swat]]
* Nawab Sahib of [[Junagadh]]
* Nawab of [[Kharan (princely state)|Kharan]]
* Nawab of [[Maler Kotla]]
* Nawab of [[Jogezai]]
* Nawab of [[Bugti]]
* Nawab of [[Marri (tribe)]]
* [[Nawab]] of [[Sanghar]]{{div col end}}

===Nawabi dynasties acceding to Bangladesh ===
{{div col}}
* [[Nawab of Bengal]]
* [[Nawab of Dhaka]]
* [[Nawab of Longla]] (Sylhet)
{{div col end}}

===Former dynasties which became political pensioners===
* [[Padshah-i-Oudh]], formerly [[Nawab of Awadh|Nawab Wazir]] of Awadh,
:: also imperial [[Vizier|Wazir]] of all Mughal India, both hereditary
* [[Nawabs of Bengal]], as [[Nawabs of Murshidabad]]
* Nawab of Marauli
* Nawab of Patna
* Nawab of Surat
* [[Nawab of Longla]] (Sylhet)

=== Rohilla Confederation===

All of these states were at some point under the authority of the Nawab of Rohilkhand, later made the Nawab of Rampur. Most of these states were annexed at the close of the [[First Rohilla War]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hamilton |first1=Charles |title=An Historical Relation of the origin, progress and final dissolution of the Rohilla Afghans in the northern provinces of Hindostan |pages=90–92|language=en}}</ref>
* [[Kingdom of Rohilkhand|Nawab of Badaun]] 
* [[Kingdom of Rohilkhand|Nawab of Moradabad]] 
* [[Kingdom of Rohilkhand|Nawab of Bareilly]] 
* [[Kingdom of Rohilkhand|Nawab of Najibabad]] 
* [[Kingdom of Rohilkhand|Nawab of Philibit]] 
* [[Kingdom of Rohilkhand|Nawab of Farrukhabad]] 
* [[Kingdom of Rohilkhand|Nawab of Bisollee]]

== Miscellaneous nawabs ==

=== Personal nawabs ===
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:1920, field marshall lord william birdwood and nawab khan zaman khan, commander in chief india.jpg|right|thumb|upright|[[Field Marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[William Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood|Sir William Birdwood]], Commander-in-Chief of the [[British Indian Army]], ''left'', and Nawab Sir Muhammad Khan Zaman Khan of [[Amb (princely state)|Amb]], ''right'', at [[Darband, Afghanistan|Darband]], Amb, 1925]] -->
The title ''nawab'' was also awarded as a personal distinction by the paramount power, similarly to a [[British peerage]], to persons and families who never ruled a princely state. For the Muslim elite various Mughal-type titles were introduced, including nawab. Among the noted British creations of this type were Nawab [[Hashim Ali Khan]] (1858–1940), Nawab [[Khwaja Abdul Ghani]] (1813–1896), [[Nawab Abdul Latif]] (1828–1893), Nawab [[Faizunnesa Choudhurani]] (1834–1904), Nawab [[Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury|Ali Chowdhury]] (1863–1929), [[Nawaab Syed Shamsul Huda]] (1862–1922), [[Nawab Sirajul Islam]] (1848–1923), [[Nawab Alam yar jung Bahadur]], M.A, Madras, B.A., B.C.L., Barr-At-Law (1890–1974). There also were the Nawabs of Dhanbari, Nawabs of Ratanpur, Nawabs of [[Baroda]] and such others.

===Nawab as a court rank===
[[Image:Saadat Ali Khan I.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.70|A picture of whom is believed to be the first ever "Nawab" of [[Mughal Empire]], "Saadat Ali Khan I" of [[Nawab of Awadh|Awadh]].]]

''Nawab'' was also the rank title—again not an office—of a much lower class of [[Muslim]] nobles—in fact retainers—at the court of the [[Nizam of Hyderabad]] and [[Berar Province|Berar]] State, ranking only above [[Khan (title)|Khan Bahadur]] and Khan, but under (in ascending order) [[Khan (title)|Jang]], [[Al-Dawla|Daula]], [[Malik|Mulk]], [[Umara]] and [[Jah]]; the equivalent for Hindu courtiers was [[Raja Bahadur]].

==Related titles==
===Nawabzada===
[[File:The Navab's arrival before Clive's position.jpg|left|thumb|The [[Nawab of Bengal]], [[Mir Qasim]] 1757]]

This style, adding the Persian suffix ''-zada'' which means son (or other male descendants; see in other cases prince), etymologically fits a nawab's sons, but in actual practice various dynasties established other customs.

For example, in [[Bahawalpur (princely state)|Bahawalpur]] only the nawab's [[heir apparent]] used ''nawabzada'' before his personal name, then ''Khan Abassi'', finally ''Wali Ahad Bahadur'' (an enhancement of Wali Ehed), while the other sons of the ruling nawab used the style [[sahibzada]] before the personal name and only Khan Abassi behind. "Nawabzadi" implies daughters of the reigning nawbab.

Elsewhere, there were rulers who were not styled nawbab yet awarded a title nawabzada to others.

===Naib (Ottoman, Iranian, Arabic title)===
{{See also|Dar Niaba}}

The word ''naib'' ({{langx|ar|نائب}}) has been historically used to refer to any [[suzerain]] leader, [[feudatory]], or [[regent]] in some parts of the [[Ottoman Empire]], successive early modern [[Persianate]] kingdoms ([[Safavids]], etc.), and in the eastern [[Caucasus]] (e.g. during [[Caucasian Imamate]]). In the [[Sultanate of Morocco]], the Naib was the Sultan's [[Ambassador|emissary]] to the foreign legations in [[Tangier]] between 1848 and 1923, when the creation of the [[Tangier International Zone]] led to its replacement by the office of the [[Mendoub]]. 

Today, the word is used to refer to directly elected legislators in lower houses of parliament in many Arabic-speaking areas to contrast them against officers of upper houses (or [[Shura]]). The term [[Majlis al-Nuwwab (disambiguation)|Majlis al-Nuwwab]]<!--intentional link to DAB page--> ({{langx|ar|مجلس النواب}}, literally ''council of deputies'') has been adopted as the name of several legislative lower houses and unicameral legislatures.

"Naib" has also been used in the [[Malay language]] (especially of the [[Malaysian language|Malaysian variant]]) to translate the component of "deputy" or "vice" in certain titles (e.g "Vice President" - ''Naib Presiden'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=vice - Kamus Bahasa Inggeris|url=http://prpm.dbp.gov.my/Cari1?keyword=vice&d=139128&#LIHATSINI|website=Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu|publisher=[[Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka]]|access-date=25 May 2020|archive-date=25 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025163245/https://prpm.dbp.gov.my/Cari1?keyword=vice&d=139128&#LIHATSINI|url-status=live}}</ref> aside from ''timbalan'' and ''wakil'' (latter predominant in the [[Indonesian language|Indonesian variant]]).

=="Nabob", derived colloquial term==
<!-- This section is linked from [[Nattering nabobs of negativism]] -->
{{Other uses|Nabob (disambiguation)}}
In colloquial usage in English (since 1612),<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nabob?show=0&t=1284641928 Origin of NABOB] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203060951/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nabob?show=0&t=1284641928 |date=3 December 2016 }}, Merriam-Webster.com. Retrieved 16 September 2010.</ref> adopted in other Western languages, the [[transliteration]] "nabob" refers to commoners: a merchant-leader of high social status and wealth. "Nabob" derives from the [[Bengali language|Bengali]] pronunciation of "nawab": {{langx|bn|নবাব}} ''nôbab''.

During the 18th century in particular, it was widely used as a disparaging term for British merchants or administrators who, having made a fortune in India, returned to Britain and aspired to be recognised as having the higher social status that their new wealth would enable them to maintain. [[Vanity Fair (novel)#Joseph Sedley|Jos Sedley]] in [[Vanity Fair (novel)|Thackeray's ''Vanity Fair'']] is probably the best known example in fiction.

From this specific usage it came to be sometimes used for ostentatiously rich businesspeople in general.

"Nabob" can also be used metaphorically for people who have a grandiose sense of their own importance, as in the famous alliterative dismissal of the news media as "''nattering nabobs of negativism''" in a speech that was delivered by [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]]'s vice president [[Spiro Agnew]] and written by [[William Safire]].<ref>[http://politicaldictionary.com/words/nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/ "nattering nabobs of negativism"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210050026/http://politicaldictionary.com/words/nattering-nabobs-of-negativism/ |date=10 February 2017 }}, PoliticalDictionary.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="125" heights="100" caption="Some Nawabs of India">
File:Major-General the Hon. Arthur Wellesley being received in durbar at the Chepauk Palace Madras by Azim al-Daula Nawab of the Carnatic 18th February 1805.jpg|[[Azim-ud-Daula]]
File:Oziashumphrey.jpg|Hyder Beg Khan of [[Awadh]]
File:CheetahHunt.jpg|Nawabs hunting a [[blackbuck]] with their [[Asiatic cheetah]]
File:Javanbakht.jpg|[[Nawab of Awadh]] (left) and [[Mughal Empire|Mughal prince]] and [[Heir apparent]] [[Mirza Jawan Bakht (born 1749)|Mirza Jawan Bakht]] (right)
File:Cheetahs nawab oudh1844.jpg|Nawabs and [[cheetah]]s
File:Nawab of Kalabagh Malik Amir Mohammad khan.jpeg|[[Nawab Malik Amir Mohammad Khan]] The [[Nawab of Kalabagh]] and chief of the Awan tribe
File:A Nawab of Awadh, Lucknow, India. 19th century.jpg|[[Afsharid]]s and a [[Mughal Empire|Mughal]] nawab
File:Stinger Lawrence and Nawab Wallajah.JPG|[[Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah]] the [[Nawab of Carnatic]]
File:Nawab shuja ud daulah.jpg|[[Shuja-ud-Daula]] the [[Nawab of Awadh]]
File:Shujah ud-Daulah and his sons shoberl.jpg|[[Shuja-ud-Daula]] and his sons and relative
File:The Third battle of Panipat 13 January 1761.jpg|Nawabs in battle during the [[Battle of Panipat (1761)]]
File:Death of the Nabob of the Carnatic by Paul Philippoteaux.jpg|[[Nawab of the Carnatic]] in battle
File:A Nawab of Mughal dynasty, India, 17th-18th century.jpg|A nawab, during the reign of the [[Mughal Emperor]] [[Shah Jahan]]
File:Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan.jpg|[[Shuja-ud-Din Muhammad Khan]] the [[Nawab of Bengal]]
File:Muhammad Anwaruddin.jpg|[[Anwaruddin Muhammed Khan]] the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]]
File:Nawab of Bengal.jpg|[[Nawab of Bengal]]
</gallery>

==Indian states formerly ruled by Nawabs==
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*[[Amb (princely state)|Amb (Tanoli)]]
*[[Arcot]]
*[[Awadh]]
*[[Bahawalpur]]
*[[Balasinor]]
*[[Banganapalle]]
*[[Baoni]]
*[[Bengal]]
*[[Berar Province|Berar]] (nominally under Nizam of Hyderabad)
*[[Bhopal State|Bhopal]]
*[[Cambay]]
*[[Dir (princely state)|Dir]]
*[[Farrukhabad]] ([[Uttar Pradesh]], India)
*[[Farrukhnagar]]
*[[Hyderabad]]
*[[Jaora]]
*[[Junagadh]]
*[[Janjira State|Janjira]]
*[[Ghazipur]]
*[[Tarakote State]]
*[[Kurwai]]
*[[Kalabagh]]
*[[Malerkotla]]
*[[Mamdot]]
*[[Manavadar]]
*[[Warcha]]
*[[Palanpur]] ([[Gujarat]], India)
*[[Pataudi]]
*[[Radhanpur]]
*[[Rampur, Uttar Pradesh|Rampur]]
*[[Sachin, Gujarat|Sachin]]
*[[Tonk (princely state)|Tonk]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[Subahdar]]
* [[Mughal Empire]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Akbar |first=M Ali |year=2012 |chapter=Dhaka Nawab Estate |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Dhaka_Nawab_Estate |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}
* {{cite book |last=Islam |first=Sirajul |year=2012 |chapter=Nawab |chapter-url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Nawab |editor1-last=Islam |editor1-first=Sirajul |editor1-link=Sirajul Islam |editor2-last=Jamal |editor2-first=Ahmed A. |title=Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh |edition=Second |publisher=[[Asiatic Society of Bangladesh]]}}
*[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=nabob&searchmode=none Etymology OnLine]
*{{EB1911|wstitle=Nawab|volume=19|page=317}}

[[Category:Nawabs of India| ]]
[[Category:Gubernatorial titles]]
[[Category:Heads of state]]
[[Category:Noble titles]]
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