Indian peers and baronets

Satyendra Prasanna Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha

Following the final collapse of the Mughal Dynasty in 1857 and the proclamation of the British Indian Empire, the British continued to maintain and recognise many of the old Mughal and Hindu styles and titles, introducing a compound honours system which awarded those titles along with British noble and aristocratic titles and knighthoods. Uniquely, the Indian subcontinent was the only part of the British dominion where British hereditary titles were conferred upon British subjects not of European ancestry. All British titles and honours became obsolete after the formation of the modern Republic of India in 1950, though they continue to be recognised by the British government. ^{[ citation needed ]} The Portuguese gave titles and created coats of arms for its Goan citizens from the early 1700s, both Hindu and Indian Christian. These titles however lost their recognition after the Portuguese Revolution and start of the First Portuguese Republic in 1910. Those of mixed race i.e., both European and Asian descent have not been included here.

Indian nobility in the aristocracy of the United Kingdom and Portugal

Indian peerages

Pernem Taluka in dark blue, the Viscondado

Extant

• Baron and Viscount of Perném .The Viscount of Pernem was the highest ranked Asian in European nobility, Hindu or Christian. The title of Baron was given to the ruler of Pernem, Vassudeva Deshprabhu, a nobleman with office in the Palace, perhaps the wealthiest zamindar of Portuguese India, residing in his Palace in Pernem, by decree of 14/6 /1878 (Luís I of Portugal), His son Atmaram Vassudeva Deshprabhu, Commander of the Order of Christ (1891), was elevated to Viscount by decree of 19/8/1893 (Carlos I of Portugal). There is succession from the first Viscount to the present day. MLA Jitendra Deshprabhu and Pernem Municipal Council member and politician Vasudeva Deshprabhu are a direct descendants. Jitendra Deshprabhu had the title re-affirmed by Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza heir to the throne of Portugal in the 21st Century. While this was also given to Viscount Deshprabhu in his life (comparable to the British Life peer as the Portuguese royal family made few heriditary peerages) his heir Jitendra had it renewed by Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza in the 21st century therefore making it the one of three titles in Goa, the other being the Conde of Maem a Mestiço ^[1] and the Count of Coculim, ^[2] created for a noblemen from Portugal, that are still active in Goa. ^[3] Their realm included the villages of Morjim and Mandrem amongst others.

Vasantrao S. Dempo, Baron Dempo

• Baron Dempo . Created in 1873 for Krishna Govinda Rayú Sinai Dempo, 1st Baron Dempo, a wealthy zamindar and trader. ^[4] His descendant Vaikuntrao Dempo was the last member of parliament in Portugal prior to the independence of Portuguese India. His brother Vasantrao S. Dempo was the founder of Dempo Mining Corporation and owner of football club Dempo S.C.. While the family is extant, the title is considered as extinct as it was given for his life and has not been renewed. The Dempo family continues to be involved in politics and business. Being considered Goa's wealthiest family. ^[5] owners of Goa Carbon Limited, Hindustan Foods, The Navhind Times and owners of Siridao, Agaçaim, Zuare, Pale, Goa and Goa Velha villages since the 1700's. ^[6] The Dempo family was among the 10 richest in India post independence ^[7]
• Baron Kenkre of Calapor . given to the wealthy capitalist, and trader Purshottam Sinai Kenkre, Hindu zamindar, residing in Diu, Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword, by decree of 3/2/1853. Decree of 26/6/1873 Luis I, in his life. While the family is extant, the title is considered as extinct as it was given for his life and has not been renewed.
• Baron Sinha . Created in 1919 for Satyendra Prasanno Sinha, 1st Baron Sinha of Raipur, and the only British hereditary peerage ever created for a person of Indian origin. ^[8] The son of a zamindar, Sinha was a successful London-educated barrister who in 1908 became the first Indian to be appointed as Advocate-General of Bengal, and became the first Indian member of the Governor-General's Executive Council in 1909. He represented India at the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919. Knighted in the 1915 New Year Honours, he became the first Indian Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for India in 1919. Lord Sinha also became a member of the Imperial Privy Council. He became the first Indian Governor of Bihar and Odisha in 1920, the first Indian to be appointed a provincial governor by the British; however, he retired on health grounds in 1921 and died in 1928. The title is currently held by his great-grandson, Arup Kumar Sinha, 6th Baron Sinha, though he is currently not officially registered with the British College of Arms.

Extinct

• Viscount of Bardez . Inácio Caetano de Carvalho, lawyer and journalist, was born in Camurlim, Bardez, on 9/5/1843 and died on 9/15/1907, of an ancient Brahmin family from Salcette. At the beginning of the 19th century, when a plague broke out, the Carvalho family settled in the beginning of the 19th century in the village of Camurlim. He was the son of Joaquim Salvador de Carvalho, one of the most eminent jurists of his time. He obtained a lawyer's license at just 20 years old, occupying various positions in the local administration and in Diu. As a journalist, he was editor-in-chief of the newspaper O Mensageiro and later of O Oriente , a newspaper that later merged into Gazeta de Bardez. In 1877 he founded A Pátria , which for many years occupied a distinguished place in the local press. As a politician, he was head of a large party that, for many years, dominated the councils of Bardez, affiliated to the “dynastic-left” association, founded in Portugal by Baron Freitas; and then in the Regenerator Party, then under the leadership of António de Serpa Pimentel. On 8/19/1893 he was awarded the title of Viscount of Bardez.

Indian fidalgos

Coat of Arms of the Pintos, awarded by the King of Portugal in 1770

The fidalgo is a Portuguese noble distinction granted to certain Goans who were lawyers, merchants and diplomats. These Christians were considered to be included in the Portuguese nobility. The fidalgos detailed here are only those whose distinction was hereditary. This distinction ranks above baronet as they form part of the nobility similar to the Spanish Hidalgo (nobility) while the baronet is a commoner despite it being a heriditary title. However fidalgo ranks below Baron.

Extant

• Pinto of Candolim . Created in 1770 for Antonio and Ignacio Pinto, the first and till date the only Indian family to have multiple members granted with a heriditary honour of nobility, the Sasoon's receiving a heriditary baronetcy after them. The Pintos descended from Salvador Pinto alias Santu Sinay a historic figure in the village of Candolim, a Brahmin who belonged to the nobility. They were a military family first in support of the Portuguese government before fighting a revolt for Independence, the famous Conspiracy of the Pintos, the earliest Independence revolt in Colonial India whose members included Abbé Faria, the inspiration of the mad monk in The Count of Monte Cristo. This was to fight for equal rights for Non European citizens of Portuguese India in the Catholic Church and government. The Pinto family were defeated in their revolt but went on to assist in the French Revolution and fight for the Maratha Empire before returning to Goa. The house of the Pintos today stands as Bosio Hospital in Candolim which was donated to he Sisters of Charity of Sts. Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa by heirs of Ignacio Pinto in Pinto Vaddo. These arms and position of nobility could be bequeathed to their heirs.

Bust of Luis de Menezes Braganca

• Alvares of Margao . Created in 1798 for Pedro Antonio Alvares a descendant of Vincent Alvares a medical practitioner and chemist of his Majesty John V of Portugal. His descendant Jose Filipe Alvares was a confidant of Swami Vivekananda and assisted him in his studies about Christianity.These arms and position of nobility could be bequeathed to their heirs.
• Braganca of Chandor . Created in 1877 for Francisco Xavier de Braganca of Chandor. His heir Luís de Menezes Bragança was a prominent journalist, writer, politician and anti-colonial activist. During his lifetime, Menezes Bragança was widely hailed around the Lusosphere (Portuguese speaking world) as "O Maior de todos" ("The Greatest of all Goans") and in the Indian mainland as "The Tilak of Goa". At his 25th death anniversary in 1963, the Instituto Vasco da Gama was renamed by its management to Institute Menezes Braganza in honour of his memory. These arms and position of nobility could be bequeathed to their heirs.
• Miranda of Loutolim . Created in 1872 for Constâncio do Rosário de Miranda of Loutolim. A soldier and warrior, his father Pedro Joaquim de Miranda was the Fiscal Administrador of the Novas Conquistas. His descendant is the famous cartoonist Mario Miranda. These arms and position of nobility could be bequeathed to their heirs.

Famous cartoonist from the noble Miranda family, Mario Miranda

Indian baronets

Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy, one of the most famous industrialists in Indian history

A baronetcy is a British hereditary title which was granted to several Indians, all of whom were merchants, for their services to trade and commerce.

Extant

• Jejeebhoy, of Bombay . Created in 1857 for Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, a noted Parsi business magnate and philanthropist from Bombay (Mumbai). ^[9] The first Indian to be knighted, in 1842, he was known for his immense wealth and charitable works. Under a special act, all successive heirs to the baronetcy adopt the first baronet's full name as their own. The title is currently held by Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, 8th Baronet.
• Petit, of Petit Hall of Bombay . Created in 1890 for Sir Dinshaw Maneckji Petit, a Parsi textiles merchant and entrepreneur. Under a special act, all successive heirs to the baronetcy adopt the first baronet's full name as their own. The title is currently held by Sir Dinshaw Maneckji Petit, 5th Baronet.
• Jehangir, of Bombay . Created in 1908 for Sir Jehangir Cowasji Jehangir Readymoney, a prominent Parsi industrialist. Under a special act, all successive heirs to the baronetcy adopt the first baronet's full name as their own. The title is currently held by Sir Cowasji Jehangir, 4th Baronet.
• Ebrahim, of Pabaney Villa of Bombay . Created in 1910 for Sir Currimbhoy Ebrahim, a prominent Gujarati Ismaili Muslim businessman and China trader, and the first Muslim to be granted a British hereditary title. Under a special act, all successive heirs of the first baronet adopt the first baronet's full name as their own. The title is currently held by Sir Currimbhoy Ebrahim, 4th Baronet.
• Ranchhodlal, of Shahpur in Ahmedabad . Created in 1913 for Sir Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 1st Baronet, a Gujarati Hindu textile merchant and the first Hindu to be granted a British hereditary title. The title is currently held by Sir (Prashant) Chinubhai Madhowlal Ranchhodlal, 4th Baronet.

Extinct

• Sassoon, of Kensington Gore . Created in 1890 for Sir Albert Abdullah David Sassoon, a Baghdadi Jewish banker, merchant, philanthropist and member of the noted Sassoon family, who emigrated with his family from Baghdad to India in 1832. The title became extinct with the death of his grandson, the third baronet, in 1939.

  

  Sir Albert Sassoon

• Sassoon, of Bombay . Created in 1909 for Sir Jacob Elias Sassoon (1843 – 22 October 1916), the elder son of Elias David Sassoon and a nephew of Sir Albert Abdullah David Sassoon. He had no children and was succeeded under a special remainder in the letters patent by his younger brother Edward. He was succeeded by Sir E. V. Sassoon. At his death in Bermuda in 1961 the baronetcy became extinct.

References

1. https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay.aspx?newsID=140997
2. https://www.navhindtimes.in/2023/01/13/opinions/opinion/the-land-grab-of-a-militant-people/
3. https://www.mail-archive.com/[e-mail]/msg10491.html
4. https://www.dempos.com/kalpavriksha-family/
5. https://www.thegoan.net/goa-news/srinivas-dempo-only-goan-to-feature-in-indias-rich-list/105266.html
6. https://demporesorts.com/history.htm
7. https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/economy/story/19781231-new-breed-of-millionaires-in-goa-in-the-offing-823236-2014-03-11
8. "No. 31196". The London Gazette . 21 February 1919. p. 2612.
9. "No. 22003". The London Gazette . 19 May 1857. p. 1770.