Mian (title)

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Sayyid Mian Abdullah Khan Barha A portrait of abdullah khan from padshahnama folio.jpg
Sayyid Mian Abdullah Khan Barha

The Mian is a royal title of the Indian subcontinent, also sometimes used as a surname. Begum or Beygum, is used to describe the wife of a Mian. It is used by several monarchs of Indian states.

Contents

In the Mughal Empire, mian indicated a king or a prince under the suzerainty of the Mughal emperor; it is hence roughly equivalent to the title of raja , but could also take the higher meaning of maharaja , in which sense it was used by the Kalhora dynasty of Sindh. It was also conferred by the Mughal emperor Jahangir upon Rajput rulers in the group of northern princely states known as the Indian Hill States. [1] The title is mentioned by the British in The Golden Book of India [2] as one of the principal titles used by "Mohammedan Princely States":

Other Mohammadan titles sometimes equivalent in consideration to Nawab, but not always are Wali, Sultan, Shah, Amir, Mir, Mirza, Mian, Khan; also Sardar and Diwan, which are common to Hindus and Mohammadans. [3]

As a title in India

The Koli rulers of petty Princely States of Ramas, Dabha, Punadra and Khadal used the Mian as their hereditary title. [4]

Etymology

Mian is said to literally mean "Prince". [5] Although it may also be translated as "Lord" or "Master". [6]

Compound Derivatives

The Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb conferred the compound derivative of Sayyid Mian upon Abdullah Khan Barha. The compound title Miangul is used by all member of the erstwhile state Swat including the head of the house. [ citation needed ]. While in Sangri state the ruler is addressed as Rai Mian. [7]

British Era

The title was translated by the British as meaning "Prince", "Lord" or "Master". [6] [5] The title was often used by rulers of Jagirs as well as Princes of Blood of both Hindu Rajput States, as well as Muslim Princely States. The title held pre-eminence in Sindh where it was used by the dynasts of the former Royal dynasties of Kahlora dynasty and Soomro and held in that capacity by the former Soomro Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Mian Soomro. [8] The title was prominent in the Himalayan region as well as regions adjacent to it. The British noted in the Gurdaspur Imperial Gazetteer that the title Mian held the highest rank above Malik or Chaudhry within the Gurdaspur District of Punjab. The title was also often given to sons of Nawabs. [9] [5]

Princely States

The title is used in varying capacity by members of princely states, sometimes used for Princes and other times used by the Monarch himself.

Bombay Region

The title held immense importance in the Bombay region, and was used by the monarchs of several Princely States in that area. Including:

Himalayan Region

Ever since the bestowal of the title of Mian upon the Royal Households of the Himalayas by the Emperor Jahangir, the title has held great importance in the Himalayan region.

In the foothills of the Himalayas. Dynast's of the Rohilla Dynasty which ruled the erstwhile Kingdom of Rohilkhand and later the Princely State of Rampur are styled informally as Mian. The style of address is extended to all dynasts including the Nawab of Rampur himself. [29] [ citation needed ]

Notable people

America

Bangladesh

Europe

India

British India

Nepal

Pakistan

Uganda

Places

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hutchinson, J. History of the Punjab Hill States. p. 62.
  2. ↑ "The Golden Book of India". www.forgottenbooks.com. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  3. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. xii.
  4. ↑ Department, India Foreign and Political (1892). A Collection of Treaties, Engagements, and Sanads Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries. New Delhi, India, Asia: Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing, India. pp. 334–335.
  5. 1 2 3 Rose, Horace Arthur. A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province : based on the census report for the Punjab, 1883 (Volume 2 ed.). p. 281.
  6. 1 2 3 Lethbridge, Sir Roper (1893). The Golden Book of India. p. xxi.
  7. 1 2 Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 477.
  8. ↑ Wasim, Amir (16 November 2007). "Soomro heads interim govt : Inamul Haq, Ishrat Hussain, Salman Taseer, Nisar Memon, Pir of Taunsa Sharif among ministers". DAWN.COM.
  9. 1 2 Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. xiv.
  10. ↑ Jeratha, Asoka. Dogra Legends of Art and Culture. p. 24.
  11. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 352.
  12. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 411.
  13. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 246.
  14. ↑ Keleny, Anne. "The Wali Ahad of Swat: Crown prince of what is thought to be the last princely state to be recognised under the British Indian Empire" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-12.
  15. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 200.
  16. ↑ "Silsila Ashraful Ansab". silsilaashraful.com.
  17. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 103.
  18. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 127.
  19. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 197.
  20. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 248.
  21. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 425.
  22. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 446.
  23. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 206.
  24. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 380.
  25. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 255.
  26. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 432.
  27. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 258.
  28. ↑ Lethbridge, Sir Robert. The Golden Handbook. p. 556.
  29. ↑ Joshi, Poornima (13 February 2017). "Of royalty, prince charming and a confident underdog". @businessline.
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