Rajput Titles

Rajputs Use Title of

• CHAUDHRY
• RAI
• RAO
• THAKUR
• MALIK
• NAWAB
• RAJA
• MAHARAJA
• KHAN
• MAHARANA
• MAHARAWAL
• NAWAB

Titles

Majority of Muslim Rajputs use their ancient Royal titles such as Malik, Raja, Rana, Rao and Rai. All these titles are originated from the ancient Sanskrit word Rajanya.

Many Muslim Rajputs were also conferred titles by the Delhi Sultans and the Mughal Emperors such as Sultan (king), Malik (Royal, King), Nawab ( Provincial Governor), Sardar (Chief), Khan, Mian and Mirza(Royal prince), Sheikh (elder,Royal, King of the tribe), after embracing Islam.

• Raja: It was not uncommon for such titles to continue down the line of descent. Although the majority of Muslim Rajputs use Raja as their ancestral title. This is the main and this is the highest title in Pakistan.

• Rana: Rana is a princely title of Royalty means The King of Kings or A Great King. Muslim Rajputs in Pakistani Punjab mainly in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Sialkot use the title of Rana.

• Rao: The majority of Raos in Pakistan are Muslim Punwar (Pawar) Rajputs. Raos can be found all across Pakistan and are found in large numbers in the Punjab Province. Raos are the brave people of the country as the majority of Raos are in Army forces of Pakistan. Rao in Rajasthan called Jagirdar.

• Rai: Rai was a title of honor for certain Bhatti Rajput rulers, like Rai Khala, the ruler of Raikot State-Ludhiana 1705 AD.and Rai Bular rular of Nankana The title today is found mostly in the Pakistani province of Punjab.

• Chaudhary: is used by landowning ethnic group and tribes, mainly by Rajputs and Jats. Traditionally, the term is used as a title indicating the ownership of ancestral land, but in contemporary usage it is often taken as a surname or title. The spelling of the word varies in different areas. In some cases it may also mean “power”.

• Kunwar: (pronounced Koo-war)Many Hindu Rajput Clans use the title of Kunwar with their names. The variation of the pronounced word, Kanwar is also used by Muslim Janjuas also. Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad being the Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

• Khan: Khan or Khaan. the title of Khaan. It is also spelled as Khaan. Khaan is considered as true spellings because it is خاں in Urdu. Khaan means the royal blood or Prince Equal to Rajput. so, originally it is Khaan. almost all Muslim Rajputs use the title of Khaan or Khan instead of Singh Title.

• Sardar: This title is manily used by the Sikh Minhas Rajputs. However, lately some Muslim Minhas Rajput clans in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab Sialkot & Chakwal have also started using this title due to various reasons.

• Sultan: The Janjua Rajputs of Jhelum were bestowed the title of Sultan, currently still used and recognised in Kusuk, Watli and the Sultan of Makhiala. It was bestowed upon the Houses of Watli and Makhiala by Emperor Babur is only used by the one head man of each Dynasty respectively.[35] The current Sultan of Watli Fort and riyasat of Watli being Raja Sultan Azmat Hayat Janjua.

• Nawab: The title Nawab was conferred on the ruler of the Darapur State, Malik Talib Mehdi Khan. His current descendants use the title as Nawabzada since the abolition of Princely States in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Current chief of the famed Darapur Dynasty being, Nawabzada Iqbal Mehdi Khan.

• Mirza: Some also adopted the Persian title of Mirzainstead of Rajput to distinguish their Muslim identity from their previous Hindu one as it is a Persian word meaning prince of the blood, the equivalent of Raj-putra. Although the Rajputs of the Jarral dynasty were ordained as Mirza’s after their intermarriage with the MughalEmperor Aurangzeb Alamgir. That lineage today resides in Saman Burj, Wazirabad and some continue to use Mirza as prefix but the majority descendents of Jarral Rajputs continue to use Raja as recognised by the Queen.

• Malik: The title Malik (meaning king) is used by a branch of the Jhelum Jodh branch of Janjua. Malik Darwesh Khan and Malik Hast (Asad) were known by these titles. Janjuas of Shadia Dist Mianwali are also referred to as Malik. (They are in dominance in Shadia and have the following sub clans; Mulkai Khel, Pattu Khel, Aziz Khel, Longi, Musi, Shah Mir Khel, Janu Khel, Ahmed Khel, Shah-wali Khel, Mehrwan Khel, Zaid Khel, Malu Khel and Sikandri Janjua.is also used by Khokhars and Khokhran, and refers to chiefs.

• Mian: This title was conferred upon the ‘Punjab Hill Chiefs’ by the Mughal King, Jhangir and was used by most of the Rajput tribes in the Punjab Hills for many centuries. The elder brother was called Raja, whereas his younger brothers were called Mian. Lately, the Rajputs have decided to use ‘Thakur’ instead of this Mughal title.

• Jam: Some Muslim Rajputs use the title of honor Jam/Jaam. Jam is considered as true spellings but pronounced as Jaam . Jam means having the royal competency or Prince Equal to Rajput. and almost all Muslim Rajputs use the title of Jam to call someone honorably.