Nawab

Nawab is a royal title indicating a ruler, often of a South Asian state, in many ways comparable to the Western title of Emperor. 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, and then it was became a Royal title like Sultan or Emperor for example the Nawabs of Bengal. Various Nawabs were permitted to maintain this title under the suzerainty of the Maratha Empire. "Nawab" usually refers to males and literally means Independent ruler; the female equivalent is "Begum" or "Nawab Begum". The primary duty of a Nawab was to uphold the sovereignty. The title of "nawabi" was also awarded as a personal distinction by the paramount power, si...