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In [[Pakistan]], the ''Thakur'' title is used by [[Rajput]] tribes in [[Sindh]] province, especially in [[Tharparkar District]].
In [[Pakistan]], the ''Thakur'' title is used by [[Rajput]] tribes in [[Sindh]] province, especially in [[Tharparkar District]].


In [[Bengali language|Bengali]] '''Thakur''' can be a [[surname]], a title of respect for any [[Brahmin]] or for someone of high spiritual esteem. Thakur is also the word for God in ''Bengali''.
In [[Bengali language|Bengali]] '''Thakur''' can be a surname known as [[Tagore]], a title of respect for any [[Brahmin]] or for someone of high spiritual esteem. Thakur is also the word for God in ''Bengali''.


==Princely ruler titles==
==Princely ruler titles==

Revision as of 18:47, 3 July 2010

For other people named Thakur (title), see Thakur (title) (disambiguation).

Thakur (also Thakar, Thakhor, Thakir, or Thakrar) is an Indian feudal title in several Indian languages. A Thikana is the state or (more often) estate of a Thakur. A Thakurani is the wife of a Thakur. The title Thakur is usually adopted by Kshatriya Rajputs. However, the Bhumihar Brahmins in Bihar occasionally also style themselves as Thakur. Many Bhumihar Brahmins belong to the Saryupareen Brahmin division of Kanyakubja Brahmins.In Maharashtra and Goa, there are Thakur families belonging to the Kudaldeshkar Saraswat Brahmin caste. A prominent Ahmadi Muslim Thakir family resides in Kotli, Kashmir.[1]

In Pakistan, the Thakur title is used by Rajput tribes in Sindh province, especially in Tharparkar District.

In Bengali Thakur can be a surname known as Tagore, a title of respect for any Brahmin or for someone of high spiritual esteem. Thakur is also the word for God in Bengali.

Princely ruler titles

Since feudal times Thakur, meaning "Lord," was the Hindi title (below Raja) for the hereditary ruler of a princely state usually born of Rajput clan bloodlines, particularly in western India.

Thakur is the usual rendition of "Thakore" 'Thakor' in northern and central parts of India. The Bengali form Tāgore is a derived surname.

Nominal Thakores

The following non-salute states (and probably several others) were ruled by a Thakur, in some cases, later promoted to a higher rank (confusing, but sources don't always specify whether this is done on a personal basis or actually a permanent upgrading of the state's status):

Compound titles

Thakore Sahibs ('Sir Lord') was loftier, and indeed used till their accession to independent India by the rulers of four salute states (the official elite amongst the British Crown's Indian 'vassals'; no 'simple' Thakore included), be it only of the lowest class in British India, 'merely' 9-guns, the only one that didn't qualify them for the predicate 'His Highness' (all four in the western state of Gujarat):

Curiously, both elements were maintained in the full style of the Maharaja of Morvi (11 guns, so HH; originally held as primogeniture by the Heir of the Maharaja of Cutch, independent after a coup there in 1697-98), Maharaja Thakore Shri (personal name) Sahib Bahadur, while neither term was used for other members of his dynasty; last incumbent since 1926 Thakur Sahib Maharaja

In the following salute states, a higher title was assumed before India's independence:

The following Non-salute states have been ruled by a Thakore sahib or Thakur sahib till India's independence (list probably incomplete):

Other Thakore sahibs (junior branches and/or later promoted to higher ruler styles) were those in Amod, Gogha, in Gondar, in Kharia (in Jaisalmer), in Kerwada and Khadal, in Khirasra, in Kotda-Sangani, in Lakhtar, in Mahlog, in Malia, in Mansa, in Mengni (in Rajkot), in Muliby, in Ranapur, in Ranpur, in Sejakpur, in Vala, in Vanod (now in Gujarat), in Virpur.

Thakur Shri (with the politically meaningless suffix S(h) ri) was used in the following Non-salute states:

Bengali Surname

Thakur is a derived surname out of respect for any Brahmin family earlier who used to hold a different title (surname) like Kushari, Bhattacharya etc. in its anglicized version is often written as Tāgore

Other uses

  • As a formal title Thakur was also (in fact far more often) used for a non-ruling nobleman, either with an estate (compare jagirdar, zamindar) or merely honorary.
  • In Jodhpur (in Rajasthan), until the reign of Maharaja Umaid Singhji, the title of Maharaj (not Maharaja!) was inheritable by all legitimate males, in the male line, for three generations, since then for seven generations, in conformity with Rajput marriage customs. Their sons are styled Rajkumar during their father's lifetime, and Maharaj afterwards. The eighth generation and beyond, inherit (a bit like a British courtesy title for younger brothers of a peer's heir, also generally at least one rank lower in the peerage; but not linked to an individual estate.
  • In Tripura, members of the royal family were known as Thakurs.[2]

Prominent Thakurs

In Northern India Thakurs are Rajputs. Most Rajputs in Kashmir, Rajasthan, U.P., M.P., H.P.Gujarat and Uttaranchal are called Thakurs.

Bundelkhand is the home of two great Indian freedom fighters and the father of the freedom movement in the whole of bundelkhand, Dewan Shatrughan Singh [aka 'Bundelkhand Gandhi & Bundelkhand Kesri'] & his wife Rani Rajendra Kumari. These were the two fountain heads of the freedom movement in all of Bundelkhand. They also were the main patrons of revolutionaries like Chandrashekhar Azad who frequented their Castle in their native village of Maungrauth. The Rani defeated the sitting UP Chief Minister C.B. Gupta as an independent candidate. They were also the main inspiration behind the Bhoodaan movement in Bundelkhand and Maungraut changed the history of the movement by beecoming the first complete Gramdaan. They were contemporaries and friends of Jawaharlal Nehru, GB Pant,Bhagvandas dubey,LN nayak,ML goyal and other great freedom fighters.

Numerous scholars have done PhD's on the life of these 2 great Indian patriots. There is an annual mela on the birthday of these two stalwarts held annually in Maungrauth in December and is attended by over 40,000 people.

Despite being from one of the most affluent families in Central India this couple sacrificed everything for the nation and donated their lands to the poor. They were in British jails for the freedom struggle for over 9 years each. They are now the subject of folk tales and songs highlighting their bravery and hailing them as symbols of Bundelkhandi valor.

Shatrughan Singh and his Rani are Thakurs and belong to the above mentioned Pratihar clan of the agnikula rajputs - the head of the Chaubisi. They are still reverred by all including the rajputs in the area.

Equivalents

In Kerala, the term "Thakore" was not used. Rather, Madampi, Eshmanan and Thirumukom were used. These titles were often affixed to people of the highest ranking Nair subcastes like Pillai, Nayanar, Nambiar and Unnithan who were feudal landlords or jenmis.

See also

Template:Kshatriya Communities

Notes

  1. ^ Sherring, M.A. (First ed 1872, new ed 2008). Hindu Tribes and Castes as Reproduced in Benaras. 6A, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi-110049, India: Asian Educational Services. ISBN 978-8120620360. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: year (link)
  2. ^ Sociological perspectives on globalisation By Ajaya Kumar Sahoo p.128

References

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