Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...
, the word having its root in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
language.
Sawai literally means a quarter over one (1+1/4) in strength and / or intelligence. In other words, it means – one and a quarter of an average man in worth.
Peshwa
The Peshwa was the second highest office in the Maratha Empire, next in rank and prestige only to that of the Chhatrapati. Initially serving as the appointed prime minister in the Maratha Kingdom, the office became hereditary when Shahu gave t ...
of the
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire, also referred to as the Maratha Confederacy, was an early modern India, early modern polity in the Indian subcontinent. It comprised the realms of the Peshwa and four major independent List of Maratha dynasties and states, Ma ...
in India. He was the son of Narayanrao Peshwa and was brought to power as
Peshwa
The Peshwa was the second highest office in the Maratha Empire, next in rank and prestige only to that of the Chhatrapati. Initially serving as the appointed prime minister in the Maratha Kingdom, the office became hereditary when Shahu gave t ...
by the treaty of Salbai in 1782.
* Sawai Jai Singh was given title of ''Sawai'' at the age of eleven by the Mughal Emperor,
Aurangzeb
Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...
in the year 1699, who had summoned him to Delhi, impressed by his wit. Later he proved to be ''Sawai'' also in warfare. The title became hereditary for his successors used by his descendants like, Sawai Pratap Singh; Sawai Man Singh II.
*
Khengarji III
Maharajadhiraj Mirza (noble), Mirza Maharao Sir Khengarji III Sawai (title), Sawai Baghatur, Bahadur (23 August 1866 – 15 January 1942) was a progressive and List of longest-reigning monarchs, one of the longest ruling monarchs and also the l ...
ruler of Cutch from 1875 to 1942, was given the title of ''Sawai'' by British in the year 1885 The title became hereditary for his successors used by his descendants like
Vijayaraji
Maharajadhiraj Mirza Maharao Sri Sir Vijayarajaji Khengarji Sawai Bahadur, (2September 188526February 1948) was the ruling Rao of Kutch from 1942 to his death in 1948.Madansinhji, with a further flourish as ''Sawai Bahadur''.
* Sawai Jawahar Singh was
Maharaja
Maharaja (also spelled Maharajah or Maharaj; ; feminine: Maharani) is a royal title in Indian subcontinent, Indian subcontinent of Sanskrit origin. In modern India and Medieval India, medieval northern India, the title was equivalent to a pri ...
of Bharatpur from 1763 to 1768. He assumed the lofty title of Sawai and the title became hereditary and was used by all successive rulers of Bharatpur.
* Ranjor Singh ruler of Ajaigarh from 1859 to 1919, was given the title of ''Sawai Maharaja'' in the year 1877 at the
Delhi Durbar
The Delhi Durbar ( lit. "Court of Delhi") was an Indian imperial-style mass assembly organized by Britain at Coronation Park, Delhi, India, to mark the succession of an Emperor or Empress of India. Also known as the Imperial Durbar, it was he ...
on the occasion of the proclamation of Her Majesty as
Empress of India
Emperor (or Empress) of India was a title used by British monarchs from 1 May 1876 (with the Royal Titles Act 1876) to 22 June 1948 Royal Proclamation of 22 June 1948, made in accordance with thIndian Independence Act 1947, 10 & 11 GEO. 6. C ...
. The title became hereditary and was used by all successive rulers of Ajaigarh.
* Vassudeo Porobo Sinai Samant, Barão de Pernem, ruler of
North Goa
North Goa district is one of the two districts that constitutes the state of Goa, India. The district has an area of , and is bounded by Kolhapur and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra state to the north and by Belgavi district of Karnatak ...
inherited the title of "Sawai Bahadur" which was given in recognition of his ancestry's services to
Aurangzeb
Alamgir I (Muhi al-Din Muhammad; 3 November 1618 – 3 March 1707), commonly known by the title Aurangzeb, also called Aurangzeb the Conqueror, was the sixth Mughal emperors, Mughal emperor, reigning from 1658 until his death in 1707, becomi ...
Marwar
Marwar (also called Jodhpur region) is a region of western Rajasthan state in North Western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. 'Maru' is a Sanskrit word for desert. The word 'wad' literally means fence in Rajasthani languages. Engl ...
from 1595 to 1619 was given the title of ''Sawai Raja'' by
Akbar
Akbar (Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar, – ), popularly known as Akbar the Great, was the third Mughal emperor, who reigned from 1556 to 1605. Akbar succeeded his father, Humayun, under a regent, Bairam Khan, who helped the young emperor expa ...
in recognition of his many services.
*Pratap Singh ruler of Orchha from 1874 to 1930, was given the title of ''Sawai'' in his lifetime and title became hereditary for rulers of Orchha.
*Manan bhatia (GLC) of
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
is ponhe which is a little less than sawai and dedh.