Sawai (title)

Sawai is a title of honor used in India, the word having its root in Sanskrit 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.

Holders of Sawai title

• His Highness Shrimant Sawai Madhavrao Peshwa aka Madhu Rao II Narayan was Peshwa of the Maratha Empire in India. He was the son of Narayanrao Peshwa and was brought to power as Peshwa by the treaty of Salbai in 1782.
• Jai Singh II of Jaipur, was given title of Sawai at the age of eleven by the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb 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 ruler of Cutch from 1875–1942, 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, Madansinhji.
• Ranjor Singh ruler of Ajaigarh from 1859–1919, was given the title of Sawai Maharaja in the year 1877 at the Delhi Durbar on the occasion of the proclamation of Her Majesty as Empress of India. The title became hereditary and was used by all successive rulers of Ajaigarh.
• Pratap Singh ruler of Orchha from 1874–1930, was given the title of Sawai in his lifetime and title became hereditary for rulers of Orchha.