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TWELVE MEN OF BENGAL

Walayet Ali Khan's services was made in our darkest and most dangerous crisis and the proffer throughout was supported by deeds.

"This character has ever since been laudably maintained by you.

"You have also been conspicuous in your liberality and public spiritedness, having hitherto contributed no less than Rs. 70,000 towards Charitable and Public Institutions. During the late famine you exhibited marked generosity, having unostentatiously spent about 40,000 Rs. or 50,000 Rs. in relieving the distressed people. Your services have now received the recognition of Her Majesty the Queen-Empress of India and it gives me great pleasure to be the medium of conveying to you the, token of royal favour and I sincerely hope that you may long enjoy the honour thus graciously conferred on you."

Only four years later he received the title of Nawab as a personal distinction. A special Durbar was held at Bankipur on the 11th of November 1882 by the Lieutenant-Governor Sir Rivers Thompson in order to invest him with the insignia of the new title. His Honour in handing him the Sanad spoke as follows—

"Syed Walayet Ali Khan—It is at the instance of His Excellency the Viceroy that I am present here to-day to confer upon you in this public Durbar the title and dignity of Nawab. In any career of