Who's Who in India Supplement 1 (1912)/The Royal Boons

by Prag Narain Bhargava

THE ROYAL BOONS

"To all to whom these presents may come, by the command of His Most Excellent Majesty George the Fifth, by the Grace of God King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, — I, his Governor-General, do hereby declare and notify the grants, concessions, reliefs and benefactions which His Imperial Majesty has been graciously pleased to bestow upon this glorious and memorable occasion.

"Humbly and dutifully submissive to His Most Gracious Majesty's will and pleasure the Government of India have resolved with the approval of His Imperial Majesty's Secretary of State to acknowledge the predominant claims of educational advancement on the resources of the Indian Empire and have decided in recognition of a very commendable demand to direct themselves to making education in India as accessible and wide as possible.

"With this purpose they propose to devote at once fifty lakhs to the promotion of truly popular education, and it is the firm intention of Government to add to the grant now announced further grants in future years on a generous scale.

"Graciously recognizing the signal and faithful services of his forces by land and sea the King-Emperor has charged me to announce the award of half a month's pay to all non-commissioned officers and men and reservists, both of his British Army in India and his Indian Army; to the equivalent ranks of the Royal Indian Marine; and to all permanent employes of departmental and non-combatant establishments paid from the Military Estimates whose pay may not exceed the sum of Rs. 50 monthly.

"Furthermore His Imperial Majesty has been graciously pleased to ordain that from henceforth the loyal Native officers, men and reservists of his Indian Army shall be eligible for the grant of the Victoria Cross for valour : the membership of the Order of British India shall be increased during the decade following His Imperial Majesty's Coronation Durbar by fifty-two appointments in the first class, and that in mark of these historic ceremonies fifteen new appointments in the first class and nineteen new appointments in the second class shall forthwith be made. That from henceforth Indian officers of the Frontier Militia Corps and the Military Police shall be deemed eligible for admission to the aforesaid Order. "That especial grants of land or assignments or remissions of land revenue, as the case may be, shall now be conferred on certain Native officers of His Imperial Majesty's Indian Army who may be distinguished for long and honourable service, and that the special allowances now assigned for three years only to the widows of deceased members of the Indian Order of Merit shall with effect from the date of this Durbar hereafter be continued to all such widows until death or re-marriage.

"Graciously appreciating the devoted and successful labours of his Civil Service, His Imperial Majesty has commanded me to declare the grant of half a month's pay to all permanent servants in the civil employ of Government whose pay may not exceed the sum of Rs. 50 a month.

"Further it is His Imperial Majesty's gracious behest that all persons to whom may have been or hereafter may be granted the title of Diwan Bahadur, Sardar Bahadur, Khan Bahadur, Rai Bahadur, Khan Saheb, Rai Saheb or Rao Saheb shall receive distinctive badges as a symbol of respect and honour; and that on all holders present or to come of the venerable titles of Mahamahopadyaya and Shams-ul-Ulama shall be conferred some annual pension for the good report of the ancient learning of India.

"Moreover in commemoration of this Durbar and as a reward for conspicious public service certain grants of land free of revenue tenable for the life of the grantee or in the discretion of the local administration for one further life shall be bestowed or restored in the North-Western Frontier Province and in Baluchistan.

"In his gracious solicitude for the welfare of his loyal Indian Princes His Imperial Majesty has commanded me to proclaim that from henceforth no nazarana payments shall be made upon succession to their States : and sundry debts owing to the Government by the non-jurisdictional estates in Kathiawar and Gujarat and also by the Bhumia Chiefs of Mewar will be Cancelled and remitted in whole or in part under the orders of the Government of India.

HOMAGE OF RULING CHIEFS

"In token of his appreciation of the Imperial Service Troops, certain supernumerary appointments in the Order of British India will be made in the exercise of his Royal and imperial clemency and compassion.

"His Most Excellent Majesty has been graciously pleased to ordain that certain prisoners now suffering the penalty of the law for crimes and misdemeanours shall be released from imprisonment and that all those civil debtors not in prison, whose debts may be small and due not to fraud but to real poverty, shall be discharged and that their debts shall be paid.

"The persons by whom, and the terms and conditions on which these grants, concessions and benefactors shall be enjoyed, will be hereafter declared.

"GOD SAVE THE KING-EMPEROR."

A flourish of trumpets followed this wonderful list of favours, and the Herald, raising his helmet, called for three cheers for His Majesty then three more for the Queen-Empress. The response to these welcome requests was astounding, and the cheering could be heard for miles.

Their Imperial Majesties then returned in stately procession to the Durbar Shamiana. The King-Emperor, standing in front of his Throne, made the following pronouncement, before which all previous utterances by His Majesty seemed cast in the shade.