Raza Ali Khan of Rampur

Sir Raza Ali Khan Bahadur , , , (17 November 1908 – 6 March 1966) was a nawab of the princely state of Rampur from 1930 to 1966.

A tolerant and progressive ruler, Sir Raza expanded the number of Hindus in his government Including his Prime Minister Lt. Col. Horilal Varma Bar At Law and, expanded the irrigation system, completed electrification projects and continued building schools, roads and sewage systems. Also the Nawab sent his soldiers to fight in the Middle Eastern theatres of the Second World War. Acceding to the Union of India on 15 August 1947, Rampur was formally merged with it in 1949 and with the new state of Uttar Pradesh in 1950. Afterwards, Sir Raza devoted himself to charitable projects and to his post as head of the Freemasons in India as the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India.

He was also an Urdu-language writer and translator on subjects of his princely state, religion and administration. His poems and songs in Braj Bhasha about the festival of Holi are still sung in the region.

Sir Raza died in 1966, aged 57, and like his father, was buried at Karbala, Iraq. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Murtaza Ali Khan Bahadur.

Titles

1908-1930: Nawabzada Muhammad Raza Ali Khan, Wali Ahad Bahadur 1930-1932: His Highness 'Ali Jah, Farzand-i-Dilpazir-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mukhlis ud-Daula, Nasir ul-Mulk, Amir ul-Umara, Nawab Sayyid Muhammad Raza 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Mustaid Jang, Nawab of Rampur 1932-1934: Lieutenant His Highness 'Ali Jah, Farzand-i-Dilpazir-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mukhlis ud-Daula, Nasir ul-Mulk, Amir ul-Umara, Nawab Sayyid Muhammad Raza 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Mustaid Jang, Nawab of Rampur 1934-1936: Captain His Highness 'Ali Jah, Farzand-i-Dilpazir-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mukhlis ud-Daula, Nasir ul-Mulk, Amir ul-Umara, Nawab Sayyid Muhammad Raza 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Mustaid Jang, Nawab of Rampur 1936-1942: Captain His Highness 'Ali Jah, Farzand-i-Dilpazir-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mukhlis ud-Daula, Nasir ul-Mulk, Amir ul-Umara, Nawab Sayyid Sir Muhammad Raza 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Mustaid Jang, Nawab of Rampur, KCSI 1942-1944: Major His Highness 'Ali Jah, Farzand-i-Dilpazir-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mukhlis ud-Daula, Nasir ul-Mulk, Amir ul-Umara, Nawab Sayyid Sir Muhammad Raza 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Mustaid Jang, Nawab of Rampur, KCSI 1944-1946: Lieutenant-Colonel His Highness 'Ali Jah, Farzand-i-Dilpazir-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mukhlis ud-Daula, Nasir ul-Mulk, Amir ul-Umara, Nawab Sayyid Sir Muhammad Raza 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Mustaid Jang, Nawab of Rampur, GCIE, KCSI 1946-1961: Major-General His Highness 'Ali Jah, Farzand-i-Dilpazir-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mukhlis ud-Daula, Nasir ul-Mulk, Amir ul-Umara, Nawab Sayyid Sir Muhammad Raza 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Mustaid Jang, Nawab of Rampur, GCIE, KCSI 1961-1966: Major-General His Highness 'Ali Jah, Farzand-i-Dilpazir-i- Daulat-i-Inglishia, Mukhlis ud-Daula, Nasir ul-Mulk, Amir ul-Umara, Nawab Sayyid Sir Muhammad Raza 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Mustaid Jang, Nawab of Rampur, GCIE, KCSI, Most Worshipful the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Ancient, Free & Accepted Masons of India

Honours

(ribbon bar, as it would look today)

Nishan-i-Hamidia (NH), 1st Class (Royal House of Rampur) Nishan-i-Iqbal (NI), 1st Class (Royal House of Rampur) King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, 1935 Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI), 1936 King George VI Coronation Medal, 1937 Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE), 1944 Indian Independence Medal, 1947 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, 1953