Indian nobility

Indian nobility refers to the class of elite rulers and landowners in India, historically known as "rajputs," "maharajas," or "nawabs." These individuals held significant power, wealth, and influence, often ruling over kingdoms or princely states before British colonial rule. Their status was typically hereditary, associated with traditions of valor, governance, and cultural patronage. Post-independence in 1947, many princely states were integrated into modern India, and while royal titles lost legal significance, many former nobles still hold ceremonial importance and engage in philanthropy and tourism, preserving their historical legacies.