kapurth5

KAPURTHALA

ORDERS & DECORATIONS

Nishan-i-Shahi - collar and breast star in brilliants.

Nishan-i-Shahi (the Royal Decoration): founded by Maharaja Sir Jagatjit Singh in 1898. Originally awarded as a general order of merit in three classes (1. First Class or Darja-i-Ala - breast star, sash and sash badge, 2. Second Class or Darja-i-Sani - enamelled breast star only, and 3. Third Class or Darja-i-Darmayana - enamelled breast badge only). Conferred on members of the Kapurthala Royal Family and state officials. Reorganised in 1914 when the two inferior classes were replaced by the Nishan-i-Iftikhar (see below). Thereafter limited to a single class, conferred only on ruling princes and very senior members of the Kapurthala royal family - collar in gold and enamel with diamonds, rubies and blue sapphires, breast star in brilliants and breast badge in brilliants. Ribbon: originally dark blue with white edge stripes and a central white stripe down the middle (until 1914). Thereafter the sash was altered to light blue with white edge stripes, very similar to the GCSI but a slightly darker shade of blue and narrower width (96mm). Worn over the right shoulder, with the badge resting on the left hip. Obsolete 1950.

Golden Jubilee of Maharaja Sir Jagajit Singh (1927) showing recipients of Kapurthala orders wearing their respective sashes. Nishan-i-Shahi - front row seated 2^nd from left (Raja Ravi Sher Singh of Kalsia), third from far right (Maharaja Kishan Singhji of Bharatpur) and back row, standing 3rd from far right. Nishan-i-Iftikhar (1st class) - front row seated 1^st from left (Tikka Raja Paramjit Singh), 6^th from left (Raja of Mandi) and back row, standing 7^th from left and 8^th from left (Raja Charanjit Singh). Front row, seated, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th, 10^th and 12^th from left are wearing the GCSI sash..

Nishan-i-Shahi, Second Class (1898-1914) - breast star (C) and Third Class - breast badge, type I (L) and type II (R).

Nishan-i-Iftikhar (the Decoration of Glory): founded by Maharaja Sir Jagatjit Singh Bahadur in 1914 as a general order of merit. Conferred in two divisions, military and civil, each with distinctive insignia. Awarded in three classes (1. First Class or Nishan-i-Iftikhar Darja-i-Ala, 2. Second Class or Nishan-i-Iftikhar Darja-i-Sani, and 3. Third Class or Nishan-i-Iftikhar Darja-i-Darmayana). Conferred on princes and junior members of the Kapurthala royal family, state officials, household staff, military officers and other deserving individuals in the service of the state of Kapurthala and the Maharaja in person. Also conferred on British India subjects seconded on Kapurthala state service and (very rarely) on foreigners. Ribbon: dark blue with white edge stripes and a central white stripe down the middle (identical to the original Nishan-i-Shahi) - 96mm for the First Class, 38mm Second Class, 30mm Third Class. Obsolete 1950.

Nishan-i-Iftikhar (military division), First Class - breast star (L) and sash badge (R).

Nishan-i-Iftikhar (civil division), First Class - breast star, type I (L) and sash badge, type II (R).

Nishan-i-Iftikhar (civil division), Second Class - breast star, type I (L) and neck badge, type II (R).

Nishan-i-Iftikhar (civil division), Third Class - breast badge, type I.

Nishan-i-Askari (the Military Decoration): founded by Maharaja Sir Jagatjit Singh Bahadur ca 1927-1934 as a reward for pre-eminent military service. Probably awarded in three classes, but only seen in second class insignia consisting of a breast star and neck badge as conferred on Major-General Sardar Pooran Singh Bahadur, CIE, OBI, Bakhshi and Military Secretary who commanded the Kapurthala State Forces in the East African Campaign during the First World War. Obsolete 1950. Ribbon: dark blue with white edge stripes and a central white stripe down the middle (identical to Nishan-i-Shahi).Obsolete 1950.

Nishah-i-Askari (The Military Decoration), Second Class - breast star (L) and neck badge (R)

Decoration of the Royal Portrait: instituted by Maharaja Sir Jagatjit Singh ca 1898 as a reward for personal service and awarded as a token of personal esteem. Description: an oval miniature portrait of Maharaja Sir Jagatjit Singh in state dress, wearing a pearl necklace and blue turban, set in a gold frame and topped by an antique crown. Worn on the left breast, suspended from a straight gold ribbon bar without ribbon.

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