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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian noble title}}<br />
{{Infobox monarchy<br />
| royal_title = Prince<br />
| realm = Arcot<br />
| native_name = أميرِ أركوٹ<br />
| border = imperial<br />
| coatofarms = <!-- Add if available --><br />
| coatofarms_article = House of Arcot<br />
| coatofarmscaption = Arms of the House of Arcot<br />
| type = other4<br />
| his/her = His Highness<br />
| image = <!-- Add official image of Prince --><br />
| caption = Nawab Muhammed Abdul Ali, the present Prince of Arcot<br />
| incumbent = Nawab Muhammed Abdul Ali<br />
| incumbentsince = July 1993<br />
| heir_apparent = Nawabzada Mohammed Asif Ali<br />
| first_monarch = Azim Jah, 1st Prince of Arcot<br />
| formation = 1867<br />
| residence = Amir Mahal, Chennai<br />
| website = [https://www.princeofarcot.in Official website]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
The '''Prince of Arcot''' (also known as ''Amir-e-Arcot'') is a hereditary and titular position held by the head of the [[Amir Mahal|House of Arcot]], a noble Muslim family based in [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]. Although it holds no sovereign power, the title continues to carry ceremonial, religious, and cultural significance in South India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Princes of Arcot |url=https://www.princeofarcot.in/princes |website=Prince of Arcot Official Website |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><br />
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== History ==<br />
The Arcot title originates from the [[Nawab of the Carnatic]] dynasty. In 1855, following the death of Ghulam Muhammad Ghouse Khan without a male heir, the [[British East India Company]] annexed the Carnatic using the [[Doctrine of Lapse]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Subramanian |first=T. |title=History of Tamil Nadu (1311–1801) |publisher=Manonmaniam Sundaranar University |year=2023 |pages=221–223 |url=https://www.msuniv.ac.in/images/distance%20education/learning%20materials/ug%20pg%202023/ug%202021/BA%20History%202023%20english%20medium/JMHY22_II%20Sem_History_of_TamilNadu_1311_1801.pdf |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><br />
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In 1867, Queen Victoria created the title of '''Prince of Arcot''' in favour of '''Azim Jah''', a close relative of the Nawabs of the Carnatic, recognising his family’s long loyalty to the British Crown.<ref>{{cite web |title=House of Arcot – Historical Overview |url=https://www.princeofarcot.in/copy-of-princes |website=Prince of Arcot Official Website |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Azeem Jah Nawab Of The Carnatic - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1863-07-07/debates/cecc80e3-4ba0-4a90-adaf-1d5ee4eb4e31/AzeemJahNawabOfTheCarnatic |access-date=2025-11-22 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |language=en}}</ref><br />
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== List of Princes of Arcot ==<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
! !! Name !! Reign !! Notes<br />
|-<br />
| 1 || [[Azim Jah]]|| 1867 –1874 || First Prince; granted title by Queen Victoria.<ref name="POA">{{cite web |title=Princes of Arcot |url=https://www.princeofarcot.in/princes |website=Prince of Arcot Official Website |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><br />
|-<br />
| 2 || [[Zahir-ud-Daula|Sir Zahir-ud-Daula Bahadur]]|| 1874 – 1879 || Eldest son of Azim Jah.<ref name="POA" /><br />
|-<br />
| 3 || [[Intizam-ul-Mulk|Intizam-ul-Mulk Bahadur]]|| 1879 – 1889 || Younger brother of Zahir-ud-Daula.<ref name="POA" /><br />
|-<br />
| 4 || [[Muhammad Munawar Khan|Sir Muhammad Munawar Khan Bahadur]]|| 1889 – 1903 || Died during the Delhi Durbar of 1903.<ref name="POA" /><br />
|-<br />
| 5 || [[Ghulam Muhammad Ali Khan|Ghulam Muhammad Ali Khan Bahadur]]|| 1903 – 1952 || Held the title “His Highness”; active in civic bodies.<ref name="POA" /><br />
|-<br />
| 6 || [[Ghulam Mohiuddin Khan|Ghulam Mohiuddin Khan Bahadur]]|| 1952 – 1969 || Continued ceremonial functions.<ref name="POA" /><br />
|-<br />
| 7 || [[Ghulam Mohammed Abdul Khader]]|| 1969 – 1993 || Seventh Prince.<ref name="POA" /><br />
|-<br />
| 8 || [[Muhammed Abdul Ali]]|| 1993 – present || Current Prince; noted for philanthropy and interfaith dialogue.<ref name="POA" /><br />
|}<br />
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== Role and Recognition ==<br />
Although the [[Privy purse in India|abolition of royal privileges in 1971]] removed constitutional recognition for Indian princes, the Prince of Arcot continues to be regarded as a traditional community leader and a custodian of Muslim endowments in Tamil Nadu. <br />
The Prince oversees the '''Prince of Arcot Endowments''', managing mosques, schools, and charitable trusts in India and abroad.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Prince of Arcot Endowments |url=https://www.princeofarcot.in/contributions |website=Prince of Arcot Official Website |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><br />
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== Amir Mahal ==<br />
The Prince resides at [[Amir Mahal]] in Chennai, a 19th-century Indo-Saracenic palace that continues to serve as the seat of the family.<ref>{{cite news |last=Balachandran |first=Manasa R. |title=The Prince of Arcot on history and the Amir Mahal tradition |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/the-prince-of-arcot-on-history-and-the-amir-mahal-tradition/article24161639.ece |work=The Hindu |date=14 June 2018 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><br />
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== Legal status, controversies, and criticism ==<br />
The legitimacy of continuing to use the title “Prince of Arcot” and the maintenance of his privileges have occasionally been subjects of public debate and legal scrutiny.<br />
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=== 2019 Madras High Court case ===<br />
In 2019, a public interest litigation was filed before the [[Madras High Court]] seeking the withdrawal of the Prince’s title, pension, and government maintenance of Amir Mahal. The petitioner argued that such privileges contradicted the [[Constitution of India]], especially after the [[Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of India|1971 abolition of princely recognition]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Plea for removal of Nawab Ali’s 'Prince of Arcot' title rejected |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2019/Sep/06/plea-for-removal-of-nawab-alis-prince-of-arcot-title-rejected-2030113.html |work=The New Indian Express |date=6 September 2019 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><br />
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A Division Bench comprising [[S. Manikumar|Justices S. Manikumar]] and [[Subramonium Prasad]] dismissed the PIL, holding that:<br />
* The Prince’s pension and privileges were ''administrative arrangements'', not constitutional entitlements. <br />
* The title’s continued ceremonial use did not violate Article 363A or any existing legal provision. <br />
* The petition lacked merit and was “''misconceived and without substance''.”<ref>{{cite news |title=HC junks PIL against 'Prince of Arcot' title |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/hc-junks-pil-against-prince-of-arcot-title/articleshow/71017203.cms |work=The Times of India |date=6 September 2019 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Privileges of Prince of Arcot remain intact as HC dismisses PIL |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/070919/privileges-of-prince-of-arcot-remain-intact-as-hc-dismisses-pil.html |work=Deccan Chronicle |date=7 September 2019 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><br />
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=== Criticism and public debate ===<br />
Scholars and commentators have periodically questioned whether hereditary titles such as “Prince of Arcot” align with the egalitarian principles of the Indian Republic. Critics argue that the continued government maintenance of Amir Mahal and payment of pensions may symbolically contradict the abolition of royal privileges.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why the Prince of Arcot still matters in Tamil Nadu’s social life |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/why-prince-arcot-still-matters-tamil-nadu-s-social-life-107686 |work=The News Minute |date=7 September 2019 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><br />
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However, supporters claim that the title is purely honorary and that the Prince’s social and charitable work justify limited government support for the upkeep of historical properties and endowments.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Prince of Arcot’s enduring influence in Chennai |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/the-prince-of-arcot-enduring-influence/article24917620.ece |work=The Hindu |date=10 September 2018 |access-date=9 October 2025}}</ref><br />
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== See also ==<br />
* [[Nawab of the Carnatic]] <br />
* [[Amir Mahal]] <br />
* [[Carnatic Wars]]<br />
* [[Carnatic Sultanate]]<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* [https://www.princeofarcot.in Official website of the House of Arcot]<br />
* [https://www.princeofarcot.in/contributions The Prince of Arcot Endowments]<br />
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[[Category:Indian nobility]]<br />
[[Category:Titles in India]]</div>Eldarljt