Dewan/Dewan Bahadur, Sir Veeraraghavapuram Nagam Aiya | |
|---|---|
 Portrait of Sir V. Nagam Aiya | |
| Dewan Peishkar of Travancore | |
| In office 1870–1906 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1850 Veeraraghavapuram, Madras Presidency, British India |
| Died | 1917 |
| Children | Lalitha Janaki |
| Alma mater | Maharajah's College, Madras University |
| Occupation | Civil Servant, historian, politician, administrator |
Diwan Bahadur Sir Veeraraghavapuram Nagam Aiya (c. 1850 December – 1917) was an Indian pioneer, historian, civil servant, and chronicler who served as the Dewan in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore.
Dewan Bahadur/Diwan Bahadur was a title of honor awarded during British Raj.[1][2] It was awarded to individuals who had performed great service to the nation. It was an equivalent of the "Civil Division" of the British Order of the Bath. The title was accompanied by a medal called a Title Badge. Dewan literally means Prime Minister in Indian context and Bahadur means brave.
This title was above Rao Bahadur title and usually people with Rao Bahadur were elevated to status of Dewan Bahadur.[1][3]
Further, the Prime Ministers of Indian Princely States were known as Dewan/Diwan. They were also given or promoted directly to the title of Dewan Bahadur by British authorities on being appointed as Dewan, to suit their post.