§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether it is the case that the new Indian title of Her Majesty has been officially translated "Kaiser-è-Hind;" and, if so, whether he can be so good as to inform the House why the Viceroy has thought proper to use a German title, Kaiser, as unknown to the Natives as the English one, and to set it out in a Persian language, as little known to most of them as the English language?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONIt is true that the official translation of Her Majesty's new title in India is Kaiser-è-Hind. The second part of the hon. Member's Question is of a somewhat controversial nature. Since it has been on the Notice Paper I have received a large number of communications from distinguished Oriental scholars, and perhaps the hon. Gentleman will be surprised to learn that one and all express the most indignant astonishment that an hon. Gentleman of such high Indian experience should have fallen into the 1212 error of assuming that the title is a German title, or that it is unknown to the Natives of India. From these distinguished authorities I understand that the word "Kaiser" is an old Arabic word, which has been much used for many centuries in the East both in writing and speaking, and thoroughly understood by the educated Natives of India. The Viceroy of India adopted the title after long consultation with his Council, and with their unanimous approval. Amongst the Council were Sir William Muir and Sir Clive Bayley, who are admitted to be most distinguished Arabic scholars. Of course, I need not point out to the hon. Gentleman that India is not inhabited by one nation, and that India is not a country in which one language is spoken; but it is inhabited by many nations speaking different languages, and it was not therefore possible to adopt any one particular title which should be intelligible to all. The Viceroy, therefore, adopted this title because, in the opinion of those who were best qualified to offer any judgment on the question, it was the one most appropriate in a historical sense, and best understood by educated Natives, and most capable of easy and accurate rendering into the various vernacular tongues of India.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLMay I ask the noble Lord, Sir, in answer to the latter part of my Question, why the title which he describes as being known in Arabic is set forth in the Persian language?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONI believe the word "Kaiser" is an Arabic, a Persian, and a Greek word for it is in fact the Eastern rendering of Cæsar. If my hon. Friend will look into his Greek Testament, I think he will find the word "Kaiser" occurs there more than once.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLMay I ask the noble Lord to answer the latter part of my Question. It refers to the latter part of the title — é-Hind.