IOR/R/15/2/82

The file concerns the award of Indian and British titles and honours to local rulers and members of their families, prominent local citizens, officials of the Government of Bahrain, and members of staff of the Political Agency, Bahrain.

The correspondence is mainly between the Political Agent, Bahrain (also spelled Bahrein) and the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf (and members of his staff). Other correspondents include the High Commissioner for Iraq (Major-General Sir Percy Zachariah Cox); the Political Agent and Consul, Muscat; and Charles Dalrymple Belgrave (Adviser to the Government of Bahrain). Enclosures to correspondence from the Political Residency include correspondence between the Residency and officials of the Government of India.

The main topics covered in the correspondence are: recommendations for the award of honours, including discussion of individuals; rules for the awarding of Indian titles; the award of Indian titles to members of the Clerical Establishment, Bahrain; rules governing the wearing of insignia; the award of a further honour to Haji Yusuf bin Ahmad Kanoo [Yūsuf bin Aḥmad Kanoo], including a detailed report on his character and political interests, October - November 1920 (folios 15-29), further correspondence concerning Kanoo, January 1922 (folios 34-35), and the presentation to Kanoo of the insignia of the order of Companion of the Indian Empire (CIE), January - February 1924 (folios 49 and 51); the eventual award to Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa [Ḥamad bin ‘Īsā Āl Khalīfah], Ruler of Bahrain, of the title of Knight Commander of the Indian Empire (KCIE), and to Belgrave of the title of Companion of the Indian Empire (CIE), November 1932 - July 1935 (folios 61-83); and the award to Belgrave of the title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), January - June 1936 (folios 84-88).