The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes: Knight Grand Commander (GCSI) Knight Commander (KCSI) Companion (CSI) No appointments have been made since the 1948 New Year Honours, shortly after the Partition of India in 1947. With the death of the last surviving knight, The Maharaja of Alwar, the order became dormant in 2009. The motto of the order is Heaven's light our guide. The "Star of India", the emblem of the order, also appeared on the flag of the Viceroy of India. The order is the senior order of chivalry associated with the Empire of India; the junior order is The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire, and there was also, for women only the Imperial Order of the Crown of India. It is the fifth-most-senior British order of chivalry, following The Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick, and The Most Honourable Order of the Bath. Read more at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Star_of_India

It is quite interesting to note the extent to which the British went to impose their own cultural values and social hierarchies overseas during the colonial era. The 'Star of India' and other honors and formal decorations are but one aspect of this phenomenon. It is often assumed that race and racial barriers were the defining characteristics of the British Empire ~ but ~ class (and class distinctions) played an equal if not more significant role in shaping the Imperial ethos. The Empire (certainly during the 19th century) was governed largely by aristocrats who were steeped in ancient feudal traditions and many of whom looked upon their colonial 'subjects' in exactly the same manner that they viewed the agricultural labourers who toiled on their estates in Britain ~ with aloofness certainly but also with a certain sense of duty for their well-being. The historian David Cannadine has written an engaging little book on this subject ~ 'Ornamentalism: How the British saw their Empire' (2001) ~ a review of which I forward below: http://www.history.ac.uk/reviews/reviews/review/202

In case you did not know these were to be returned to the mint after the recipient passed away. The recipient had to give a written decleration to this effect before he was given the breast star, colar chanis and the saha badge.

@ Sushil: Not all such honours. Quite a few are still in the possession with the descendents in the family.

pls. kindly ammend the " indian rebellion "to" indian freedom struggle " that is what needs to be changed now at least !!!!we are no more a colony !!! thank you !!!

Point taken...but I generally refrain from editing the source material.

kindly put it in bracket or a note ...since most of the material is old and at that time circumstances were different...having said that ..we must pass it to the next generation the correct information ...so i feel !!! thank you !

@Digvijay This was the rule for most of the high end expensive jewellery (awards). In early 1960s someone from one of the Princely states died, the British foreign secretary promptly wrote to his Indian counterpart asking him to ask the family to return the award. The Indians did not like the tone and manner of the request (the Brit thought we were still a colony) consequently they asked the Brits to deal directly with the family, as the agreement was between two and had nothing to do with the GOI. Essentially they were told to take a walk. As a result of this there were many who did not return them. Bahawalpur I know for a fact was one, they kept their KCSI. Sir Partab Singh’s were sold a few years ago.

@ Sushil: Well, absurd as it may appear today as 'Empire' has no meaning anymore, I have still seen few among erstwhile royalty wear it on their coat lapels and even it being used as a brooch by the ladies on their chiffons in few marriages.So certainly not all such conferred honours were returned.The British honours ceased being heriditary long back when the bestowed honours were accompanied by duchies etc. It is akin to independent India's civilian and military honours which are also not heriditary.Similarly 'Bacchan' was certainly not a heriditray honour but Amitabh continues to use it and so do his children.

Considering that the British considered India as their own land and a "jewel in the crown', it was only to be expected that they would confer the "orders" and "honours" on its own noble (our princes). I do not know if similar request (return of the precious and decorative brooches) was made of the recipients of the Queen's orders in England. Nevertheless I admire the gumption (and loyalty) of the British bureaucrat who wrote to the persona referred in Mr. Sushil Tiwari's post above even after the dissolution of the empire..

I wonder how many realise that the badge of the BCCI is the Star of India?

Compare "A Star of India" to "Victoria Cross"? Which was more valuable as a trinket?

@Skehar A VC at an average sells for about GBP 120,000 and more depending on the action, battle, regiment etc. etc . A CSI would be around Rs 50,000-75,000 depending on the gold weight, in the badge different production runs had different weight of the gold when was directly proportionate to the government's financial health. A KSCI which is complete i.e. both the neck and breast badges without enamel chips and missing diamonds would be 8 lacs/GBP 10,000 or there abouts. The basic difference between the two is that the VC is named so one can research the recipient where as the Star of India and other such awards are un-named so it can be anybodys. Just like our Padma awards. The largest collection of VCs is Lord Ashcroft's who has between 350-400 of the 1200 plus awarded. A special building was being built at the National Army Museum in London to house his collection. Britain is not awarding such jewellery any more - I cannot recall any off hand. The Star of India became obsolete at the stroke of the midnight hour of 14/15 Aug 1947.

I must say that I find it rather sad and distasteful that these medals, which are only awarded for acts of the utmoust valour, are sold at all. However, perhaps it is understandable why the recipients or their families feel obliged to do so when the amount of money on offer for them is revealed. Here is a link that details all such sales of the Victoria Cross since 1998. I am pleased to note, as Mr Talwar points out above, that Lord Ashcroft has purchased many of them: http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/aaauctio.htm

@ Shekhar I am sorry but calling a VC a trinket is rude and in bad taste.

Gentlmen please let's not tred that way, I'm sure no offence was meant.

Digvijay Singh Kushwaha I was half expecting the rebuke and I tried to push the envelop of English humour a bit too far. No offense meant, and sorry. The ornaments adorned many a proud chest in their times. I can then say it has the value of a King's ransom? (Sorry, a Queen's ransom!). Icons after all have a solid grip on the human mind.

The first thing I noticed was that the star was the BCCI emblem. I have the the star on the Indian cap for decades- didn't know the origins of it,and always wondered how light blue suddenly became a national colour.Now it all fits.

Pardon my ignorance ~ but does the acronym 'BCCI' have something to do with cricket ??

@Joe the old cap badge of the IMA was exactly this, the rays' in copper and the Star and the scroll in silver.

Julian Craig I don't think it is Bank of Credit and Commerce International! nor Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry. What else, other than cricket can incite passions? A remnant of the Raj or a remnant of India's socialist days? It is Board of Control for Cricket in India!! A rich and powerful fiefdom.

...Indeed, perhaps a little bit too "rich and powerful" for the good of the game internationally ? I can't say that I approve of this 20 / 20 phenomenon, largely an Indian invention, that threatens the traditions of the game (it's commercialising the sport) ~ still ~ I think that we would all agree (for a change) that Cricket is one entirely positive legacy of the British Raj ...