Deshmukh
Deshmukh (Marathi: देशमुख) or Dēśamukh was a historical title given to a person who was granted a territory of land, in certain regions of India, specifically Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka and Telangana. In Marathi, Desh means a country and mukh means head or the chief; thus, deshmukh means "the head" of a district. The granted territory was usually referred to as the Dēśamukhi. The deshmukh was in effect the ruler of the territory, as he was entitled to the collected taxes. It was also his duty to maintain the basic services in the territory, such as police and judicial duties. It was typically a hereditary system. The title of Deshmukh provided the titled family with revenues from the area and the responsibility to keep the order. For this reason, Deshmukh is loosely translated as 'patriot' and the name still commands respect today. Depending on the extent of the estate, the title is equivalent to that of a count or duke within the European aristocratic system.
The deshmukh system was abolished after the independence of India in 1947, when the government confiscated most of the land of the Deshmukhs. Some families however maintain their status as real estate barons, most notably in Mumbai, with hold over properties that were not taken away.
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