Cultures the world over use special terms in order to denote honor and prestige. Duke, Duchess, Baron, and King, to name a few, have been used in the Western world for millenia.

These titles simply mean that the individuals are to be exalted and esteemed above the commoners, to no specific degree though.

But in India the title of Sawai is remarkably precise.

Sawai literally means a quarter over 1 in strength and/or intelligence…one and a quarter of the average man in worth.

Jai Singh II of Jaipur was named a Sawai at a young age in 1699 after the reigning Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb was,

Impressed by his [Jai Singh’s] wit.

A simple joke could earn the title of Sawai.

Sawai therefore does not necessarily dictate a person who is all-around more talented than the average person. Rather Sawai indicates someone who is superior in one facet of life.

The Sawai title is hereditary, making all the descendants of a present-day Sawai equally 25% above the common human.