This chromolithograph is taken from plate 17 of William Simpson's 'India: Ancient and Modern'. The Star of India was an Order of Knighthood for services to the Empire, set up by the first Viceroy of India, Lord Canning, and Sir Charles Wood of the India Office. It was awarded to high-ranking Indians as well as Europeans. The first such orders were presented on 1 November 1861 at Allahabad. Among the first to receive this honour from the Viceroy was Sikander Begum (1818-1868), the Nawab Begum of Bhopal, who appears in the centre of this picture. This was the only female ruler in India at the time, and had administered Bhopal since being made Regent in 1847, supporting the British during the uprising of 1857.
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