Think of said correspondent in terms of amiable upper class British twit whose conception of those foreign johnnies is that they may be a 'bit rum' but fair play demands they should be able to keep their traditional titles.

The fact that Maharaji sounds like Maharaja is enough for the link to be made. In English terms Rawat is a Fakir - with the attendant (if incorrect) association with fake. Of course we Brits understand that such nuances are a touch subtle for you colonials LOL.

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