Khan Bahadur – a compound of Khan "Leader" and Bahadur "Brave" – was a honorary title in British India conferred on Indian subjects who were adherents of
Islam or
Zoroastrianism. The equivalent title for Hindus, Buddhists and Indian Christians was Rao Bahadur/Rai Bahadur and Sardar Bahadur for Sikhs. The title of Khan Bahadur was one degree higher than the title of
Khan Sahib.
The title was conferred on individuals for faithful service or acts of public welfare to the Empire. Recipients were entitled to prefix the title to their name and were presented with a special
Title Badge and a citation (Sanad). It was conferred on behalf of the Government of British India by the
Viceroy and Governor-General of India.[1]
Awarding of the Khan Bahadur title was discontinued in 1947 upon the independence of India.[2]
The title "Khan Bahadur" was originally conferred in Mughal India on Muslim subjects in recognition of public services rendered and was adopted by British India for the same purpose and extended to cover other non-Hindu subjects of India. Hindu subjects of British India were conferred the title of "
Rai Bahadur".
Recipients
The following is a chronological list of selected recipients (the list below is not exhaustive):
1905:
Muhammad Habibullah was awarded the title of Khan Bahadur by the Indian government[7]
1912: Khan Bahadur Sayed Rustom Ali (Registrar, Court of the Political Resident, Aden).[8]
1912: Khan Bahadur, Nadir Husain, District Superintendent of Police, Bengal.[9]
1914: Khan Bahadur Muhammad Hira Khan, (Civil Engineer from University of Roorkee (Gold Medalist); Supervisor, Public Works Department, Lucknow, United Provinces.[10]
^"The Gazette of India Extraordinary, Jan 1st 1925". The Gazette of India: 6–7. 1925.
^"The New Year's Honours List". The Civil and Military Gazette. 1 January 1925. pp. 3–4.
^The Quarterly Civil List for Bengal. Corrected up to 1st April 1930. Appendix. Part II. List of Title-Holders and Recipients of Decorations, etc., in Bengal. Page No. 67
^Vārshika Riporṭa. Department of India Posts and Telegraphs, British Government of India. 1929.
^Government of Bengal. The Bengal Civil List (Published annually). Corrected up to 1 July 1944. No. 279. Part II - List of Persons in Bengal Holding Titles Conferred or Recognized by His Excellency The Viceroy. Page 443
^The Bengal Civil List (Published half yearly) corrected up to 1 January 1937; Appendix – List of Title-Holders and Recipients of Decorations, etc. Page 696
^Government of Bengal. The Bengal Civil List (Published annually). Corrected up to 1 July 1944. No. 279. Part II - List of Persons in Bengal Holding Titles Conferred or Recognized by His Excellency The Viceroy. Page 444
1944: "Khan Bahadur Sardar Aurangzeb", the Rais of Malal, As an Assistant Commissioner in the Indian Civil Services. (Published annually). Corrected up to 1 July 1944. No. 279. Part II - List of Persons in Bengal Holding Titles Conferred or Recognized by His Excellency The Viceroy. Page 445
^Proceedings of the joint sitting of the two chambers of the United Provinces Legislature. Official report. Vol. 16. United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (India). Legislature. 1940. p. 29.
OCLC15722918. Khan Babadur Khwaja Azizul Hasan Ghori, B.A., Inspector of Schools, Allahabad
Khan Bahadur – a compound of Khan "Leader" and Bahadur "Brave" – was a honorary title in British India conferred on Indian subjects who were adherents of
Islam or
Zoroastrianism. The equivalent title for Hindus, Buddhists and Indian Christians was Rao Bahadur/Rai Bahadur and Sardar Bahadur for Sikhs. The title of Khan Bahadur was one degree higher than the title of
Khan Sahib.
The title was conferred on individuals for faithful service or acts of public welfare to the Empire. Recipients were entitled to prefix the title to their name and were presented with a special
Title Badge and a citation (Sanad). It was conferred on behalf of the Government of British India by the
Viceroy and Governor-General of India.[1]
Awarding of the Khan Bahadur title was discontinued in 1947 upon the independence of India.[2]
The title "Khan Bahadur" was originally conferred in Mughal India on Muslim subjects in recognition of public services rendered and was adopted by British India for the same purpose and extended to cover other non-Hindu subjects of India. Hindu subjects of British India were conferred the title of "
Rai Bahadur".
Recipients
The following is a chronological list of selected recipients (the list below is not exhaustive):
1905:
Muhammad Habibullah was awarded the title of Khan Bahadur by the Indian government[7]
1912: Khan Bahadur Sayed Rustom Ali (Registrar, Court of the Political Resident, Aden).[8]
1912: Khan Bahadur, Nadir Husain, District Superintendent of Police, Bengal.[9]
1914: Khan Bahadur Muhammad Hira Khan, (Civil Engineer from University of Roorkee (Gold Medalist); Supervisor, Public Works Department, Lucknow, United Provinces.[10]
^"The Gazette of India Extraordinary, Jan 1st 1925". The Gazette of India: 6–7. 1925.
^"The New Year's Honours List". The Civil and Military Gazette. 1 January 1925. pp. 3–4.
^The Quarterly Civil List for Bengal. Corrected up to 1st April 1930. Appendix. Part II. List of Title-Holders and Recipients of Decorations, etc., in Bengal. Page No. 67
^Vārshika Riporṭa. Department of India Posts and Telegraphs, British Government of India. 1929.
^Government of Bengal. The Bengal Civil List (Published annually). Corrected up to 1 July 1944. No. 279. Part II - List of Persons in Bengal Holding Titles Conferred or Recognized by His Excellency The Viceroy. Page 443
^The Bengal Civil List (Published half yearly) corrected up to 1 January 1937; Appendix – List of Title-Holders and Recipients of Decorations, etc. Page 696
^Government of Bengal. The Bengal Civil List (Published annually). Corrected up to 1 July 1944. No. 279. Part II - List of Persons in Bengal Holding Titles Conferred or Recognized by His Excellency The Viceroy. Page 444
1944: "Khan Bahadur Sardar Aurangzeb", the Rais of Malal, As an Assistant Commissioner in the Indian Civil Services. (Published annually). Corrected up to 1 July 1944. No. 279. Part II - List of Persons in Bengal Holding Titles Conferred or Recognized by His Excellency The Viceroy. Page 445
^Proceedings of the joint sitting of the two chambers of the United Provinces Legislature. Official report. Vol. 16. United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (India). Legislature. 1940. p. 29.
OCLC15722918. Khan Babadur Khwaja Azizul Hasan Ghori, B.A., Inspector of Schools, Allahabad