Khan Bahadur – a compound of Khan "Leader" and Bahadur "Brave" – was an 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 British 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".
Sanad of Khan Bahadur Shaikh Khan Mohammed Qureshi of Bohar Mohallah Rawalpindi. 1921, Delhi
The following is an incomplete chronological list of selected recipients:
1903: Khan Bahadur Din Muhammad, Extra Assistant Commissioner, Kasur, in the Lahore District of the Punjab.[7]
1905: Muhammad Habibullah was awarded the title of Khan Bahadur by the Indian government[8]
1912: Khan Bahadur Sayed Rustom Ali (Registrar, Court of the Political Resident, Aden).[9]
1912: Khan Bahadur Nadir Husain, District Superintendent of Police, Bengal.[10]
1914: Khan Bahadur Muhammad Hira Khan (Civil Engineer from University of Roorkee (Gold Medalist); Supervisor, Public Works Department, Lucknow, United Provinces.[11]
1915: Khan Bahadur Atta Ullah Khan Tarar, Kolo Tarar Hafizabad, former Muslim member of the Council of State from the undivided Punjab.
1918: Khan Bahadur Sir Nawab Shah Jahan Khan, Was the Nawab of Dir (princely state), He became the Khan Bahadur in 1918)
1919: Khan Bahadur Muhammad Hussain Khan Swati, 5th Chief of Swati tribe.[12]
The first shield is of Khan Sahib presented to Khan Muhammad Hussain Khan Swati in 1916, the second shield is of Khan Bahadur presented to same person in 1921 while the third shield of Khan Sahib was presented to his nephew Khan Muhammad Aslam Khan Swati(7th Chief of Swati tribe).Picture is taken from a wall of Chief of Swati house at Garhi Habibullah
1923: Khan Bahadur Mian Muhammad Said, Bar-at-law, British-Indian Police and Minister in Royal State of Kapurthala.[13]
1925: Khan Bahadur Maulvi Gada Husain, (retired) Deputy Collector, United Provinces.[14][15]
1925: Khan Bahadur Maulvi Alimuzzaman Chaudhuri. M.L.C. Landholder and Chairman, District Board and Municipality, Faridpur.[16]
"Sanad" awarded in 1930 by Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India, to Syed Niaz Qutb
1931: Khan Bahadur Chaudhary Karam Elahi Chattha, Ahmed Nagar Wazirabad, Chief of Chattha, former Zaildar Gujaranwala undivided Punjab.
1932: Khan Bahadur Maulvi Muhammad Fazlul Karim, Magistrate, collector, and administrator of Refugees, Bengal.[21]
1933: Khan Bahadur Chaudhry Irshadullah Ranjha, Kot Sher Muhammad, Chief of Kirana Bar, MLA Member Punjab Legislative Assembly, former Zaildar Gujarat undivided Punjab.
1944: Al Haj Nawab Jam Kambhu Khan Chief of Samma (title of Nawab, Khan Bahadur, swords of honour), Khan Sahib Jam Mitha Khan (Khan Bahadur, Chief, Sanghar), Nawab Jam Jan Muhammad Khan (Member Legislative Assembly, title of Nawab, Sardar Bahadur, Khan Bahadur, OBE) S/O Jam Sharif Khan S/O Jam Nawaz Ali Khan who was the Nawab of the Samma and Junejo Tribes.
1946: Lieutenant Colonel Khan Bahadur Muhammad Hassan Khan (1900–1948), He belonged to Rasulpur near Domeli near Jehlum. He served in the British Royal Army during both World Wars, and the Pakistan Army in the 4th Battalion of Engineers Regiment. First Director General Survey of Pakistan. Appointed by Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He died on 21 December 1948. His son Lieutenant Colonel Qurban Hassan Khan (Late), 18th PMA Long Course, Chief Instructor Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), later adviser to the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. His grandson Lieutenant Colonel Faisal Hassan Khan serves in the Pakistani Army.
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
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
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Viceroy of India
