Khan Sahib

Khan Sahib is a compound of khan (leader) and sahib (master) - was a formal title of respect and honour, which was conferred exclusively on Muslim, Parsi, Irani, and Jewish subjects of the British Indian Empire.[1] It was a title one degree higher than the title of Khan.

Khan Sahib Medal
Awarded by Viceroy & Governor-General of India on behalf of the British Indian Government
TypeCivil decoration
EligibilityMuslim, Parsi and Jewish Commonwealth subjects of British India
Awarded forPublic service
StatusDiscontinued since 1947
Post-nominalsKS
Statistics
Last awarded1947
Precedence
Next (higher)Khan Bahadur (title)
EquivalentRai Sahib (for Hindus)
Next (lower)Khan
Sanad (Citation) conferring the title of Khan Sahib to Dossabhoy Muncherji Raja

The title was conferred along with a medal and a citation (or sanad) and the recipient was entitled to prefix the title to his name. The title was conferred on behalf of the British Indian Government by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.

The title "Khan Sahib" was originally conferred by the Mughal Empire on Muslim subjects in recognition of public services rendered and was adopted by the British Indian Empire for the same purpose. Hindu subjects of the British Indian Empire were conferred the title of "Rai Sahib". Since there were no separate titles for Parsi and Jewish subjects, the British Indian Empire conferred the Muslim title of Khan Sahib to Parsi and Jewish subjects as well.

Recipients

The chronological list of recipients below is not exhaustive.

  • 1925, M.K. Khader Pillay, Municipal President of Alwaye, for meritorious service during the Great Flood of 99
  • 1943 Rt.Hon Captain Khan Sahib Malik Fetah Sher Khan Pindigheb Attock Extra Recruiting Officer(Honarary Military Cross, OBI, IOM, Star Of India)
  • 1930,Khan Sahib Musharraf Hossain, Inspector of Schools, Dacca Division, of Kashba Majail, Pangsha, Faridpur.[2]
  • 1931, Chaudhry Niaz Ali Khan of Jamalpur for public service spanning 30 years by the 32nd Viceroy and Governor-General of India, Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1st Marquess of Willingdon[3]
  • 1933, Dossabhoy Muncherji Raja, first native Indian to be appointed 'Principal Appraiser' of precious stones for the customs office of the Bombay Presidency
  • 1934, Mir Afzal Khan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, for meritorious police services awarded by the 22nd Viceroy and Governor-General of India, The Earl of Willingdon[4]
Khan Sahib titte of Col. Khan Muhammad Khan
  • Colonel Khan Muhammad Khan from Poonch, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan was given the Khan Sahib title for his commitment and selfless service to the people of Kashmir on 11 June 1942 by Viceroy & Governor-General of India on behalf of the British Government.[5]

See also

References
  1. Joan G. Roland (1998). The Jewish communities of India. Transaction Publishers. p. 35. ISBN 0765804395. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  2. Government of Bengal. "The Bengal Civil List (Published annually). Corrected up to 1st July 1944". No. 279. Part II - List of Persons in Bengal Holding Titles Conferred or Recognized by His Excellency The Viceroy Page 446
  3. Azam, K.M., Hayat-e-Sadeed: Bani-e-Dar ul Islam Chaudhry Niaz Ali Khan (A Righteous Life: Founder of Dar ul Islam Chaudhry Niaz Ali Khan), Lahore: Nashriyat, 2010 (583 pp., Urdu) ISBN 978-969-8983-58-1
  4. "Archive copy". Ittefaq.Com. 30 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Yagana e Kashmir by Brig M. Sadiq Khan and Dr Ghulam Hussain Azhar
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