Khan Sahib is a compound of Khan "Leader" and Sahib "Master" - was a formal title of respect and honour, which was conferred mainly on Muslim, but also to Parsi, Irani, and Jewish subjects of the British Indian Empire.[1] It was a title one degree lower than Khan Bahadur, but higher than that of Khan.
The title was conferred along with a Title Badge and a citation (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.[2]
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.[1]
The chronological list of recipients below is not exhaustive.
1904 Khan Sahib Karmally Joosab for personal distinction.
1912 Ismail Merathi Indian poet and educationist, was given the title for his literary and educational services.[3]
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.[6]
Khan Sahib titte of Col. Khan Muhammad Khan.
1940: Khan Muhammad Aslam Khan Swati, 7th Chief of Swati tribe who later got title of Khan Bahadur too. He was son of 6th Chief of Swati tribe Khan Muhammad Akram Khan Swati and nephew of 5th Chief of Swati tribe Khan Bahadur Muhamad Hussain Khan.[7]
The first shield is of Khan Sahib presented to Khan Muhammad Hussain Khan Swati(5th Chief of Swati tribe) 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 7th Chief Khan Bahadur Muhammad Aslam Khan Swati. Picture is taken from a wall of Chief of Swati house at Garhi Habibullah.
1943 Shaikh Muhammad Abdul Sattar Sahib Bahadur Deputy Superintendent of Police, Madras, Awarded by Victor Hope, 2nd Marquess of Linlithgow (Viceroy & Governor-General of India).
Colonel Khan Muhammad Khan from Poonch, 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.[8]
1940 Sahibzada Khurshid Ali Khan for his public services by the British India Government. He served in foreign service in Iraq and Sri Lanka. He belonged to Sahibzada family of Wayanwali, Punjab, Pakistan.
^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
^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) ISBN978-969-8983-58-1
^"Archive copy". Ittefaq.Com. 30 October 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2011.((cite news)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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