Khan Sahib


Khan Sahib - a compound of Khan "Leader" and Sahib "Master" - was a formal title of respect and honour, which was conferred mainly on Muslim, and also on Parsi, Irani, and Jewish subjects of the British Indian Empire. 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 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.
The chronological list of recipients below is not exhaustive.
File:Medals Chief of Swatis.jpg|thumb|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 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.
  • 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.
  • 1946 - Sheikh Shahabuddin was conferred the title by Lord Wavell for being a genius in the mechanical field, and for his honesty.
  • 1946 - Mian Ghulam Mohiuddin Alvi Awan Alhashmi indian trader was Awarded the Khan Sahib title Sanad & medal by Lord Wavell Voicroy of india for recognizing his trading work in india and Afghanistan.
  • Aziz al-Hasan Ghouri
  • 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.