'''' Khan Bahadur ''', (Urdu: خان بهادر, Hindi: खान ;- a compound of khan (leader) and Bahadur (Brave) - was a formal title of respect and honour, which was conferred exclusively on Muslim subjects of the British Indian Empire.[1] It was a title one degree higher than the title of Khan Sahib.
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 Bahadur" 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 Bahadur".
The chronological list of recipients below is not exhaustive
31st December 1895 Sardar Mir Muhammad Hassan Gichki of Sami .(Makran Balochistan)
Sultan Abdul rahman Ali Raja, House of Arakkal.
1920, Rana Talia Muhammad Khan for meritorious services.
1922, Sardar Nawab Khan Luni Sardar of Luni Tribe, For meritorious services in Balochistan .(Luni,Balochistan)
1925, Muhammad Salim 'Ali Adviser on Arab affairs in Aden.
1925, Khan Bahadur Aga Syed Hussain , then Governor of Kashmir,later the First Muslim Minister to Maharaja Hari Singh in the Dogra Rule,awarded for his meritorious services.
1928, Alhaj Ghulam Muhammad Khan son of Khan Naurang Khan, an elder of Spin Gund faction of Lakki Marwat was awarded this title for streamlining cordial relationship between the British and hostile Spin Gund tribe of Lakki Marwat. The Deputy Commissioner/Collector of District Bannu/Edwardabad at that time Major A.E.D. Parton had to send his medal and Sanad through a messenger as he declined to attend the public awarding ceremony at Deputy Commissioner's Office in Bannu.
1929 Khan Bahadur P.Kalifullah Sahib Dewan of Pudukottai ,co- founder of justice party
1929, Khan Bahadur General Fateh Naseeb Khan was awarded the title of Khan Bahadur on 17 January 1929 (Alwar State Forces)
1943, Rao Qurban Ali khan, Hen Bane Nursery , (established in 1912 ) saharanpur
1945, Maulvi Mahammad Roufique, Chairman, Nowgaon local board.
1948, Muhammad Hassan Khan , 1st DG Survey of Pakistan later , belongs to Domeli near Jhelum. He served in Royal Army as well as a Lt Col. One of the most courageous and generous officers. Fought in (World War II). Father of Lt Col. Qurban Hassan Khan, Chief Instructor ISI.
1948, KHANBAHADUR YAR MUHAMMED KHAN BARRECH, SON TO WALI MUHAMMED KHAN BARRECH. EARNED THIS TITLE BECAUSE OF HIS ENOURMOUS HELP IN THE EARTHQUAKE THAT STRUCK QUETTA ON THE 31 OF MAY 1935
