Khan Sahib (Bengali: খ়ান সাহিব, Hindi: ख़ान साहिब, Urdu: خان صاحب) - a compound of khan (leader) and sahib (master) - was a formal title of respect and honour, which was conferred exclusively on Muslim, Parsi and Jewish subjects of the British Indian Empire. It was a title one degree higher than the title of Khan.
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 foár 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.
1918, Pir Syed Karam Shah of Shorkot via letter from Viceroy Barnes Court Simla. Original letter and Parchment document still available (3 June 1918).
1919, Munshi Farzad Ali (medal, 3 June 1919)
1920, Rana Talia Muhammad Khan for meritorious services (later awarded higher title of "Khan Bahadur")
1921, Mohammad wali jaun(john)
1922, Ghias-ud-din Saiyid Abdul Karim Sahib inspector general awarded title of Khan shahib.
1926, shah muhammad abdul hakeem faridi superitendent kotadowar awarded title of Khan shahib.
1923, Mehr Abadan, Founder of Zimindara High School Dasua Lyallpur District, Punjab
1925, Muhammad Salim 'Ali Adviser on Arab affairs in Aden (later awarded higher title of "Khan Bahadur")
1925, Manadathu Kunjoo Khader Pillai Municipal President,Alwaye,Madras States awarded the title of Khan Sahib for his meritorious service during the great flood of 1925.
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 (later awarded the higher title of Khan Bahadur) and Thakkar
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 General Fateh Naseeb Khan (Alwar State Forces)
1931, Khan Bahadur Sheikh Amir Ali, Deputy superintendent of Police, Punjab of Bhera got the title of "KHAN SAHIB" by the 32nd Viceroy and Governor General of India as a personal distinction(later awarded higher title of "Khan Bahadur")
1932, Syed Ahmed Rashid for his outstanding services in the field of sports and social activities in India.
1935, Zaildar Mian Noor Ahmad Bhatti of Khanpur for his loyalty, goodwill, services and being the most enlightened men in Sikandarabad.
1939, Jalal ud din Jalal Baba for his services in Hazara district and displaying leadership qualities.
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
1933, Dossabhoy Muncherji Raja
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
1935, Malik Ghulam Hussain, Musaufi, Kalat State, Mastung. (November 19, 1935)
1895, Shah mirza son of gilgit awarded khan sahib title for relief of chitral
1939, Moulavi Huosain Reza, Inspector of police, Bengal presidency Kolkata, was recipient of award KHAN SAHIB
1937, S.M Ghulam Haider Khan, Swat Levies North west frontier province.
1940, To Sahibzada Khurshid Ali Khan in recognition of services for the British Indian government. He served in the British foreign service in the 1940s. He was from wayanwali sharif, distt. Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan.He resigned from British foreign service in 1947 on the request of Mohammad Ali Jinnah conveyed to him by Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan. Then he was appointed as the High Commissioner of Pakistan in Iraq and at that time Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan was appointed High Commissioner in Iran who was a very close companion of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
1941, Maulvi Mahammad Roufique, Chairman, Nowgaon local board, Assam recipient of award KHAN SAHIB and he is also recipient of the title KHAN BAHADUR on 1 January 1945.
1941, 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, he fought in (World War II). Later he was also given the title of Khan Bahadur. Because of him Pakistan Occupied 3871 sq km more in separation through the red cliff award. Died on 21 Dec 1948. Father of Lt Col Qurban Hassan Khan, Chief Instructor ISI.
1941, Mohsinuddin Khan Kakarzai, Municipal Medical Officer of Health, Budaun, United Provinces, recipient of award KHAN SAHIB l
1942, Khan Muhammad Khan
1944, Sheikh Jan Mohammad
1943, Maulvi Abdul Kareem
1945, Syed Ahmed Quadri
1945, Qazi Zafar Hussain
1945, Syed Mohammed Zakaria from Central Indian Police Service was awarded the title of Khan Sahib in recognition of his distinguished service to the British Empire.
1946, Choudhary Daswandi Khan Virk, World War Warrior, Superintendent of Police, Lasbela, Resident of Village Virk, Distt. Sialkot, Father of Ch Zafar Iqbal Virk, Ch Khizer Iqbal Virk, Ch Mehmood Iqbal Virk and Ch Javed Iqbal Virk (former candidate of MNA Tehsil Pasrur)
1946, Pallonji Nusserwanji Panthaky, for charitable work in Karauli, Rajasthan.
1946, Al Haj Ahmed Salman Al Ostath from Kuwait, received the title of Khan Sahib as a personal distinction.
