| Khan Bahadur | |
|---|---|
 Title Badge for Khan Bahadur | |
| Type | Civilian Honour |
| Country |  British India |
| Presented by | .svg){kind=small} Viceroy of India |
| Eligibility | Muslim Indian, Zoroastrian Indian |
| Status | Discontinued (since 1947) |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Nawab Bahadur |
| Equivalent | Rao Bahadur Sardar Bahadur |
| Next (lower) | Khan Sahib |
Khan Bahadur – a compound of Khan "Leader" and Bahadur "Brave" – was an honorary title in British India conferred on Indian subjects who were adherents of Islam or Zoroastrianism. The equivalent title for Hindus, Buddhists and Indian Christians was Rao Bahadur/Rai Bahadur and Sardar Bahadur for Sikhs. The title of Khan Bahadur was one degree higher than the title of Khan Sahib.
The title was conferred on individuals for faithful service or acts of public welfare to the British Empire. Recipients were entitled to prefix the title to their name and were presented with a special Title Badge and a citation (Sanad). It was conferred on behalf of the Government of British India by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India.[1]
Awarding of the Khan Bahadur title was discontinued in 1947 upon the independence of India.[2]
The title "Khan Bahadur" was originally conferred in Mughal India on Muslim subjects in recognition of public services rendered and was adopted by British India for the same purpose and extended to cover other non-Hindu subjects of India. Hindu subjects of British India were conferred the title of "Rai Bahadur".
- ^ H. Taprell Dorling. (1956). Ribbons and Medals. A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. p. 111.
- ^ Sharma, B. K. Introduction to the Constitution of India, published by Prentice-Hall, India, 2007, ISBN 8120332466, p. 83.