Sardar Bahadur

Sardar Bahadur was a title of honour awarded to native Indian civilians and Viceroy's commissioned officers during British rule in India.[1] It was bestowed upon Sikhs,[2] and was awarded for faithful service or acts of public welfare. The title was used after any military rank, but before the title holder's name.[3] From 1911 holders of the title were also awarded a special Title Badge.[1]

Members of the first class of the Order of British India could also use the title of Sardar Bahadur, with members of the second class using Bahadur.[4]

The title of Sardar Bahadur was part of a wider honours system put in place by British India:[3][2]

First Class

Second Class

  • Khan Bahadur, for Muslims;
  • Rai Bahadur, (North India) or Rao Bahadur (South India), for Hindus;

Third Class

Those of other religions received the title considered most appropriate, for example native Indian Christians with a Hindu sounding name would receive a Hindu title.[2]

In most cases a recipient proceeded from the lowest grade to a higher level, with only the most senior title used.[1] Ranking below a knighthood, these titles were dropped by any holder who became a knight of a British Order, for example the Order of the Star of India or the Order of the Indian Empire.[3]

Sardar Bahadur and similar titles issued during British Raj were dis-established in 1947 upon the independence of India.[5]

See also

References
  1. John W. Mussell, editor (2015). Medal Yearbook 2015. Token Publishing Limited, Honiton, Devon. p. 305.
  2. Tagore, Abanindranath; Tagore, Gaganendranath (2018). Fantasy Fictions from the Bengal Renaissance: Abanindranath Tagore’s The Make-Believe Prince (Kheerer Putul); Gaganendranath Tagore’s Toddy-Cat the Bold (Bhondaṛ Bahadur). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-909217-8. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  3. Captain H. Taprell Dorling. (1956). Ribbons and Medals. A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. p. 111.
  4. "No. 34694". The London Gazette. 26 September 1939. p. 6511.
  5. Sharma, B. K. Introduction to the Constitution of India, Published by Prentice-Hall, India, 2007, ISBN 8120332466, p. 83.
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