Sardar Bahadur

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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]

Contents

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] It was used for Sikhs or military officials.

First Class

Second Class

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]

Recipients

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 John W. Mussell, ed. (2015). Medal Yearbook 2015. Token Publishing Limited, Honiton, Devon. p. 305.
  2. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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.