Home > Indian History > History of India > Order of British India
Order of British India
Order of British India was an order of merit which was presented for long, faithful and service by the British East India Company. It was founded on 17 April 1837.

Share this Article:

Order of British IndiaThe Order of British India was an order of merit that was granted by the British East India Company. It was established on 17 April 1837 and was bestowed to members of the British Indian Army for long, faithful and honourable service. After the culmination of the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857- 1858, the East India Company and the Presidency Armies in British India came under the administrative authority of the British Empire in India. Consequently, the Order of British India was included as a part of the British honours system in the years 1859. However, the order of merit was disused after the partition of India and the Indian independence in the year 1947.

Medal of Order of British India
The medal of the Order of British India was generally bequeathed in 2 classes, namely the first class and the second class. The recipients of the Medal of the first class were allowed to utilise the title Sardar Bahadur (heroic leader) and the recipients second class were permitted to use the title Bahadur (hero). The receivers of both classes of medals also used the post-nominal letters OBI.

The Order of British India was normally presented for distinguished service on a particular campaign. However it was also granted to officers for providing service between 20 and 30 years.

Order of British India Recipients of Order of British India
The list of the recipients of the 2 classes of medals of the Order of British India are mentioned as below-

First Class Medals of Order of British India -
* Honorary Captain Sardar Bahadur Ranjit Singh Khatter OBI (1st Class, World War II)
* Sardar Bahadur Lt Col Dr Gopal Singh Chawla OBI (1st Class 1946)
* Subedar Major Sardar Bahadur Singh Atwal, OBI (1st Class, World War 2)
* Captain Sardar Bahadur Raja Larasahib Khan, OBI (1st Class 1939)
* Captain Sardar Bahadur Hazara Singh Bahad, OBI (1st Class)
* Honorary Captain Sardar Bahadur Mihr Din, OBI (1st Class 1918)
* Captain Sardar Bahadur Muhammad Ismail, IOM (3rd Class 1897), OBI (1st Class 1917)
* Honorary Captain Sardar Bahadur, Mihr Din, OBI (1st Class)
* Honorary Captain Sardar Bahadur Shankar Dass Randhawa, OBI (1st Class)
* Honorary Captain Sardar Bahadur Dr. Kartar Singh Grewal, OBI (1st Class 1939)
* Captain Sardar Bahadur Bhola Singh Gulia, OBI (1st Class)
* Captain Subedar Bahadur Nar Gurung, MC, OBI (1st Class)
* Lieutenant Colonel Sardar Bahadur Anop Singh, OBI (1st Class)
* Lieutenant Colonel Sardar Bahadur Aman Singh Jodha, OBI, IOM
* Lieutenant Sardar Bahadur Ahmadullah Khan, Khan Bahadur, IOM, OBI (1st Class 1 January 1909)
* Colonel Sardar Bahadur Hashim Ali Khan, Nawab Mir Hahsim Nawaz Jung, SB, OBI (1st Class 1897)
* Captain Sardar Bahadur Kalandar Khan Khattak of Jalozai Noshera, OBI (Chief of Khattaks and Zailidar of Peshawar, Dehli and Lahore)
* Captain Sardar Bahadur Zain Muhammad Khan, OBI (1st Class)
* Subedar Major Sardar Bahadur Oomar Khan, OBI (1st Class)
* HE Lieutenant Colonel Sardar Bahadur Raja Atta Ullah Khan, OBI (1st Class 1868) Subedar Major/Captain Sardar Bahadur Bishon Singh Kathait, OBI (1st Class, World War 2)
* Captain Sardar Bahadur Rup Singh, OBI (1st Class)
* Captain Sardar Bahadur th. khushal singh ugrawat, OBI (1st Class)
* Honorary Captain Sardar Bahadur Talib Shah, OBI (1st Class 1919)
* Captain Sardar Bahadur Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat, MBE, MC and Bar, OBI (1st Class) of Prithvipura
* Subedar Sardar Bahadur Hari Singh Thapa, OBI (1st Class)
* Subedar Major Sardar Bahadur Jodh Singh, OBI (1st Class)

Second Class Medals of Order of British India -
* Captain Bahadur Inayat Ullah Asmie, OBI (2nd Class)
* Sardar Subedar Bahadur Humail Khan, OBI (1st Class)
* Lieutenant Bahadur Mohammed Abdul Hafiz, OBI (2nd Class 1917)
* Sub Major Bahadur Syed Nazar Mohammad Shah, OBI (2nd Class)
* Captain Bahadur Syed Rasool Shah OBI (2nd Class)
* Subedar Major Bahadur Raja Nazar Muhammad Khan, OBI (2nd Class), IOM
* Subedar Bahadur Niaz Muhammad Khan, OBI (2nd Class), IOM
* Colonel Rao Bahadur Thakur Balu Singh ji Inderpura, OBI (2nd Class)
* Subedar Bahadur Richhpal Singh, OBI (2nd Class)
* Subedar Bahadur V. Parangusam Naidu OBI (2nd Class) RIASC
* Subedar Major Bahadur Jagindar Singh, OBI (2nd Class), IOM (2nd Class)
* Subedar Bahadur Maima Singh OBI (2nd Class), IOM, 15th Bengal Infantry


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India

History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
History of Khajuraho Temple
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is country’s most magnificent groups of temples.
History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years old and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History of Indian Photography
An overview of the development of photography, through the various stages in India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi began with the advent of Indian regal dynasties. Delhi witnessed the rise and fall of Hindu dynasties, Muslims and the British as well.
History of Indian Radio
History of Indian Radio dates back to late 1930s with the first establishment of All India Radio in 1936 that improved further after independence.
History of Punjab
History of Punjab dates back to the 16th century; however its formation is traced in the great epic Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
History of Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the land of charismatic Marathas, unfolds the legend of diverse culture and tradition, keeping in pace with the modernity. The gallant history of Maharashtra is still echoed amidst its historical relics and archeological wonders.
History of Kerala
History of Kerala can be interpreted from the inscriptions of Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor. History of Kerala is as interesting as its wide-ranging geographical features that make the land a place of versatile appeal.
History of Bihar
History of Bihar goes back to the very dawn of the human civilizations. Many eminent personalities and leaders from Bihar contributed for India’s freedom struggle.
History of Assam
In the ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Assam was known as `Kamarupa` or `Pragjyotish`. In the Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Tantras there are references of Assam as Kamrupa kingdom.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands.
History of West Bengal
History of West Bengal is rooted in richness and is an important episode in the history of India. The history of Bengal played an important role in shaping the history of India.
History of Jharkhand
One of the fairly newer states, Jharkhand was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar in 2000. The history of Jharkhand is seeped with a variety of cultural significances starting from the Vedic era to Mughal period and finally the British administration.
History of Sikkim
History of Sikkim declares the pre historic culture and the colonial era hilly politics and the rules of Sikkim.
History of Nagaland
The history of Nagaland mainly revolves around and deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga Tribes and how the state has evolved since the Indian Independence.
History of Mizoram
History of Mizoram includes the various historical events and incidents which occurred during the various ages, right from before the age of the Mughals.
History of Jammu & Kashmir
History of Jammu and Kashmir involves a series of political and geographical transformations from every ancient era to the modern times also. Even now, Jammu and Kashmir has its political tension between Pakistan and India.
History of Puducherry
Puducherry was invaded by different invaders in different times. The invaders include Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram, dynasties of the South, Cholas of Thanjavur, Pandyas and Muslim invaders.
History of Chandigarh
In 1947, the British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Punjab was also included in this partition. So, there was a need for a new capital for Punjab, as the old capital Lahore became part of Pakistan during the partition. So, in 1948, under the leadership of chief architect Mr. P.L. Verma the construction of Chandigarh city began.
History of Daman and Diu
During the early stage, i.e. from 8th to 13th century, Daman and Diu was part of Goa.
History of Lakshadweep
History of Lakshadweep defines the first settlement on these islands under the Union Territory of India that was ruled by Cheraman Perumal, who was the last king of Kerala.
History of Karnataka
History of Karnataka comprised of the different rulers of different dynasties of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, and later the Muslims.
History of Goa
History of Goa dates back to the 3rd century BC and reflects the rule of the mighty rulers and gained its independence under Jawaharlal Nehru.
History of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh possesses a rich historical heritage of culture of the ancient tribes. Being a bordering state of India, Arunachal Pradesh also has a history of military unrest since ancient Indian age.
History of Andhra Pradesh
History of Andhra Pradesh traces its origin back to the 5th century BC. According to the inscriptions, Kuberaka, the oldest Kingdom in South India had an empire in the coastal Andhra during that period.
History of Himachal Pradesh
History of Himachal Pradesh narrates about the various settlements and dynasties that emerged in the region over time.
History of Uttarakhand
History of Uttarakhand finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavat. Uttarakhand is called as the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines.
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan is dotted with tales of valor, chivalry, camaraderie and romance.
History of Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Nadu reveals that this ancient place in South India was ruled by various kingdoms like the Pandyas Dynasty, Cholas Dynasty, Nayakas Dynasty and Pallavas Dynasty.
History of Haryana
History of Haryana depicts various events and influences that have cast a profound effect on the culture and people of the district. The place gained statehood on 1st of November 1966
History of Odisha
History of Odisha goes back a rather long way. Most of the history of the state is replete with the dynastic as well as tribal struggle for territorial superiority. Odisha is a place where one can find the religion, culture and history flow in away that lead to cultural amalgamation of early India.
History of Manipur
History of Manipur can be traced back to the prehistoric ages and this was followed by a number of rulers who reigned the land from age to age till it came under British rule and later joined the union of India.
History of Gujarat
History of Gujarat can be dated back to the 14th century that later witnessed the supremacy of many powerful dynasties.
History of Tripura
History of Tripura is dealing with the early mythological history and the history of British rule in North eastern part of India.
History of Meghalaya
The history of Meghalaya predominantly comprises of the three tribes of the state- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Later on Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam.
History of Chhattisgarh
History of Chhattisgarh dates back to the era of epics and traces through the reign of powerful dynasties in India like Marathas. The area developed a rich cultural heritage during British era.