Muhammad Habib Khan Tarin facts for kids
Muhammad Habib Khan Tarin (1829-1888) was an important cavalry officer in British India. He belonged to the Tarin family and lived in the Hazara region. He was known as a brave leader and received special honors like the Risaldar-Bahadur and the CSI.
Early Life and Challenges
Muhammad Habib Khan was born in 1829. His father, Karam Khan, lived in Talokar (village), near Haripur town. This area is part of the Hazara region.
In 1849, the British took control of Punjab and its border areas. This happened after the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Major James Abbott (Indian Army officer) became the first British officer in charge of Hazara.
The Tarin family had fought against the earlier Sikh rulers. They did not want to accept the new British rule. This led to problems with Major Abbott. Many Tarin leaders lost their positions and their lands. Habib Khan was one of these leaders. He had to escape into the nearby Gandhgarhi hills.
It was a difficult time for Habib Khan. Major Abbott made it hard for him to hide in the hills. But then, Habib Khan met Colonel Robert Napier. Colonel Napier was working on a road nearby. He became friends with Habib Khan. Napier helped him get permission from the government to return home safely.
Military Service and Achievements
Colonel Napier saw that Habib Khan could be a great military officer. He used Habib Khan's skills in several military campaigns. One of these was the First Black Mountain Campaign in 1852.
In 1856, Napier suggested that Habib Khan join the army. Habib Khan went to Lahore and joined a new group called the 1st Bengal Military Police Battalion. He became a Jemadar, which was a junior officer in the cavalry.
Habib Khan served well in the Sonthal area. Then, the Indian Mutiny began in 1857. He was put in charge of a special cavalry group. This group moved quickly across Bengal and the North-East Frontier of India. The cavalry was very useful, and its size grew to 500 horsemen.
During the Mutiny, Habib Khan's cavalry group was very active. Records show that he took part in 14 battles. This was more than any other soldier in his group.
After the Mutiny ended, Habib Khan was promoted to Risaldar. This meant he was in command of the cavalry section. He traveled to Bhutan and Assam for the government. In 1864, his cavalry group was disbanded. Habib Khan then retired from the army and went home. He received the Indian Mutiny Medal for his service.
Life After the Army
After retiring, Habib Khan returned to the Hazara area. He worked to get back some of his properties. He also managed his large estates.
In 1872, he became a Justice of the Peace (JP). He was also given the special title of Nawab-Bahadur and the CSI honor. He also received a special allowance for being a war veteran.
Between 1868 and 1880, he helped senior officers manage affairs in the Hazara hills. He received praise from important British officials.
Habib Khan strongly supported Sir Syed Ahmad Khan. Sir Syed was a Muslim leader who wanted to educate Muslim youth. This movement later became known as the Aligarh Movement. Habib Khan, along with other leaders, gave a lot to this cause. He was known for his open-minded views. He had close friendships with his old Sikh and Hindu army friends.
Two of his sons also became well-known. They were Khan-sahib Abdul Majid Khan Tarin, who received the OBE, and Abdul Latif Khan Tarin, who received the IDSM.
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