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== HISTORICAL == Khan Bahadur Abdul Rahman was a council member of the Palace of the Maharaja of Mysore and was a Deputy Commissioner in Her Majesty's government of Mysore, India. As per the Golden Book of India by Sir. Roper Lethbridge K.C.I.E ( Macmillan and Company 1893) the following publication appears. Abdul ( Abdur) Rahman, Khan Bahadur. The Khan Bahadur is a Deputy Commissioner in the district of Shimoga, Mysore, under the government of his highness the Maharajah of Mysore and received the title as a personal distinction on May 25 1892. A further title was awarded on 18 th February 1895 by the Viceroy appointing Khan Bahadur Abdul Rahman as a member of council of three ministers to assist the Maharani regent.

Senior Member Of The Regency Council Of Mysore ( https://sites.google.com/site/thumboochetty/)

The following proclamation, dated Bangalore, the 18th February 1895 : – “Whereas His Excellency the Viceroy and the Government General of India in Council has been pleased to declare that the administration of the State of Mysore shall, during the minority of His Highness Maharajah Sri Krishnaraj Wadeyar Bahadur, Maharajah of Mysore, be conducted by Her Highness Maharani Vanivilas Sannidhana Kempananjammanniavaru, C.I., as Regent, and by the Dewan, assited by a Council of tree Members, of which he shall be President, Her Highness the Maharani-Regent has been pleased, with the approval of the Government of India, to appoint –

(1) Rajadharma Pravina Mr. T. R. A Thumboo Chetty, Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore, (2) Mr. P. N. Krishnamurti, Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore, and (3) Khan Bahadur Mr. Abdul Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Shimoga,

== THE ORIGINS

==

The military origins of khan Bahadur Abdul Rahman go back to the Madras regiment (1799) and before that to the Baloch regiment ( first battalion in 1798 at Musalipatnam)

The Madras regiment

The oldest regiment in the Indian Army is the Madras Regiment. Madras Regiment was set up in the former Madras Province. The British were ably assisted by this Regiment and they were able to capture Burma and the then Ceylon. The Madras Regiment carved a name for itself in the history of India. The Madras regiment's elephant-crest was won after the Madras army's daring action under Wellesley against the Peshwa's army at Assaye, a battle he once described as tougher than Waterloo. Its regimental headquarters is in Wellington, near Ooty (Udhaga-mandalam). The Baloch Regiment has its origin in the former Bombay and Madras Armies, as well as the State Forces of Bahawalpur.

In the 18th century, British possessions in India were divided into the 'Presidencies' of Madras, Bengal and Bombay. Each presidency maintained its own army, and it was not until the end of the 19th century that a unified command was established for the British Indian Army. For more than fifty years, the Madras Army was engaged in the struggle for control of South India and was largely responsible for the British defeat of The French. It also took an active part in the wars against the Mahrattas, dispatched a number of overseas expeditions and played a major role in the conquest and pacification of Burma.[3] The Baloch Regiment's Madrassi origins are derived from the five battalions it inherited from 8th Punjab. The 1st Battalion was raised in 1798 at Masulipatam, as 3rd Extra Battalion of Madras Native Infantry and was known as MacLeod ki Paltan (MacLeod’s Battalion) after the officer, who raised it. It was designated as 1st Battalion 15th Regiment in 1800, and 29th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry in 1824. The battalion was dispatched to Ceylon to suppress a rebellion of the Sinhalese in 1818. In 1832, it was stationed at Malacca, Malaya, when it was again engaged in suppressing a revolt in the State of Naning.[4] 2, 3, 4 & 5 Baloch were also raised as battalions of Madras Infantry in 1799-1800. In 1824, they were designated as the 30th, 31st, 32nd & 33rd Madras Native Infantry respectively. The 30th & 32nd Regiments took part in the First Burma War, while the 30th, 31st & 33rd fought in the Third Anglo-Mahratta War of 1817. The 31st Regiment, then known as 1st Battalion 16th Regiment (or Trichinopoly Light Infantry), greatly distinguished itself at the Battle of Mahidpur. It was styled as Light Infantry in 1811, as reward for a 25-mile forced march in support of a retreating force; when it arrived just in time to turn the tables in a minor engagement near Mysore. The 33rd Regiment first made its name in the Travancore War in 1809, when the battalion repulsed a force of ays3000 rebels at Cochin. All four battalions saw considerable action in Central India against the Marathas during the Great Indian Rebellion of 1857-58.[5][6] (Baloch regiment wikipedia)

29th Madras Native Infantry (1 Baloch). Watercolour by Alex Hunter, 1846. Between 1890 and 1893, the five battalions were moved to Burma and reconstituted with Punjabi Muslims, Sikhs and other North Indians. Their designations were changed to 29th (7th Burma Battalion), 30th (5th Burma Battalion), 31st (6th Burma Battalion), 32nd (4th Burma Battalion) and 33rd (3rd Burma Battalion) Regiments of Madras Infantry. In 1901, these cumbersome titles were simplified by removing all mention of Madras and the five regiments were styled as the 29th and 30th Burma Infantry, 31st Burma Light Infantry, 32nd and 33rd Burma Infantry. These Burma Battalions were created to police the new territories acquired in the Third Burma War and pacify the rebellious hill tribes inhabiting the frontier regions of Burma. In 1903, all Madras regiments had sixty added to their numbers, requiring another change in designation to 89th and 90th Punjabis, 91st Punjabis (Light Infantry), 92nd Punjabis and 93rd Burma Infantry. After the First World War, the five Burma Battalions were grouped together to form the 8th Punjab Regiment in 1922. These frontier battalions had adopted uniforms of drab colour (a pinkish shade of khaki) when they moved to Burma and the 8th Punjab Regiment retained drab as its regimental colour with blue facings.[3] In 1748 Major Stringer Lawrence, a veteran of action in Spain, Flanders and the Highlands, was hired by the East India Comp-any to take charge of the defence of Cuddalore. He laid the foundations of what was to become the Indian Army. Training the levies to become a militia, the Madras Levies were formed into "companies" and trained to become a disciplined and fine fighting force. In 1758 Lawrence raised the Madras Regiment, forming the several Companies of Madras Levies into two battalions. 2 Madras was raised in 1776 as 15 Carnatic Infantry at Thanjavur [and underwent many nomenclature changes thereafter]. The Madras Regiment, grown to 52 battalions by 1826, has a glorious record, interrupted between 1928 and 1941 when it was disbanded by local officials who favoured the Punjabi, Dogra and Gurkha troops of the northwest Raj. The needs of World War II caused the resurrection of the Regiment.

THE ANCESTRY

The Rahmania family takes it origins from the ancient Warrior clans of Northern India , belonging originally beyond the frontiers of India, soldering being their chief occupation. In the seventeeth century A.D. When the East India company first laid its foundation, These clans were well known, invited and persuaded to join and ride initially under the Banner of the Mogul Emperor Aurangzeb and Subsequently were actively sought by the British Empire to promote and defend the Empire. Having actively served the Empire with distinction, it will be seen from the certified extract of Military records that this family had rendered distinguished Military service to the British Empire fir over a century ( extract of few names mentioned in the regimental records of the XIV Madras infantry). (Ref. global security Madras regiment). One of these clan leaders Sufdar Khan settled in along the delta of the river Krishna, naming Kosur palyam as his hamlet. Out of this clan originating from Subedar- Major Abdul Khadir (1854) ( Subedar Major being the equivalent of Captain in the British army). The demise of Subedar-Major Abdul Khadir in 1886 has been eulogized and testimonials bear witness to his services to the crown by Brig.Gen. E.Faunce , Majors Gen. H.Prendergast ( Resident if Mysore) Maj.Gen. Henderson,Maj. Gen. R.J. Made.

ABDUL KADIR, Subedar-Major, Khan Saheb. The title was conferred on June 22, 1854. Residence: Belgaum, Bombay. ( Golden book of India, Roper Lethbridge). Roper Lethbridge. The golden book of India; a genealogical and biograhical dictionary of the ruling princes, chiefs, nobles, and other personages, titled or decorated, of the Indian empire, with an appendix for Ceylon online. (page 4 of 63).

Two cousin branches originated and were registered as Inamdars Viz. Abdul Rahman sahib and Mohamed Khasim Sahib. The education of the children of Subedar -Major Abdul Khadir was undertaken under the guidance of General George Burn a good friend of the family.

The second son Khan Bahadur Abdur Rahman started his career as an Educationist and rose to the rank of Deputy Commissioner, and was made a member of the Council of Regency to guide the Maharani of Mysore as a member of a triumvirate during the childhood of the young Maharaja. Documented in the Golden book of India, Roper Lethbridge as follows:

ABDUL (ABDUR) RAHMAN, Khan Bahadur. The Khan Bahadur was a Deputy Commissioner in the district of Shimoga, Mysore, under the 

government of His Highness the Maharaja of , and received the title on July 13, 1892. Residence: Bangalore, and further conferred as below ABDUL (ABDUR) RAHMAN, Khan Bahadur. The title was conferred on January 1, 1896. Residence : Bangalore, Mysore

The proclamation...... To be members of the Council aforesaid for a term of three years, being, however, eligible for re-appointment at the end of the period. Mr. Thumboo Chetty will, in Addition, retain his position as the Chief Judge until relieved of the same in the due course.” (page 246; T. Royaloo Chetty

The second son of Khan Bahadur Abdul Rahman, namely Muhammad Abdul Basith was a Barrister of the Lincoln's inn admitted in 1894 June 4th as per the admissions register, Mr. Abdul Basith died in a rail accident on his return trip to India. South Asians at the Inns of Court: Lincoln’s Inn, 1864-1947, South Asians at the Inns: Lincoln’s Inn (2012.08.26) • sharafi@wisc.edu 1894 June 4 Muhammad Abdul Basith of the University of Madras (26) s. of Khan Bahadur Abdul Rahman of the Shimoga District in the Province of Mysore, Deputy Commissioner. Admissions Register, III, 3, lincolns inn black books, lincolns inn 6.0 pdf

Mohamed Abdul Wahab

Heading text

, the fifth son of Khan Bahadur Mr. Abdul Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of Shimoga, State of Mysore and member of the council of the Palace of Mysore. Mr.Mohamed Abdul Wahab a graduate of Madras University, Oxford and an Alumni of the University of Edinburgh in the year 1913 . Wahab Mohamed Abdul (listed in the University records with Wahab as his surname) appears in our Index to Graduations, which records that he graduated with an MA in 1916.

Statement from Edinburgh university records: I have found an entry for Wahab in our First Matriculations book for 1912-13 (this is the form completed when a student matriculates, or enrolls officially at the University). This form records Wahab's birthplace as Bangalore, India, and his previous education as St Joseph's College, Bangalore, Central College, Bangalore and Madras University, which he attended for 3 years and studied Arts. His proposed subjects of study at Edinburgh University were Arts and Science.

I was then able to locate Wahab in our Graduates in Arts volume for 1916, which states that Wahab commenced study in Edinburgh in March 1912 and graduated in March 1916. His address is given as Cleveland Town, Bangalore. The record states that Wahab was exempted from his preliminary (entrance) examination as the University accepted his matriculation examination from Madras. It is also stated that Wahab was exempted from autumn term 1912-1913 (when the subjects of study were Natural Philosophy and Chemistry). The subjects Wahab studied for his final MA are recorded as British History, Mercantile Law, Economic History, English Modern Politics and Roman Law. He was called subsequently called to the Bar of the Inner Temple, ( date unknown).

In India Mr. Abdul Wahab Bar-at-law turned to education as a profession and started his early career as a school teacher, Mr. Abdul Wahab upon his return from Britain was offered a position at the Maharajahs court by the Queen (Maharani). However the young barrister was not inclined to follow the then practices of the Palace court of bowing and not showing your back to the regent. Abdul Wahab excused himself for not accepting the appointment by returning to Britain under the pretext of having to complete unfinished university requirements. Abdul Wahab upon his final return to India had to face sad news of the passing away if his twin sibling, an event of great sadness in his life. The young Barrister started to busy himself by teaching, a step that proved of great interest to him and thus started a long career in Education in the State of Mysore. A career that spanned the state school system as a teacher, a head master, DEO, and finally Deputy Director of Education in the State of Mysore, with stints in almost every major city of Mysore state. Mr. Abdul Wahab a strict disciplinarian, a believer of good education and a lover of sports offered his students a breadth of fresh air and ideas from the education in the British system, especially independent thinking and physical sports. A mentor & a great believer in providing education to all, Many anecdotes relate as to how he used to pay the school fees of many a poor deserving student regardless of class from his pocket. His only criteria a willingness and commitment to hard work, learning and achieving exceptional heights. Mr. Abdul Wahab a great orator, a champion of the underdog, an activist of equal rights used to exhort his young wards, colleagues and contemporaries to be selfless, give their best to society and guide the young. This believer of education had an occasion where two equally deserving poor students were vying for the school bursary, two students from different communities. Mr. Wahab solved his dilemma of who to give the bursary by organizing a wrestling match between the two competitors. It is said that one was a scrawny lad and the other a rather chubby lad. The desperate scrawny young man had planned his strategy to beat his heavier opponent, the moment the starters whistle blew, the skinny kid dove for the legs of the other drag him down and pushed his shoulders to the Ground. The match was over before it started. The scrawny kid won the bursary. The head master Abdul Wahab takes the hand of the desolate young man who had lost, and who had no chance of going to school because of the fees. Abdul Wahab takes him to the school accounting office, pays the fees of the young man, gives him the receipt , the lad speechless and in tears. He is now told to go to class. The lover of sports used to excite his students in physical activity, many a evening you could see him walking the perimeter of the then Fort high school to make sure no one slipped out of of PT. Any unfortunate one caught sneaking would have no doubt to face the punishment of the crime, generally doubling the PT period.

Apart from Central School (now Central College), the earliest Government schools in the ‘City’ area was Normal School that housed primary and middle classes. Then came Fort High School and Malleswaram High School. The Malleswaram High School was started in 1923 as a co-education school, though girl students were very few back then. The school was housed in three buildings on sixth cross, between Sampige road and Margosa road. This is the road parallel to the Malleswaram Main road leading to the Circle.

Flood of memories

H R Bhaskar Rao, a nonagenarian who studied here (batch 1933 - ‘35), recalls that those were the days when Malleswaram was home to huge bungalows and the roads were very wide. During those days, ‘High School’ meant schooling from IV form to VI form. He recalls his headmaster, Abdul Wahab, a tall and broad gentleman who used to commute on horseback to the school. A good sportsman, he made sure that the students developed a keen interest in sports.

Mr. Abdul Wahab an activist, believer in sound education was always exhorting students and parents to believe & learn the value of education. In the mid 1900s the Muslim community was generally poor, lacking education and lacking the environment to promote education. Abdul Wahab was known to excite Muslim students to go to school, to learn and to achieve success. He would travel across the state to linguistic schools to present the potential of good education and the Oasis of its benefits. This got him known as a communal officer who favored his Muslim community. A slander that deeply hurt him as he never distinguished one community from the other and indeed his brightest students came from the majority class.

A very proud and upright Indian, there was the incident while a student in London, Abdul Wahab and his brother walking along a street of London. A motor car drives by and a young child in the car shouts out to his parents ... look there are two black men walking...... Abdul Wahab and his brother both fully dressed in the attire of the day race after the car, jump on to the foot board and grab the driver to stop the car. A crowd gathers, then ensues a lecture on manners by Abdul Wahab and the boy is asked to apologize. Imagine human rights in the UK in the 1900s, a colonized brown Indian teaching the Brits good manners in their own country. Lot of clapping and back slapping at the end of it all by the good spirited Brits. The Wahab brothers tip their hats and are on their way...Jolly good fellows all.

An avid sportsman even during his own school days, his soccer team the Muslim Bengals of the Cantonment area constantly rivaling its neighboring opponents , there was once when certainty reigned about winning a match, Abdul Wahab had organized a band along with a camel procession to celebrate the anticipated win. Lo and behold the last few minutes show his team is about to lose. Abdul Wahab rushes to his celebratory band leader instructs the band to vanish and makes them disappear including the camel ... You know why ..not wanting ... . Abdul Wahab and his school friend ( doodwala). used to gleefully chuckle about this long after in their sunset years.

A big one for celebrating, Abdul Wahab as a Head master would follow his school team to all matches and events. Every time his students won a football or cricket game, he would be there handing out Rupee note bills to the Captain to take out his team to the local tea house for a jolly good win cheer celebration. Abdul Wahab , a great believer of scouting's organized activity could be seen inspecting his troupe with his scout leader ( Ghulam Mohamed) at assembly, adjusting a scarf here and a shirt tuck there.... Himself dressed in his scout attire all crisp and starched. Ghulam Mohammed having dedicated himself as a professional scout, would always be in his scout uniform, carrying his baton in his side and every one had to salute if you ever passed him anywhere. You would of course be made to stand at attention, lectured regards your weak salute & shown there and then the correct way...all in very British English. Ah those were the glory days.

An early riser, way before sunrise, cold showers and dressed for his activity of the day, walking, biking or riding. An avid outdoor person, would ride his horse go either for a trot or visit his relatives. Biking another activity that he loved, riding his sons racing bike long distances long before any one was up. Back from his morning trek would be followed with gardening always looking for the elusive weed. Of course he was tagged around by his cranky brood for having been woken up so early. Abdul Wahab having spent a great deal of time with the British, was a great believer in privacy and private time. There was the rumor that he would have his afternoon nap at the office and the personal attendant was instructed never to disturb the honorable gentleman during this private siesta time. There was the occasion when Mr. Abdul Wahab's superior walked in to see him and was advised by the attendant that the master was not to be disturbed. The superior dismayed, opens the door and walks in to wake up the napping subordinate. Needless to say, Mr. Wahabs temper well known by all, seems to have won the day as the superior dashes out of the door with some loud admonishment going on behind him in the room he liberated... any repercussions..... Maybe not.

India was awash with pre independence protests in the late 1940s , there was the period, Abdul Wahab the headmaster of a high school was running a normal academic day. This day had been declared a day of protest in Bangalore, thousands of protesters were demanding schools, offices, businesses, markets to be shut down. The crowd decided to take the route where Abdul Wahabs school was located. Mr. Wahab announces to the school that it will not be closed and classes will go on as normal. He goes to the front of the school and locks the gate, advises the guard to let him know when the crowd gets nearer. The school staff and students all on edge about the arriving procession of hyper active and angry protesters, each armed with sticks, rocks and slingshots... The crowd arrives in front of the school gates. Abdul Wahab squarely stands in front of the locked gate, no one else from the school in sight. The crowd chanting and rearing to attack the gates and ready for a stampede. Abdul Wahab holding his own school masters cane and telling the leaders that the school is in session and he would not let his students out. He says the future India requires educated young people and that the crowd should move on. There is chanting and roaring; all it would take is one individual to move forward and the crowd would over run the gates and its gate keeper. One man against thousands of chanting protesters. An outcome was truly a stampede, however there is a stand off. The leaders huddle, long period of tense arguments among them, suddenly the leaders start moving away from the school gates and order the crowd to move on... The reaction of the distant watching school staff is relief. There is eerie silence, every one is gone, Abdul Wahab walks back, no cheer, no grin, the school master just walks back into his office as if nothing had happened, just another uneventful day. Another day, discipline and academia won the day above all, no truancy allowed by Abdul Wahab. Bravery to stand up to thousands to protect his students and their academics.

A great believer in corporal punishment, the practice of the day. Abdul Wahab never spared the rod to spoil the child. A strong disciplinarian at home and at school. At home the punishment was either caning or a strap on the bottom. Moments after the punishment all was forgiven and laughter and hugging would rule the day. There was the event when Abdul Wahab had to chase his third son for meting out the required punishment. The truant climbed up a tree hoping that his father would not find him. Lo and behold he looks down and sees his dad sitting under the tree cane in hand waiting for the urchin to come down, needless to say the doubling of the whacking for evasion...

Abdul Wahab spending a good amount of time with the British had developed a liking to good clothing, shirts , suits, ties, hats ,shoes Etc.. , The suits would bear the hall mark of Saville row, London. The local clothiers would either get his clothes from the UK or make them from the imported materials. He had special patent leather shoes required polishing with milk cream, the patron and his servant would shine the shoes to perfection. A natty dresser, everything had to match. Very British indeed, Pukka Sahib.

An example of  his love of his students and his genuine interest in their progress would be demonstrated by the  stream of proud graduates that would come to visit him with their diplomas. This was long after he was a head master, he was now an administrator, the Deputy director of Education for the state. But his first love was his students, the ones he had taught a while ago, but to him it was only yesterday, he remembered their young faces and their pranks and their successes. On this day, their day, there would be sweets, tea and biscuits and hugs from their stern once disciplinarian. Abdul Wahab would be teary & proud  of his students achievements, as if they were his own. And they kept coming until they could no more..  

The contemporaries of Abdul Wahab, Justice Iqbal Hussain, Safdar Hussain, Mahmood Sharif, Balraj Ursu just to name a few.

HISTORICAL REFERENCES

Honourable society of the Inner temple http://www.innertemple.org.uk/history/the-archives A Brief History

In the middle of the 12th century, the Military Order of the Knights Templar built a fine round church by the Thames, which became known as the Temple Church. Two centuries later, after the abolition of the Order in 1312, lawyers came to occupy the Temple site and buildings. They formed themselves into two societies, the Inner Temple and Middle Temple, first mentioned by name in a manuscript yearbook of 1388. Interestingly, the area on the edge of the site, known as the Outer Temple, did not house a separate legal society.

The medieval Inns of Court, which included Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn as well as the Inner Temple and Middle Temple, were organised on the same basis as the colleges at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, offering accommodation to practitioners of the law and their students and facilities for education and dining. The term 'Inns of Court' seems to have been adopted on account of the hospitality offered to those associated with the law courts. By the end of the 16th century, the Inns had largely developed into their present form, governed by an elected Treasurer and Council of Benchers, administered by a salaried Sub-Treasurer and his staff.

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Mohammed Abdul Wahab

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PERSONAL DETAILS

INN DETAILS

First Name: Mohammed Middle Name(s): Abdul

Address: University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Midlothian Scotland

Second Address: Bangalore South India India Admission Date: 15/04/1913 Call Year: n/a Bench Year: n/a Leaving Date: not known Date of Death: not known Judicial Appointment: n/a

FATHER'S DETAILS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Name: Mohammed Abdul Rahman Occupation: councillor

Father/Son Relationship: 5th son

Notes: Father was KB, late member of council, Mysore State.

Archive Enquiries: Please address all database enquiries to the archivist.