Tale of the Khans

The “Khan” is prestigious common title among Muslims.  It is not an Islamic name but it has an attractive macho touch. Originally it was a Mongol and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or Military ruler. Khandan means family in Hindustan but it also indicate “Khan holders”. The term Khan is extended to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Central Asia etc. Rourans  were the first people to use the title khagan and khan for their emperor replacing chanyn of the  Xiongu. Mongols brought it to the rest of Asia. The female alternatives are Khatun and Khanam. These titles are sometimes written as Han, Kan, Hakan, Hanum or Hatun (Turkey) and Xan, Xanim (Azerbaijan). Khagan/kahaqan is rendered as Khan of khans which was the title of Chinese emperor Taizong of Tang (Heavenly Khagan) and Chengis Khan.

Use of “Khan” word first seen in Korean history of Sila Dynasty. Old Great Bulgaria (Danube Bulgaria) was ruled by Khan or Kan at least from 7th to 9th century. Among the best known Bulgar Khan is Khan Kubrat, founder of Great Bulgaria.

The title became unprecendently prominent when Mongol Temujin created the Mongol empire – the greatest land empire the world ever seen. Khan also became title of rulers of various states of Persia. Khan-i-Khanan was title given to Commander – in – Chief of army of

Mughals.

Changis Khan became the great Khan of the Mongols in 1206 and United the fragmented Mongol tribe into unified entity. He died in 1227 and succeeded by his son Ogodai Khan – the great Khan. One of his later successor Kublai  khan occupied China and founded Yuan dynasty and shifted capital from Karakoram to Peking in Chain. Hulagu (Halaku) Khan conquered Middle-East region of Asia knocking at Abbassid Caliphs of Bagdad. Batu Khan son of Jochi Khan turned towards Europe and conquered up to Southern Russia. With westward and southward conquest of Mongol army consisting of Mongols, Tartars and Turks came into contact with Islam. Although Muhammad Bin Quasim was first Muslim conqueror was not a Khan but the name Khan derived from the Mongols became so much popular that it became status symbol in the subsequent days among the Muslims. Even the Hindus of Assam and Kamrup started taking the Khan title. The ruler of Chakma tribe in those days all though Buddhist took the title of Khan.

The famous Khans are Sher Khan, Abdul Gaffar Khan- the Frontier Gandhi, Khans of Bollywood (Shahrukh, Salman, Amir). Other are celebrity cricketer Imran Ahmed Khan, Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Yousuf Khan (Dilip Kumar) etc.

It may be mentioned that at the time of liberation and immediate post – liberation era all Pakistani soldiers used to be termed as “Khans” by us. People in this region at that time developed hatred to “Khan” title many people removed “Khan” from their personal name and commercial enterprises.

The writer is Principal of Monowara Sikder Medical College & Hospital, E-mail: [email protected]

 

 

Tale of the Khans

The Khan is prestigious common title among Muslims. It is not an Islamic name but it has an attractive macho touch. Originally it was a Mongol and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or Military ruler. Khandan means family in Hindustan but it also indicate Khan holders. The term Khan is extended to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Central Asia etc. Rourans were the first people to use the title khagan and khan for their emperor replacing chanyn of the Xiongu. Mongols brought it to the rest of Asia. The female alternatives are Khatun and Khanam. These titles are sometimes written as Han, Kan, Hakan, Hanum or Hatun (Turkey) and Xan, Xanim (Azerbaijan). Khagan/kahaqan is rendered as Khan of khans which was the title of Chinese emperor Taizong of Tang (Heavenly Khagan) and Chengis Khan. Use of Khan word first seen in Korean history of Sila Dynasty. Old Great Bulgaria (Danube Bulgaria) was ruled by Khan or Kan at least from 7th to 9th century. Among the best known Bulgar Khan is Khan Kubrat, founder of Great Bulgaria. The title became unprecendently prominent when Mongol Temujin created the Mongol empire the greatest land empire the world ever seen. Khan also became title of rulers of various states of Persia. Khan-i-Khanan was title given to Commander in Chief of army of Mughals. Changis Khan became the great Khan of the Mongols in 1206 and United the fragmented Mongol tribe into unified entity. He died in 1227 and succeeded by his son Ogodai Khan the great Khan. One of his later successor Kublai khan occupied China and founded Yuan dynasty and shifted capital from Karakoram to Peking in Chain. Hulagu (Halaku) Khan conquered Middle-East region of Asia knocking at Abbassid Caliphs of Bagdad. Batu Khan son of Jochi Khan turned towards Europe and conquered up to Southern Russia. With westward and southward conquest of Mongol army consisting of Mongols, Tartars and Turks came into contact with Islam. Although Muhammad Bin Quasim was first Muslim conqueror was not a Khan but the name Khan derived from the Mongols became so much popular that it became status symbol in the subsequent days among the Muslims. Even the Hindus of Assam and Kamrup started taking the Khan title. The ruler of Chakma tribe in those days all though Buddhist took the title of Khan. The famous Khans are Sher Khan, Abdul Gaffar Khan- the Frontier Gandhi, Khans of Bollywood (Shahrukh, Salman, Amir). Other are celebrity cricketer Imran Ahmed Khan, Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Yousuf Khan (Dilip Kumar) etc. It may be mentioned that at the time of liberation and immediate post liberation era all Pakistani soldiers used to be termed as Khans by us. People in this region at that time developed hatred to Khan title many people removed Khan from their personal name and commercial enterprises. The writer is Principal of Monowara Sikder Medical College Hospital, E-mail: [email protected]