26 Facts About Khuda Bakhsh

Sir Khan Bahadur Khuda Bakhsh OIE FRAS was an Indian advocate, judge, philosopher, revolutionary freedom fighter, scholar and historian from Patna, Bihar.

Khuda Bakhsh was the founder of Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library and Chief Justice of Nizam's Supreme Court of Hyderabad from 1895 to 1898.

Khuda Bakhsh maintains a strong legacy across the Islamic World for his contributions to Literature and History.

Khuda Bakhsh was born into a prominent noble family in Patna and was brought up under the guidance of his father, Sir Muhammed Bakhsh, a prominent advocate and Zamindar from Patna city of Bihar.

Khuda Bakhsh's family was distinguished in scholarship and one of his distant ancestors, Qazi Haibatullah, took part in compiling the Fatawa 'Alamgiri.

The House of Bakhsh were the official record keepers who were given the responsibility by the Mughal Emperors to write day-to-day activities across the Mughal Empire.

Khuda Bakhsh's father, Muhammed Bakhsh, was a lawyer working in Bankipur, due to his passion for Persian and Arabic literature, he has amassed a collection of 1200 manuscripts.

Khuda Bakhsh would add to this collection later in life.

Khuda Bakhsh studied in Calcutta under the care of his father's friend Khan Bahadur Nawab Amir Ali, who was a lawyer in the Calcutta Sadr Diwani Adalat.

Khuda Bakhsh started his career as a Peshkar in 1868.

Khuda Bakhsh inherited 1,400 manuscripts from his father and opened the library to the public in 1891, expanding the collection to 4,000 manuscripts and 80,000 books.

Khuda Bakhsh became the first director of the library and remained in that position until his death, except for a brief period from 1895 to 1898 when he was serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hyderabad.

Khuda Bakhsh was made the first honorary Vice Chairman of Patna Municipal Corporation under the Former Governor General of India George Robinson's cabinet.

Khuda Bakhsh met Sachchidananda Sinha while practicing in Allahabdad High Court as a Judge.

Khuda Bakhsh gave the responsibility of running the library to his student Dr Sachchidananda Sinha from 1894 to 1898 where he mentored him.

Khuda Bakhsh was a great friend of Shibil Nomani and Sir Syed Ahmed Khan with whom he worked together to introduce multiple reform in the education system of British India.

Sir Khuda Bakhsh inherited the private library from his father Muhammad Bakhsh and promised him in his death bed in 1876 that he will open the library for public.

Khuda Bakhsh hired Muhammad Maki to acquire books and manuscripts for a monthly income of Rs.

Khuda Bakhsh donated his manuscripts and books to the public on 14 January 1891.

Sir Khuda Bakhsh was approached by the representatives of the British Museum who made a stunning offer to purchase his collection, but he declined.

Khuda Bakhsh informed VC Scott O'Connor, an orientalist based in Edinburgh, England.

Khuda Bakhsh was a very simple man with great vision and commitment.

Khuda Bakhsh died on 3 August 1908 and was buried in the library primase.

Sir Khuda Bakhsh was given the title of "Khan Bahadur" in 1881.

Khuda Bakhsh was knighted with the Order of the Indian Empire in 1903.

Khuda Bakhsh was a member of the Royal Asiatic Society.