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Home , Khan Bahadur, Khan Sahib, Rao Bahadur, Sahib, Sardar, Sardar Bahadur

The Journal of the Orders and Medals SocieW of America

The Indian Badge: 1911-1947 Jim Carlisle, OMSA No. 5577

ing , on the occasion of the Delhi Durbar, K introduced the on 12 December 1911 to be conferred, as a symbol of honor and respect, on the holders of a title conferred by the -. The Badge was a step-award in three classes given to civilians and ’s commissioned officers of the for faithful service or acts of public welfare. Awards of the Badge began in January 1912.

In many ways, the Badge is a cross between the and the Kaisar-I-Hind. As with the Imperial Service Medal (ISM), it was awarded for long and faithful service to members of the civil and provincial services. Unlike the ISM it was also awarded to members of the military as well as to civilians not in the civil service. It was similar to the Kaisar-I-Hind in that there were three classes to the award as well as being awarded for service in India. Unlike the Kaisar-I- Hind, its award was restricted to non-Europeans. Unlike either of these awards, the India Title Badge also provided a specific title in the form of a personal distinction to the recipient.

Specifics regarding the will be provided below. It is interesting to note that a title granted with the 1st India Title Badge, Class III- obverse Class of the Badge is identical to that granted to recipients of the 1 st Class, Bahadur. The title carried with the decoration was used The Badge is described as follows: betbre the name but after any rank held, e.g., Subadar Major Bahadur Mohammed Khan.~ If the Obverse: A radiate star topped by an imperial crown recipient attained Knighthood the title was dropped. with a curved laurel leaf below the crown and cutting across the top of a central medallion surrounded by a Although the Badge was only in existence for 35 years, collar inscribed with the appropriate title. There are it has no fewer that eighteen distinct types, with three basic obverse types: The right-thcing bust of King variations in title allowing for a further nine. In total, George V (1912-33 ); the left-facing bust of King George there are twenty-seven variations of the badge. This V (1933-36); the right facing bust of King George VI wide variety is due to several considerations. First, the (1936-47). Badge was intended solely for non-European recipients, thus there are different titles based upon the religious Reverse: Plain, engraved with name of the recipient. affiliation of the recipient. Second, there are variations of the titles within each class. These will be outlined Suspension: A neck badge suspended from a ring at the below. Finally, there were two types of the Badge top of the imperial crown Metal: Gold-plate silver (lst issued during the reign of King George V and a third and 2nd Class); Silver (3rd Class). type issued during the reign of King George VI. Ribbon: Light blue edged with dark blue (lst Class); red edged with dark red (2nd Class); dark blue edged with light blue (3rd Class). ~ Dorling, pg 148

17 Volume 52 Number 1

3rd Class: Rai Sardar Sahib

George VI (Third issue, right facing bust, 1936-47) 1st Class: Diwan Bahadur 2nd Class Rai Bahadur Rao Bahadur Khan Bahadur 3rd Class: Rai Sahib Rao Sahib Sardar Sahib

Rai Sahib Doctor Banwari Lal Gupta, born 13 December 1889, is typical of recipients of the India Title Badge. Entering the Provincial Medical Service as a India Title Badge- Class III Reverse Temporary Assistant Surgeon, 3rd Grade, on 24 July The various badge types are as follows: 1916, he held qualifications as a Bachelor of Science, Medicine and Surgery, as well as a Master of Surgery. George V (First Issue, right facing bust, 1912-33): Doctor Gupta entered military service with the Indian 1st Class: Medical Service on 1 July 1917 as a Temporary Sardar Bahadur (Hindu recipient) Lieutenant, being gazetted a Temporary Captain Diwan Bahadur (Muslim recipient) effective 1 July 1918. During his military service he 2nd Class served in Ambala. While on military service, he was Rai Bahadur (Hindu recipient) placed on the Permanent List as Assistant Surgeon, 3rd Rao Bahadur Grade, from 1 August 1919. He reverted from military Khan Bahadur (Muslim recipient) duty on 10 February 1921. AS his military service was 3rd Class: entirely in India, he had no medal entitlement. Rai Bahadur Rao Bahadur Following his military service, Doctor Gupta held a Khan Bahadur number of appointments in the Provincial Medical Sardar Sahib Service, each with increasing responsibility. He was initially assigned as Assistant Surgeon, 3rd Grade in George V (Second Issue, left facing bust, 1933-36): Meerut, transferring on 5 March 1921 to Bahraich where he was additionally in charge of the Piagpur 1st Class: Dispensary. This was as short assignment as he was Sardar Bahadur transferred on 19 June 1921 to Balandshahr where he Diwan Behadur served as Assistant Surgeon in charge of the Khurja 2nd Class: Dispensary. Rai Bahadur Rao Bahadur On 10 May 1925, Gupta was transferred to Bereilly as Khan Bahadur Provincial Medical in charge of the District

18 The Journal of the Orders and Medals Society_ of America

Hospital. This proved to be a short assignment as on 21 On the Independence of India 15 August 1947, the India December 1925 he was transferred to Shahjahanpur as Title Badge became obsolete. By the late 1930s, as the Medical Officer in immediate charge of the Sadr India independence movement grew in strength, the Dispensary. He was deputed to King George’s Medical Badge had begun to carry the considerable opprobrium College, Lucknow, to attend the post-graduate course of "collaborator." This decline in status is reflected by from 1 January to 31 June 1926, returning to the fact that many badges are now seen with the Shahj ahanpur upon completion. Heremained there until particulars of the recipient removed. 1930, assuming addition duties as the Civil Surgeon and Superintendent, District Jail effective 5 November 1926. While political changes may have lessened that value of He remained in this position for several years, taking this award, it remains that it is a well crafted, appealing privilege leave from 10 to 30 August 1929. decoration awarded for long and dedicated service. As in the case of Lala Banwari Lal Gupta, it is the only Gupta was transferred to Allahabad as Medical Officer medallic recognition he received for many years of in charge of Colvin Hospital effective 23 May 1930. military and civilian service. This was followed by a transfer effective 23 July 1930 to Morabad as Medical Officer in charge of the District Acknowledgments: Hospital. Effective 23 February 1931 he received the additional duty of Officiating Civil Surgeon and As always, thanks to my wife, Justine, not only for her Superintendent of the District Jail. It is during this patience with my hobby but also for the essential period that he was awarded the Title Badge. grammatical review. I would also like to thank Ed Haynes for e-mail correspondence providing additional Gupta was created a Rai Sahib as personal distinction insight regarding this award. Additionally, sincere per The Gazette of lndia dated Simla, Wednesday, 3 thanks to fellow collector Ralph McLeod for his June, 1931, page 179. The entry reads as follows: photographs of the award examined in this article.

"No. 321-H. His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor Bibliography: General is pleased to confer the title of Rai Sahib, as a personal distinction, upon---Lala Banwari Lal Gupta, The Arlny List; (I.M.S.) pg 1771 M.C., B.S~, M.B., B.S., Provincial Medial Service, Dorling, H. Taprell, Ribbons andMedals, New York, Doubleday Medical Officer in immediate charge of the Sadr Hospital & Comp, Inc., 1974. The Gazette of India, June 3, 1931, pg 179 Moradadbad, United ."2 Haynes, Ed, Email correspondence History of Gazetted Officers (Civil DepO United Provinces pg 146 The Badge is that of George V, First Issue, as awarded Jocelyn, Arthur, Capt CVO, Awards of Honor, London, Adam & to a Hindu recipient. The Badge is named on the reverse Charles Black, 1956. in engraved script. As shown by the illustration, in Mackay, James & Mussell, John W (Editors), The Medal Yearbook addition to his name the engraving includes his Medical 2000, Devon, Token Publishing, Ltd, 1999. Corps affiliation, education, as well as the date of issue. A review of other recipients of this award listed in the Gazette indicates that majority were civil servants of the same level as Gupta. There were a few listings for "merchant" and "proprietor," probably indicating awards for "public welfare."

Following his award, Gupta continued his service, transferring to Dehra Dun as Medical Officer in charge of the Sadar Hospital on 10 August 1931. His last assignment is listed as being in Cawnpore as Medical Officer in charge of the of Wales’ Hospital effective 4 May 1932. Doctor Gupta’s last entry in the History of Gazetted Officers was in July 1933. His history after that date is unknown.

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