Akbar Khan
Akbar Khan giving speech after receiving Limca Book of Records 'People of the Year' honor at India Habitat Centre, Delhi on April 14, 2016
Khan in 2016
Born (1962-08-16) 16 August 1962
Bangasar, Rajasthan, India
NationalityIndian
Alma mater
  • DAV School, Ajmer
  • Blind School, Ajmer
  • Sanatan Dharm Govt. College, Beawar
  • Savitri Girls College, Ajmer
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • composer
  • activist
  • banker
Years active1975–present
EmployerPunjab National Bank
Spouse
Rana Khan
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2
Parents
  • Kistoor Khan (father)
  • Rahmat Begum (mother)
AwardsNational Award (1989)
HonoursPeople of the Year (2016)

Akbar Khan is a recipient of India's National Award for The Welfare of Persons with Disability in 1989[1][2][3] and the Limca Book of Records People of the Year 2016.[4][5]

Early life and education

Akbar Khan was born on 16 August 1962[6] in a Muslim family to Kistoor Khan, a farmer and Rahmat Begum, a housewife, at Bangasar, located in the Indian state of Rajasthan with Leber's congenital amaurosis, a rare inherited eye disease that appears at birth or in the first few months of life, and occurs in 2 to 3 per 100,000 newborns of the population.[7] He has one brother and one brother died at early childhood, who both inherited the same eye condition.[8][9]

Khan secondary education was at Govt. Blind School, Ajmer and DAV School, Ajmer.[3] In 1978, at the age of 16, Khan was selected by Government of India under the National Scholarship Scheme for securing high position in the list of meritorious candidates qualifying for award in Rajasthan state.[10] He attended Sanatan Dharm Govt. College, Beawar and Savitri Girls College, Ajmer.[3][11] He graduated in 1982, with Sanskrit, Sociology and Indian vocal music.[10][12]

Career

Khan was the first visually impaired candidate in India to qualify in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) of India[4][13] and the first blind person to join Punjab National Bank as steno-typist in Punjab region.[8] In 1989, at the age of 27, Government of India awarded him the National Award, the highest civilian honour for persons with disabilities in India, for being the most efficient handicapped employee.[14]

Khan is a singer, musician, and composer.[15][16] He has been honored multiple times in various musical competitions and has also served as a judge.[17][18]

Khan served as the chair of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), Bikaner division from 1993 to 1998,[19] working as an activist for the welfare of visually challenged people.[20][21][22][23]

Awards and honors

Akbar Khan receiving National Award by President of India Ramaswamy Venkataraman in 1989[24]

Family and personal life

Khan married Dr. Rana Ruknuddin, who did her Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Swaminathan, Rajeshwari (3 August 2015). "A Salute to Their Spirit". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  2. ↑ Pareek, Shreya (3 December 2014). "16 Famous Indians With Disabilites Who Inspire Us Everyday". The Better India. Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Dhal, Pradeep (19 March 1989). "नेत्रहीन अकबर खान जो अपनी मेहनत से बैंक में स्टेनो बन गया" [Blind Akbar Khan who through his hard work became a steno in the bank]. Punjab Kesari (in Hindi). p. 1.
  4. 1 2 3 "Limca Book of Records launches Braille edition". The Statesman. 15 April 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "पीपल ऑफ़ ईयर बन लौटे अकबर बोले, ज़िन्दगी का हर चैलेंज मंज़ूर" [Akbar returned as People of Year and said, every challenge of life is accepted]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 18 April 2016 [2016-04-18]. p. 2. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Trehan, Virendra (11 May 1988). "आँखों का न होना भी बाधक न बना". Jansatta (Indian Express Limited) (in Hindi). p. 5.
  7. ↑ "Leber congenital amaurosis: MedlinePlus Genetics". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 "Strong Will". The Tribune. 31 March 1988. p. 4.
  9. ↑ "Akbar khan: A Brief Autobiography". Akbarkhan.co.in. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  10. 1 2 National Awards for the Welfare of the Handicapped. New Delhi: Ministry of Welfare, Government of India. 1989. pp. 9–10.
  11. ↑ "दृष्टिहीनता प्रगति में बाधक नहीं" [Blindness is not an obstacle to progress]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 21 May 1998. p. 6.
  12. ↑ "रोशनी से महरूम ज़िन्दगी, पर रोशन हे व्यक्तित्व का हर पहलु" [Life is bereft of light, but every aspect of personality is illuminated]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 28 June 1998. p. 7.
  13. ↑ "Limca Book of records dedicates 2016 edition to PwPs". The Statesman. 15 April 2016. p. 4. Archived from the original on 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Blind Akbar Khan who became a steno in Bank". The Daily Hind Samachar. 19 March 1989. p. 1.
  15. ↑ "Akbar Khan topped in vocal and classical". Indian Express. 14 October 1987. p. 3.
  16. ↑ "Ghazal Evening Organised". Hindustan Times. 10 October 2013. p. 36.
  17. ↑ "पीएनबी के कर्मचारी को राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार" [National Award to PNB employee]. Dainik Navajyoti (in Hindi). 11 April 1989. p. 1.
  18. ↑ "अखिल भारतीय संगीत प्रतियोगिता के 3 जज" [3 judges of All India Music Competition]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 19 January 2015. p. 3.
  19. ↑ "दृष्टिहीनों की प्रतिभा का उपयोग हो: जोशी" [Talent of blind people should be utilized: Joshi]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 5 January 1998. p. 4.
  20. ↑ "लुई ब्रेल की स्मृति में सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रम" [Cultural program in memory of Louis Braille]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 12 January 1994. p. 3.
  21. ↑ "अंधता निवारण के लिए प्रचार-प्रसार की ज़रूरत" [Need of publicity to prevent blindness]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 5 September 1995. p. 3.
  22. ↑ "लुई ब्रेल जयंती समारोह पूर्वक मनाई" [Louis Braille's birth anniversary celebrated]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 5 January 1996. p. 3.
  23. ↑ "नेत्रहीनों ने मांगे मनवाने के लिए कलेक्ट्री पर धरना दिया" [The blind staged a protest at the collectorate to get their demands met]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 9 August 1997. p. 3.
  24. ↑ "Video of Akbar Khan receiving National Award by President of India Ramaswamy Venkataraman in 1989". Youtube.com. Retrieved 18 February 2014.
  25. ↑ "लुधियाना का 20 वर्षीय अकबर खान पंजाब नेशनल बैंक के पंजाब मंडल में नियुक्त पहला स्टेनो-टाइपिस्ट है" [Akbar Khan, 20, from Ludhiana is the first steno-typist appointed in the Punjab division of Punjab National Bank]. Dainik Tribune (in Hindi). 23 March 1988. p. 3.
  26. ↑ "Blindness no handicap". Indian Express. 19 March 1989. p. 1.
  27. ↑ "The New Indian Express Group EDEX dated Mon, 3 Aug 15". epaper.newindianexpress.com. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  28. ↑ "दृष्टिहीन अकबर को कंप्यूटर संचालन का सर्वोच पुरस्कार" [Blind Akbar receives highest award for computer operation]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 23 November 1999. p. 5.
  29. ↑ "Computer for the Blind". Time of India. 25 June 1999. p. 1.
  30. ↑ "अकबर को राजस्थान गौरव सम्मान" [Pride of Rajasthan Award to Akbar]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 27 December 2012. p. 9.
  31. ↑ "विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में खास योगदान देने वालों को शिक्षा मंत्री ने नवाज़ा" [Education Minister honored those who made special contributions in various fields]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 26 June 2012. p. 2.
  32. ↑ आचार्य, धीरेन्द्र (4 April 2016) [2016-04-04]. "जीतने की जिद्द से दृष्टिहीनता को परास्त कर पीपल ऑफ़ ईयर बने अकबर खान" [Akbar Khan became the People of Year by overcoming blindness with his determination to win]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). p. 2.


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