Akbar Khan (disability activist)

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

Early life and education
Akbar Khan was born on 16 August 1962 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. He has one brother and one brother died at early childhood, who both inherited the same eye condition.

Khan secondary education was at Govt. Blind School, Ajmer and DAV School, Ajmer. 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. He attended Sanatan Dharm Govt. College, Beawar and Savitri Girls College, Ajmer. He graduated in 1982, with Sanskrit, Sociology and Indian vocal music.

Career
Khan was the first visually impaired candidate in India to qualify in the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) of India and the first blind person to join Punjab National Bank as steno-typist in Punjab region. 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.

Khan is a singer, musician, and composer. He has been honored multiple times in various musical competitions and has also served as a judge.

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

Awards and honors



 * 1988 – Best Employee Award by Governor of Punjab, Punjab, India.
 * 1989 – National Award by the Government of India at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi, India.
 * 1999 – Gold Medal by the Governor of Gujarat, Gujarat, India
 * 2012 – Pride of Rajasthan by the Education Minister of the Government of Rajasthan, Rajasthan, India.
 * 2016 – People of the Year by Limca Book of Records at India Habitat Centre, Delhi, India.

Family and personal life
Khan married Dr. Rana Ruknuddin, who did her Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University.