LUCKNOW: With generation after generation donning the uniform, this Lucknow family has been writing a unique script of receiving medals at every 25th year since India’s independence.
The first from the family to don the uniform was Nadir Ali Khan Durrani, who joined the British-India police force as an inspector in 1914 and retired in 1948. He was the recipient of the King’s Police Medal in 1929 and Indian Police Medal in 1947, both for gallantry. In 1948, he received the Indian police independence medal.
After him, his son Group Captain Shahid Ali Khan Durrani, who was commissioned into the Indian Air Force in 1958, received a medal on the 25th Independence Day in 1972. Shahid (87), a Vishisht Sewa Medal awardee as also the Asiad Vishisht Jyoti from the President of India for exemplary organisation of the Ninth Asian Games in New Delhi, was also the manager of the Indian cricket team to Australia and New Zealand in 1980-81.
He retired in 1985. After Shahid, his son Lieutenant Colonel Shahzad Salim Durrani (55) got commissioned into the Rajputana Rifles regiment in 1987 and received a medal on the 50th Independence Day in 1997. He boasts of four commendations for gallantry – one from the COAS and three from the General Officer Commanding in Chief. Now Shahzad’s 25-year-old son, Lieutenant Shahnawaz Ali Khan Durrani, who got commissioned last year in November in the Rajputana Rifles, from the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, received medal on the 75th Independence Day.
He is the ninth family member and fourth generation stepping forward to carry forward the family tradition and legacy of service to the nation.
The other members of the family who have received Independence Day medals are Shahzad’s cousin Brigadier Rehan Durrani and Colonel Yasar Khan who received medals in 1997 and 2022, respectively.
Lt Col Shahzad Salim Durrani, said: “Every youth of the country should join the armed forces. There is no service better than this.”
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