Muhammad Habibullah

Khan Bahadur Sir Muhammad Habibullah KCSI KCIE (22 September 1869 – 16 May 1948) was an Indian politician and administrator who served as the Diwan of Travancore from 1934 to 1936.

Personal life Habibullah was born in Madras (now Chennai) to Aushukh Hussain Khan Saheb on 22 September 1869. He was a member of the Arcot royal family and closely related to the Nawabs of Arcot. He studied law at Zila High School in Saidapet and joined the bar at Vellore in July 1888.

Early political career Habibullah was involved in local commerce politics and was elected honorary chairman of the Vellore municipality in 1895. He resigned from his legal practice upon being elected official secretary in September 1901, and served in that role until September 1905. He was then elected chairman, a position he held for 14 years (1905–1919). From July 1919 to January 1920, he was a member of the executive council of the Governor of Madras while P. Rajagopalachari was on leave.

In 1919, Habibullah was India's delegate to the first session of the League of Nations. On 17 December 1920, he was appointed to the Governor's Executive Council for the Madras Presidency as the member for revenue, a post he held until 27 December 1924. From 1925 to 1930, he was a member of the Executive Council of the Viceroy of India.

Habibullah retired in 1936 and was succeeded by Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer. He died in Travancore on 16 May 1948.

Honours Habibullah was awarded the title of Khan Bahadur by the Indian government in 1905. In 1924, he was made a Knight Commander of the Star of India and promoted from a Companion of the Indian Empire to a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire.

Habibullah Road in T. Nagar, Chennai, is named after him.