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 inheritedeye 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]
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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][failed verification] working as an activist for the welfare of visually challenged people.[20][21][22][23]
^ abcDhal, 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.
^"दृष्टिहीनता प्रगति में बाधक नहीं" [Blindness is not an obstacle to progress]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 21 May 1998. p. 6.
^"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.
^"Akbar Khan topped in vocal and classical". Indian Express. 14 October 1987. p. 3.
^"Ghazal Evening Organised". Hindustan Times. 10 October 2013. p. 36.
^"पीएनबी के कर्मचारी को राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार" [National Award to PNB employee]. Dainik Navajyoti (in Hindi). 11 April 1989. p. 1.
^"अखिल भारतीय संगीत प्रतियोगिता के 3 जज" [3 judges of All India Music Competition]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 19 January 2015. p. 3.
^"दृष्टिहीनों की प्रतिभा का उपयोग हो: जोशी" [Talent of blind people should be utilized: Joshi]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). 5 January 1998. p. 4.
^"लुई ब्रेल की स्मृति में सांस्कृतिक कार्यक्रम" [Cultural program in memory of Louis Braille]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 12 January 1994. p. 3.
^"अंधता निवारण के लिए प्रचार-प्रसार की ज़रूरत" [Need of publicity to prevent blindness]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 5 September 1995. p. 3.
^"लुई ब्रेल जयंती समारोह पूर्वक मनाई" [Louis Braille's birth anniversary celebrated]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 5 January 1996. p. 3.
^"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.
^"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.
^"Blindness no handicap". Indian Express. 19 March 1989. p. 1.
^"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.
^"Computer for the Blind". Time of India. 25 June 1999. p. 1.
^"अकबर को राजस्थान गौरव सम्मान" [Pride of Rajasthan Award to Akbar]. Rajasthan Patrika (in Hindi). 27 December 2012. p. 9.
^"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.
^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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