Nawab Atta Muhammad Khan is one of the famous horse riders as He remained on horseback until the age of 80. He looked like a brutal Nawab, but he was not. He was a great devotee of horse racing, spear fighting, and oriental traditions all his life. During his student days at Aitchison and Oxford, he wore a coat and trousers to the extent of class, and apart from that, he wore nothing but a shalwar kameez and a pig all his life.
He was not only a self-styled Nawab but also the son-in-law of the Nawab of Kalabagh. He participated in international equestrian competitions in America, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, South Africa, and India in the same attire.
He became a gold medalist on his graduation from Oxford and reached the convocation in the same attire. When the university administration presented the dress code rule and asked him to change his clothes, he refused. The management said, “If you have to wear this, then you will not be allowed to come to the podium and receive the gold medal from the Queen.” he replied, I won’t take the medal but the dress will remain the same.”
During the ceremony, the names of the students receiving medals were called, and when his name was also called, so he stood up from his seat and addressed the Queen and said
“I am here in the venue, but the management says that you should not come to the podium in your national dress.”Queen Elizabeth replied, “If this is the principle of the university, then I will come to the venue and give you the gold medal.”
And thus, the Queen came to his seat to give the gold medal to the student Atta Muhammad Khan.
The late Nawab Atta Muhammad Khan who passed away last year at the age of eighty-one. May Allah Almighty forgive the deceased and raise his rank, Amen.
