Sikandar Hayat Khan (1892–1942)

Indian politician. He was elected to the Punjab legislative council in 1921, and was appointed chair of the Punjab Reforms Committee to work with the Somon Commission. Elected chief minister of the Punjab at the start of World War II, he launched rural reconstruction programmes, extended irrigation facilities, laid new roads, and established and strengthened the roles of panchayats (local councils). After his death the Punjab was plunged into political turmoil.

From a rich landed family, he was educated in Aligarh, and at University College, London. In World War I he was appointed an honorary recruiting officer and was granted a commission. During the third of the Afghan Wars he acted as a company commander in 1919. He was knighted in 1933 and appointed governor of the Reserve Bank in 1935.