During the days of British India in feudal and royal times, Sahib was an official style, applied independently or as a supplementary title, for local nobles, counting the rulers of certain princely states even.
In different families, associates of particular genealogical grade were given a variety of combinations of added styles, which may even comprise of sahib. This would even take place in the Muslim family, like the children of Nawab of Junagadh applied Nawabzada prior to their individual names, followed by Khanji, and their father's name and finally Sahib.
Later on Sahib was even applied as a respectful address for Europeans, who were considered as honoured guests. During the British Raj it sort of became a tradition to address a white man as 'master'.
In different families, associates of particular genealogical grade were given a variety of combinations of added styles, which may even comprise of sahib. This would even take place in the Muslim family, like the children of Nawab of Junagadh applied Nawabzada prior to their individual names, followed by Khanji, and their father's name and finally Sahib.
Later on Sahib was even applied as a respectful address for Europeans, who were considered as honoured guests. During the British Raj it sort of became a tradition to address a white man as 'master'.