Gulab Khan was deported on transportation from Western Punjab to the Andaman Islands during the British regime. He was a school teacher. He lived in Bambooflat of South Andaman.
In the Second World War, the Japanese occupied the Andaman Islands in March 1942. During the Japanese occupation, Farman Shah along with other residents joined the Indian Independence League of Andaman branch in April 1942. He actively took part in all the activities of the Indian Independence League (IIL). He encouraged and motivated the villagers to come and take part in the functions of the League. On auspicious occasions, he with his group members assembled the people at the venues.
On 01 November 1943, Gulab Khan was arrested on false charges of espionage. He was incarcerated in the Cellular Jail. In jail, he had to undergo barbaric torture by the Japanese Forces.
On 29 December 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited the Andaman Islands. On 30 December 1943, Netaji hoisted the Indian flag for the first time at Gymkhana Ground. During his stay, IIL organized various functions from the date of his reception to his departure and Gulab Khan was one of the League members in all the management. On 30 December, Netaji visited Cellular Jail but he was not taken to Wing No 6 of the jail, in which a large number of IIL members including Gulab Khan were incarcerated being tortured. Thus Netaji did not come to know about their presence in the jail during his visit. On 31 December 1943 Netaji visited Browning Club which was the Headquarters of the Indian Independence League, but he was not given any chance to freely interact with the League members. At this time nobody in the League got any opportunity to inform Netaji about what was being happened there in the jail with the IIL members. On the same day, he left Andaman. After his departure, the members of the Indian Independence League were targeted by the Japanese.
Due to the prolonged courses of torture with no medical care, he took his last breath on 21 January 1944 within the four walls of the Cellular Jail. His body was disposed of by the Japanese while his family members were in mainland India.