Junagadh State

The State of Junagadh or Junagarh was a princely state located in Gujarat, It was ruled by the Muslim Babi dynasty since 1654 by first Nawab of Junagadh even within the Maratha Confederacy and later British India. which, after the partition of British India, acceded to the Dominion of Pakistan. Subsequently, the Union of India annexed Junagadh in 1948, legitimized through a plebiscite held the same year. Pakistan claims sovereignty over the erstwhile princely state to this day. Junagarh State Council with S Parmar have been entrusted with the erstwhile princely state of Junagarh.

History

The state of Junagadh was established by the Maharaja of Parmar Rajputs. Muhammad Sher Khan Babai was the founder of the Babi Pashtun dynasty of Junagarh in 1654. His descendants, the Babi Nawabs of Junagarh, conquered large territories in southern Saurashtra.

However, during the collapse of the Mughal Empire, the Babis became involved in a struggle with the Gaekwad dynasty of the Maratha Empire over control of Gujarat, during the reign of the local Mohammad Mahabat Khanji I. Mohammad Khan Bahadur Khanji I declared independence from the Mughal governor of Gujarat subah, and founded the state of Junagarh in 1730. This allowed the Babi to retain sovereignty of Junagarh and other princely states. During the reign of his heir Junagarh was a tributary to the Maratha Empire, until it came under British suzerainty in 1807 under Mohammad Hamid Khanji I, following the Second Anglo-Maratha War.

In 1807, Junagarh became a British protectorate and the East India Company took control of the state. By 1818, the Saurashtra area, along with other princely states of Kathiawar, were separately administered under the Kathiawar Agency by British India.

In 1947, during the partition of India, the last Babi dynasty ruler of the state, Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, decided to accede to the Dominion of Pakistan but Junagarh was annexed by India which was followed by a plebiscite in which the locals voted to stay with India.

Rulers

The Nawabs of Junagarh belonged to Pathan Babi or Babai (Pashtun tribe). They were granted a 13 gun salute by the British authorities:

* 1730–1758 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I or Mohammad Sher Khan Babai
* 1758–1774: Mohammad Mahabat Khan I
* 1774–1811: Mohammad Hamid Khan I
* 1811–1840: Mohammad Bahadur Khan II
* 1840–1851: Mohammad Hamid Khan II
* 1851–1882: Mohammad Mahabat Khan II
* 1882–1892: Mohammad Bahadur Khan III
* 1892–1911: Mohammad Rasul Khan
* 1911–1948: Mohammad Mahabat Khan III (last ruler before the integration of Junagarh into India)

Junagadh Nawab's and state officials, 19th century.jpg, Junagarh Nawabs and state officials, 19th century
Mahabat Khan, the Nawab of Junagarh, 1870s.jpg, Mohammad Mahabat Khanji II, the Nawab of Junagarh, with young, Mohammad Bahadur Khanji III, 1870s
Bahadur Khanji III, Nawab of Junagadh, and state officials, 1880s.jpg, Bahadur Khanji II (r. 1882–1892), Nawab of Junagarh, and state officials, 1880s
Mohammad Rasul Khanji, Nawab of Junagadh, Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai, Wazier, Junagadh, 1890s.jpg, Mohammad Rasul Khanji, Nawab of Junagarh, Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai, Wazier, Junagarh, 1890s

Koli Rebellion

There was a Koli rebellion in Junagarh by Mansa Khant during the reign of Nawab Sher Khan (the first ruler of Junagarh). He revolted against the ongoing Mughal Rule, with Uparkot Fort serving as his centre of operations. He made a series of raids into the surrounding villages and cities. Nawab Sher Khan was unsuccessful in suppressing the rebellion. Mansa Khant occupied Uparkot for 13 months and continued to carry out numerous raids mostly in the countryside. The nawab was assisted by the King of Gondal State, Thakur Sahib Haloji Jadeja and Arab Jamadar Sheikh Abdullah Zubeidi in his campaign against the rebellion. The combined forces defeated the Khant, captured Uparkot and crushed the rebellion.

Annexation by India

In 1947, Shah Nawaz Bhutto joined the council of ministers of Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khan III, and in May became his dewan or prime minister.

With the partition of India in 1947, the princely states were left by the British to decide whether to accede to one of the newly independent Union of India or Dominion of Pakistan, or become a separate country.

The Constitutional Advisor to the Nawab, Nabi Baksh, indicated to Lord Mountbatten that he was recommending that Junagarh should join India. However, upon the advice of Dewan Bhutto, on 15 August 1947, the Nawab announced that Junagarh had acceded to Pakistan. On 16 September, the Government of Pakistan accepted the accession.

India sent its military into Junagarh while the Nawab of Junagarh was in Pakistan and captured the State of Junagarh. The Annexation of Junagarh by India led the Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khan III of Junagarh (of the erstwhile Babi Nawab dynasty of Junagarh) to live in exile in Sindh, Pakistan.

Pakistan's claim

Pakistan's government has maintained its territorial claim on Junagadh, along with Manavadar and Sir Creek in Gujarat, on its official political maps.
Philip Jagessar
Pakistan, India and mapping the contested accession of South Asia’s princely states
University of Nottingham, 3 October 2019.

On 10 December 2020, Sultan Ahmed Ali took oath as the Dewan of Junagadh State. This title was Given by Nawab Muhammad Jahangir Khanji who claim Annexation of Junagadh with Pakistan.

List of rulers

Rulers

The rulers were titled 'Maharaja'. They had the right to an 13 gun salute.

Junagarh State Council with S Parmar have been entrusted with the erstwhile princely state of Junagarh.

See also

* Annexation of Junagarh
* Manavadar State
* V. P. Menon
*Political integration of India
* Pathans of Gujarat
* Junagadh State Railway

References

External links

*
Classic Gallery of Indian Numismatics

{{coord, 21.52, N, 70.47, E, region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki, display=title

1730 establishments in India
1948 disestablishments in India
Bombay Presidency
Former protectorates
Historical Indian regions
States under the Kathiawar Agency
Pashtun dynasties
States and territories disestablished in 1948
Gun salute princely states
Princely states of Pakistan