Babi dynasty

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Babi dynasty
Radhanpur State-CoA392.jpg
Country Junagadh State
Radhanpur State
Balasinor State
Bantva Manavadar
Sardargarh Bantva
Founded1554
Founder Sher Khanji Babi
Current headNawab Sultan Salauddinkhan Babi (Balasinor)
Final ruler Muhammad Mahabat Khan III (Junagadh)
Mortaza Khan (Radhanpur)
Muhammad Salabat Khan (Balasinor)
Ghulam Moinuddin Khanji (Manavadar)
Titles Nawab of Junagadh
Nawab of Radhanpur
Nawab of Balasinor
Nawab of Bantva Manavadar
Nawab of Sardargarh Bantva

The Babi dynasty [1] was a Pashtun dynasty that formed the ruling royal houses of various kingdoms and later princely states. [2] The Babai community, originally of Afghan descent, largely resides in India and some parts of Pakistan. [3] The community traces its royal origins to the dynasty founded by Sher Khanji Babi in 1654, who was himself a ruler from the dynasty's founding until 1690. [4] The last Nawab of the British Indian princely state of Junagadh, Sir Muhammad Khanji, signed an Instrument of Accession and acceded his princely state of Junagadh, as well as its vassal state of Sardargadh, Bantva Manavadar, to the Dominion of Pakistan after the Partition of British India in 1947. However, the Dominion of India did not recognize the accession and annexed the princely state shortly afterwards.

Contents

History

The Babai are a tribe of Pashtuns that originate in the Kalat region of the Zabul Province in southeastern Afghanistan. Babi or Babai are the mythical sons of Ghorghasht or Gharghashti. [a] [5] The first Babi is said to have entered Gujarat with Humayun. [6] They claim to have come to India from Khorasan under the leadership of Usman Khan, a follower of Humayun, the second Mughal emperor. Bahadur Khanji Babi, son of Usman Khan, migrated to India and entered service under the Mughals. The hereditary title (Tribe) of Babi was conferred to him in 1554 from Emperor Humayun, for "services against the Rana of Chittor".

Sher Khanji Babi, the founder of the Babi dynasty in 1654 joined the service of Prince Murad Baksh in Kathiawar, the Imperial Viceroy and son of Shah Jahan. [7] In Mughal sources, the members of the Babi tribe are recognized as "Gujaratis", [8] due to their regional "Gujarati" identity, intermarriage and assimilation to its culture, and reference to their clan was mainly mentioned as a community within the different Gujarati subgroups, for example Shujaat Khan Gujarati of Ahmedabad. [9] Aurangzeb also writes in the Ruqa'at-i Alamgiri: "The 'Faujdarship' should be given to one of the Gujaratis: Safdar Khan-i Sani", referring to Safdar Khan of the Babi tribe. [10] They largely identified with those who had lived for generations in the country or were converts.

After the collapse of the Mughal Empire, the Babis were involved in a struggle with the Gaekwad dynasty of the Maratha Empire for control of Gujarat. While the Marathas were successful in establishing control over all of Gujarat, the Babis retained sovereignty of the princely states of Junagadh, Radhanpur, Balasinor, Manavadar, Bantva, and Sardargadh.

Members of this dynasty ruled over the princely states of Junagadh, Radhanpur and Balasinor, as well as the small states of Bantva Manavadar, Sardargarh.

Members of the Babi tribe are found throughout north Gujarat and Saurashtra. Iconic Bollywood actress Parveen Babi was of Babi lineage, but most contemporary Babis, barring those belonging to princely lineages, are in modest circumstances. Many are petty landowners, but there is marked urbanization among the Babi as well. Though the Babis observe a tradition of endogamy, there are cases of marriages with the Chauhan and Behlim communities, and they accept daughters from the Shaikhs and Sunni Bohras. [11]

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junagadh</span> City in Gujarat, India

Junagadh is the city and headquarters of Junagadh district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Located at the foot of the Girnar hills, 355 kilometres (221 mi) southwest of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, it is the seventh largest city in the state. It is dominated by the Chudasama clan of Rajputs since ancient times.

Kheda is a city and a municipality in the Indian state of Gujarat. Kheda was known as Kaira during the British Raj. It was the former administrative capital of Kheda district. The city is known for tobacco farming. The nearest railway station is Mahemadavad Kheda Road and the nearest airport is Ahmedabad Airport.

Babi enters in various Indian titles. Babi or Babai is a Pashtun Tribe. Babi or Babai is son of Ghorghasht or Gharghashti. It has its origin as quoted 'Bahadur Khanji Babi, son of Usman Khan, who migrated to India and entered the Mughal service and received the hereditary title of Babi in 1554 from Emperor Humayun, for services against the Rana of Chittor'.

Events from the year 1947 in Pakistan.

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Sardargardh and Bantva were princely states. Founded in 1733 by Khan Shri Sherzamankhanji Babi youngest son of Nawab Saheb Salabat Muhammadkhan Babi of Junagadh State, on the Kathiawar peninsula in Gujarat, India, they had an area of approximately 186 km2, and contained 13 primarily Muslim villages. It was a non-salute state.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pathans of Gujarat</span> Indian people of Pashtun origin

GujaratiPathans are a group of Pashtuns, who are settled in the region of Gujarat in western India. They now form a distinct community of Gujarati and Urdu/Hindi speaking Muslims. They mainly speak Urdu with many Pashto loanwords, but most of them have been Indianized so some may have Gujarati as their first language as well, few elders in the community still speak Pashto. Common tribes include Turk pathan, Babi or Babai, Niazi, Khan, Bangash, Durrani, and Yousafzai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Junagadh State</span> Former princely state in Gujarat, India (1730–1948)

Junagarh or Junagadh was a princely state in Gujarat ruled by the Muslim Babi dynasty in India, which acceded to the Dominion of Pakistan after the Partition of British India. Subsequently, the Union of India annexed Junagadh in 1948, legitimized through a plebiscite held the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nawab of Junagarh</span> Rulers of Junagarh State in the British Raj

Nawab of Junagarh or Junagadh refers to the now defunct ex-lineage of rulers of the princely Junagarh State in British Raj, nowadays Junagadh district in the state of Gujarat in India. There are still several forts and palaces in India which were owned by princely Junagarh family but after Partition of India, this property was claimed by the Indian Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balasinor State</span> Princely state of India

The State of Balasinor was a princely state in Balasinor during the era of British India and founded by Sardar Muhammed khan Babi and Murtuza Bhatia The last ruler of Balasinor signed the accession to join the Indian Union on 10 June 1948. Its rulers belonged to the family of Babi or Babai tribe. The state was founded by the Junagadh State Babi dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency</span> Agency of India from 1944 to 1947

The Baroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency was an agency of the Indian Empire, managing the relations of the Provincial Government of the Bombay Presidency with a collection of princely states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radhanpur State</span> Princely state of India

Radhanpur State was a kingdom and later princely state in India during the British Raj. Its rulers belonged to a family of Babi House, the state was once a polity within the Mughal Empire. The last ruling Nawab of Radhanpur, Nawab Murtaza Khan, signed the instrument of accession to the Indian Union on 10 June 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Radhanpur</span>

Radhanpur is a town and a municipality in Patan district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Radhanpur belonged to the Vaghelas in early years and later it was held as a fief under the Gujarat Sultanate by Fateh Khan Baloch. During Mughal period, the descendants of Babi dynasty were appointed as the governor of Radhanpur and other villages of North Gujarat. After decline of Mughal, they became free and established themselves as independent rulers. In 1743, Babi descendant Jawan Mard Khan II took over viceroyalty of Ahmedabad and controlled several villages in North Gujarat.He was defeated by vaghela Un Jagir in 1753. He was defeated by Maratha Gaekwads in 1753 at Ahmedabad and Gaekwads agreed to his demand of control of villages in North Gujarat headquartered at Radhanpur State. His descendants lost some of these villages to Gaekwads subsequently. In 1813, Sher Khan made a treaty with the Gaekwar and British and became British protectorate. His descendants ruled the state until independence of India in 1947.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gujarat Subah</span> Former Mughal imperial province

The Gujarat Subah was a province (subah) of the Mughal Empire, encompassing the Gujarat region. The region first fell under Mughal control in 1573, when the Mughal emperor Akbar defeated the Gujarat Sultanate under Muzaffar Shah III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghulam Moinuddin Khanji</span> Nawab, Khan

Ghulam Moinuddin Khanji was the ruler of Manavadar State, one of the princely states associated with British India. Although Khanji chose to accede to Pakistan after the partition of India, the state was soon annexed by India and a subsequent referendum resulted in a massive Indian victory.

Shēr Khānji Babi was the Afghan founder of the Babi dynasty of Hindustan.

References

  1. ↑ "Babi royal family brings their cuisine to Ahmedabad". The Indian Express. 2019-04-01. Archived from the original on 2019-04-02. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  2. ↑ Indian Journal of Secularism. Centre for Study of Society & Secularism (Mumbai, India). 2002. p. 31.
  3. ↑ "AfghanTribes". afghantribes.com. Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  4. ↑ Henry Soszynski. "Junagadh". Members.iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
  5. ↑ Babi, Babi. "Ghorghasht or Gharghashti". Archived from the original on 2018-03-17.
  6. ↑ Gujarat State Gazetteers: Banaskantha District. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State. 1981.
  7. ↑ Babi Mausolea and Political Identity of The Junagdh State by Dr. Vibhuti Parikh (Sep 2017) Faculty of Arts University of Baroda
  8. ↑ Satish Chandra (1959). Parties And Politics At The Mughal Court.
  9. ↑ Journal:Volume 9. the New York Public Library. 1923. p. 266.
  10. ↑ Aurangzeb, Emperor of Hindustan, 1618-1707; Jamshedji Hormasji Bilimoriya (1908). Ruka'at-i-Alamgiri; or, Letters of Aurungzebe, with historical and explanatory notes;. University of California Libraries. p. 41.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ Muslim Communities in Gujarat by Satish C Misra pages 110-111
  1. ↑ Afghan patriarch of a confederation of various Pashtun clans that include the Babi/Babai
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