Nawab of Junagarh

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Nawab Bhadur Khan III in 1885, with officials Nawab junagadh1885.jpg
Nawab Bhadur Khan III in 1885, with officials

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.[ citation needed ] 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. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

List of Nawabs of Junagarh

Tomb of Mahabat Khan Tomb of Mahabat Khan.jpg
Tomb of Mahabat Khan

Given below is the list of Nawabs who ruled in the princely Junagarh State before the Partition of India. After the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947, the title of Nawab of Junagarh has no official status. It still carries respect in Pakistan and is used as a courtesy title. [4] [5] [6]

Lineage
NawabReignLife
1stNawab Muhammad Bahadur Khanji or Muhammad Sher Khan Babi [7] 1730 28 Sep 1758died 1758
2ndNawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji l28 Sep 1758 1760died 1774
Nawab Muzaffar Khanji17601762
2ndNawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji1762 2 Dec 1774died 1774
3rdNawab Muhammad Hamid Khanji2 Dec 1774 26 Feb 181117661811
4thNawab Muhammad Bahadur Khanji II26 Feb 1811 26 May 184017951840
5thNawab Muhammad Hamid Khanji II26 May 1840 185118281851
6thNawab Sir Muhammad Mahabat Khanji II1851 29 Sep 188218381882
7thNawab Sir Muhammad Bahadur Khanji III29 Sep 1882 21 Jan 189218561892
8thNawab Sir Muhammad Rasul Khanji Babi23 Jan 1892 22 Jan 191118581911
9thMr. H.D Rendall ESQR, Administrator of Junagarh19111920
10th Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III [8] 22 Jan 1911 25 Feb 194819001959 as the last 'de facto' Nawab.

Last Nawab

After the Partition of India in 1947, the decision of Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, who was the last ruling Nawab of Junagadh, to accede Junagadh to the Dominion of Pakistan was followed by the Indian Army taking military action. The Nawab, a Muslim, was in favor of declaring the state as part of newly created Muslim majority Pakistan. For this purpose he signed the documents for incorporation of the princely state in Pakistan, in response rulers of two states that were subject to the suzerainty of Junagadh—Mangrol and Babariawad—reacted by declaring their independence from Junagadh and acceding to India. In response, the Nawab of Junagadh militarily occupied the states, Sardar Patel saw this as an aggression upon State of India and called for military response. However, Jawaharlal Nehru waited to first establish the validity of accession of principality of Babariawad to India. Once this was established with Lord Mountbatten, on 22 September 1947, they sent a telegram to Dewan of Junagadh clarifying the legality of accession and to withdraw their troops from Babariawad. Further, Indian Army was ordered to go to Babariawad and get the territories in India's possession. The Nawab of Junagadh refused to vacate his troops from Babariawad and Mangrol. In October 1947 Nawab of Junagarh fled with his family to Pakistan. The Indian Army finally entered and liberated Babariawad in November 1947 and stood on alert along borders of Junagadh and Mangrol for further orders. leading to the integration of Junagadh into. After his exile, he settled down in Pakistan and the Junagarh family resides at the 'Junagarh House' in Karachi, Pakistan. [9]

After one year under Indian administration the Indian Government held a referendum asking the people of state to agree to be part of India.

See also

References

  1. Royal Junagadh Palace
  2. Juagadh Fort
  3. History of Junagadh
  4. Reviving the Junagarh issue: BACKGROUNDER Retrieved Daily Dawn, 9 Nov 2001
  5. The Story of the Accession of the Princely State of Junagarh Retrieved The Ground Report India, 30 January 2011
  6. rulers.org/indstat1.html
  7. Last Days of Junagadh Retrieved Memon World News
  8. The Maharaja of Junagadh, Nawab Sir Mahabet Khanji III
  9. Junagadh House Karachi Retrieved Indian Express, 21 January 2004