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{{Short description|Former princely state in Gujarat, India (1730–1948)}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2017}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox country
| native_name =
| conventional_long_name = State of Junagadh
| era =
| year_start = 1730{{cn|date=July 2025}}
| date_start =
| event_start = Founded
| status = State Within the [[Maratha Confederacy]] (1731–1807) <br/> [[Protectorate]] of the [[East India Company]] (1807–1857) <br/> [[Princely State]] of the [[British Raj]] (1857–1947)
| year_end = 1948
| date_end =
| event_end = [[Annexation of Junagarh]]
| event1 =
| date_event1 =
| p1 = Maratha Empire
| flag_p1 =
| image_flag = State Flag of Junaghad.jpg
| flag_type = Flag (1947–48)
| image_coat = Junaghad_State_Emblem_1947.png
| symbol_type = Emblem <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kathiyawadikhamir.com/coat-of-arms/coat-of-arms-emblem-junagadh/|title=coat-of-arms-emblem-junagadh | કાઠિયાવાડી ખમીર|first=Kathiyawadi|last=Khamir|date=11 January 2014}}</ref>
| image_map = Junaghad state.jpg
| capital = [[Junagadh]]
| leader_name2 =
| image_map_caption = Location of the State of Junagarh,<br/>among all districts (in dark green)
| title_leader = [[Nawab]]
| year_leader1 = 1730– 1758 (first)
| leader1 = Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I
| year_leader2 = 1911–1948 (last)
| leader2 = [[Muhammad Mahabat Khan III]]
| stat_area1 = 8643
| stat_year1 = 1921
| stat_pop1 = 465,493
| today = [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| footnotes =
| s1 = State of Saurashtra
| flag_s1 = Flag of India.svg
}}
[[File:India-GUJARAT.svg|thumb|Modern state of [[Gujarat]], shown within modern borders of India]]
The '''State of Junagadh''' was a [[princely state]] in the [[Kathiawar Peninsula]] of western India, located in present-day [[Gujarat]]. Ruled by the [[Babi dynasty]] of Muslim Nawabs since 1654, it was one of the larger princely states in the region firstly within the [[Maratha Empire]] and later by [[British India]].<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Junagarh |volume=15 |pages=554–555}}</ref> In 1947, following the [[partition of India]], Junagadh became the subject of a political dispute when its ruler, Nawab Mahabat Khan III, acceded to [[Dominion of Pakistan|Pakistan]] despite the state's predominantly Hindu population and its geographical contiguity with India.<ref name=":0" /> This decision led to unrest and the eventual [[Annexation of Junagadh|intervention]] of the Government of India. After a plebiscite held in 1948, in which an overwhelming majority voted in favor of accession to [[Dominion of India|India]], Junagadh was integrated into the Indian Union and later became part of the state of Gujarat.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Collins |first=Larry |title=Freedom at Midnight |publisher=Vikas Publishing House |year=2011 |isbn=978-8125931867 |edition=Seventh |pages=556–557 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-05 |title=Explained: When Junagadh voted to join India, and Pakistan got just 91 votes |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-when-junagadh-voted-to-join-india-and-pakistan-got-just-91-votes-6540331/ |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Pakistan claims sovereignty over the erstwhile princely state to this day.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

==History==
[[File:Janugadh Musuem.jpg|thumb|Janugadh Museum]]

The state of Junagadh was established by the Maharaja of [[Parmar (Rajput clan)|Parmar]] [[Rajput]]s.{{cn|date=July 2025}} Muhammad Sher Khan Babai was the founder of the [[Babi dynasty|Babi Pashtun dynasty]] of Junagarh in 1654. His descendants, the Babi Nawabs of Junagarh, conquered large territories in southern [[Saurashtra (region)|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,<ref>{{citation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R--XMUsk7sIC&q=Junagadh+Marathas&pg=PA198 |title=Contemporary Society: Concept of tribal society |page=198 |author1=Georg Pfeffer |author2=Deepak Kumar Behera |year=1997 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=9788170229834 |author1-link=Georg Pfeffer}}</ref> until it came under [[Company rule in India|British suzerainty]] in 1807 under Mohammad Hamid Khanji I,<ref name=EB1911/> 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 (state)|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 [[Annexation of Junagarh|Junagarh was annexed]] by India which was followed by a plebiscite in which the locals voted to stay with India.

==Koli Rebellion==
[[File:Junagadh CoA.jpg|thumb|A coat of arms was granted to Muhammed Mahabat Khanji II at the Durbar in Delhi of 1877, used until 1947.]]
There was a [[Koli people|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 Empire|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 ruler of [[Gondal State]], Thakur Sahib Haloji [[Jadeja]] and Arab Jamadar Sheikh Abdullah Zubeidi in his campaign against the rebellion. The combined forces defeated Mansa Khant, captured Uparkot and crushed the rebellion.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rs5JDwAAQBAJ&q=Mansa+Khant&pg=PT94|title=Swaminarayan Hinduism: Tradition, Adaptation, and Identity|last1=Williams|first1=Raymond Brady|last2=Trivedi|first2=Yogi|date=12 May 2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199089598|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=KOLIS: A FRINGE CATEGORY|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/59303/8/08_chapter%20iv.pdf|website=shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in|access-date=1 January 2019}}</ref>

==Annexation by India==
{{Main|Annexation of Junagarh}}

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.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Copland |first=Ian |date=1991 |title=The Princely States, the Muslim League, and the Partition of India in 1947 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40106322 |journal=The International History Review |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=38–69 |doi=10.1080/07075332.1991.9640572 |jstor=40106322 |issn=0707-5332|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

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.<ref name=":0">{{cite book |first=V. P. |last=Menon |title=The Story of Integration of the Indian States |publisher=Orient Longman |year=1956 |url=https://hidf1.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/the-story-of-the-integration-of-the-indian-states-by-v-p-menon.pdf |pages=85–87}}</ref>

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 to the Nawab [[Muhammad Mahabat Khan III]] of Junagarh (of the erstwhile Babi Nawab dynasty of Junagarh) living in exile in [[Sindh]], Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.junagadhmunicipal.org/history.php |title=Welcome to Junagadh Municipal Corporation |access-date=5 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225220311/http://www.junagadhmunicipal.org/history.php |archive-date=25 February 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===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.<ref>
Devirupa Mitra, [https://thewire.in/external-affairs/pakistani-complaint-to-un-over-geospatial-bill-is-a-silly-issue-experts Pakistan Objects to India's Map Bill But its Own 2014 Law Regulates Geospatial Data Too], The Wire, 18 May 2016.
</ref><ref name=":1">
Philip Jagessar, [https://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/mapcollection/2019/10/03/pakistan-india-and-mapping-the-contested-accession-of-south-asias-princely-states/ Pakistan, India and mapping the contested accession of South Asia’s princely states], University of Nottingham, 3 October 2019.
</ref><ref name=":2">
{{cite news |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/world/pakistan-unveils-new-political-map-claiming-jammu-india-retorts/ |title=After Nepal, Pakistan unveils new political map; Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh claimed, India retorts |work=The Himalayan Times |date=4 August 2020 |accessdate=4 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-20 |title=Illegal occupation of Junagadh was an act of brazen aggression |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/20-Mar-2021/illegal-occupation-of-junagadh-was-an-act-of-brazen-aggression |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=The Nation |language=en-US}}</ref> On 10 December 2020, [[Sahibzada Sultan Ahmed Ali|Sultan Ahmed Ali]] took oath as the Dewan of Junagadh State.<ref>{{Cite web |last=news.desk |date=2020-12-12 |title=New prime minister of Junagadh sworn in |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2275654/new-prime-minister-of-junagadh-sworn-in |access-date=2024-12-09 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

== List of rulers ==
{{Sources needed|date=March 2025}}
===Rulers===
{{main|Nawab of Junagarh}}

[[File:Tomb of Mahabat Khan.jpg|thumb|Tomb of Mahabat Khan]]
The [[Nawab]]s of Junagarh belonged to [[Pashtuns|Pathan]] Babi or [[Babai (Pashtun tribe)]]. They were granted a 13 [[gun salute]] by the British authorities:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/j/junagadh.html|title=JUNAGADH|first=Henry|last=Soszynski|access-date=27 June 2014|archive-date=20 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520212059/http://members.iinet.net.au/~royalty/ips/j/junagadh.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

* 1730–1758 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I or [[Sher Khanji Babi|Mohammad Sher Khanji Babai]]<ref>[http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000002S6U00070000 Nawabs of Junagarh] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209012232/http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=019PHO0000002S6U00070000 |date=9 February 2012 }} British Library.</ref>
* 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: [[Muhammad Mahabat Khan III|Mohammad Mahabat Khan III]] (last ruler before the integration of Junagarh into India)
<gallery>
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
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Annexation of Junagarh]]
*[[Manavadar State]]
*[[V. P. Menon]]
*[[Political integration of India]]
*[[Pathans of Gujarat]]
*[[Junagadh State Railway]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.junagadhstate.org }}
*[http://indiannumismatics.com/about-monograms.php Classic Gallery of Indian Numismatics]
*[http://www.hubert-herald.nl/BhaGujarat2.htm Heraldry of the princely states of Gujarat]
{{Princely states of India}}
{{Princely states of the Western India States Agency}}
{{coord|21.52|N|70.47|E|region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-svwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:1730 establishments in India]]
[[Category:1948 disestablishments in India]]
[[Category:Bombay Presidency]]
[[Category:Former protectorates]]
[[Category:States under the Kathiawar Agency]]
[[Category:Pashtun dynasties]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in 1948]]

Junagadh State - Revision history

ItsNaviGrewal at 06:48, 18 March 2026