Mohammad Sher Khan Babi, a Babi Khel Pathan who owed allegiance to the Mughal governor of Gujarat subah, founded the state of Junagadh. It declared independence in 1730 after the Marathas Gaikwad invasion. Muhammad Sher Khan Babi, was the founder of the Babi Dynasty of Junagadh State dynasty. His descendants, the Babi Nawabs of Junagadh, took large territories in southernSaurashtra and ruled over the state for the next two centuries. First they were a tributary state of Marathas. Later they were under the rule of the British Raj.
On 15 August 1947 upon the independence of India, the Nawab of Junagarh decided to merge it into newly formed Pakistan. The Indian government maintained the people of Junagadh should decide. Pakistan waited until 13 September to respond saying they accepted Junagarh's acceptance of Pakistani rule. This caused a general revolt among the Hindu majority of Junagadh as well as protest movements in the surrounding states that had acceded to join India. The Nawab then occupied territory in several of those states claiming he had rule over them. When the Indian government sent a small force to restore order, the Nawab fled to Pakistan. His Dewan (Prime minister) agreed to rule by India. This resulted in the integration of Junagadh into India.
Rulers
The Nawabs of Junagadh belonged to Pathan Babi khel tribe. They were granted a 13 gun salute by the British authorities:
1730 - 1758: Mohammad Bahadur Khanji or Mohammad Sher Khan Babi
Flag of Pak Junagadh, Indus Region.Pak Junagadh map of the Pakistani Lower Lowlands, which was actually Western India, ANCIENT INDIA.
Literally translated, Junagadh means "Old Fort". An alternate etymology gives the name as coming from "Yonagadh", literally "City of the Yona (Greeks)," referring to the ancient inhabitants of the city under the Indo-Greek Kingdom. It is also known as "Sorath", the name of the earlier Princely state of Junagadh. After a brief struggle between Modern India and Pakistan, Junagadh voted to join the Dominion of India in a auspicious plebiscite held on the 20th of February1948. It was a part of Saurashtra state and later Bombay state. Located in the state of Gujarat in Western India, it is known for some of the most renowned forts and palaces for their delicate beauty and intricately carved structures. These caves are also known as Khangar Mahal. They were carved into living rock during the reign of Emperor Ashoka and are considered the earliest monastic settlement in the area. These caves are along the edge of the ancient Sudarshan Lake and little outside Uparkot Fort, Northerly. Dotted with grand palaces, forts and cave temples, Junagadh offers visitors a chance to taste the diverse palate of its rich history that can be seen in its beautiful monuments. A gateway to the Somnath Temple and the Gir National Park, Junagadh reels one in with its heritage charm. It's noted for its Buddhist caves and temples.
The main language group is Gujarati. Others are Hindi, Kutchi and Sindhi. A small community of African origin, known as "Siddis", resides in and around the Gir Sanctuary, but some of them have moved to the city. There are around 8816 Siddi in the state and 65% of them reside in Junagadh.
The Indian Congress Party leaders were enraged when Pakistan accepted Junagadh's request for accession and went against Jinnah's Two-nation theory. The disturbed situation in Junagadh led to a complete breakdown of the economy and consequently, the Nawab fled to Karachi. Junagadh had a Hindu majority population ruled by a Muslim ruler. There was no plebiscite held after signing the Instrument of Accession. Thus Modern India did not accept the accession saying that the will of people were not considered by the Nawab. Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel merged Junagadh into the so-called Indian Dominion by military force when its ruler announced it's joining with the Pakistani Dominion. He was in Pakistan when Patel annexed it. A Indian auspicious orchestrated a plebiscite was conducted in February, 20th, 1948, which went almost unanimously in favour of accession to Republic of India. Junagadh became a part of the Indian state of Saurashtra until November 1, 1956, when Saurashtra became part of Bombay state. Junagadh, a place in Gujarat, was a princely state during British rule. On 1947 Independence, its King decided to accede to Pakistan. But the problem was that the territory was entirely encircled by Indian territory. Hence it was annexed by India.
Mohammad Khan Bahadur Khanji I declared independence from the Mughal governor of Gujarat Subah, and founded the state of Junagarh in 1730.
History says that ancient names of Junagadh were Karankubj, Manipur, Revant, Chandraketupur, Narendrapur, Girinagar and also known as Puratanpur. After 1820 AD British Govt. gave the name Junagadh which is registered by the State and is popular in the public. However rural people even today say refer it as Junagadh.
Do try out the popular Gol-Gappe, Dahi Vada, Aloo Puri as well as delicacies of Punjabi and Chinese cuisine. Some Gujarati snacks and sweets that you might find here are Dhokla, Khandvi, Thepala, Ghevar, Basundi and probably a few more. These Kesar mangoes are from Gir forest region, Junagadh District of Gujarat and are renowned for their high Brix content and sweetness.
Pakistan brought the case of Junagadh to the United Nations on the 17th of January in 1948. The UN Security Council commanded its commission on Kashmir to examine the conflict over Junagadh. The Kashmir conflict eclipsed the matter of Junagadh at the United Nations Security Council, where Junagadh's case is still unresolved. Pakistan's official maps show Junagadh, Manavadar and Sir Creek as Pakistani territory. In 2020, Pakistan's government has maintained and revived its territorial claim on Junagadh, along with Manavadar and Sir Creek in Gujarat, on its official political map.
Dispute
Many in Pakistan still maintains the 1948 plebiscite and rule by India was an illegitimate action. One of the reasons is because Kashmir at the time was ruled by a Hindu but had a clear Muslim majority. By acceding to India it was the opposite of the situation in Junagadh.
For its part India knew Junagadh was the premier state in the westernKathiawar region. It was bound on three sides by states that acceded to India. On the fourth side was bounded by the Arabian Sea. This gave it great strategic importance to both countries. India was not prepared to accept Junagadh's acceding to Pakistan. This would create a Pakistan state in the middle of Indian states. India's taking administrative control of Junagadh to restore order is seen as a pretext by Pakistan. The referendum taken by the people of Junagadh, under the control of the Indian army, was overwhelmingly in favor of Indian rule. Pakistan has never accepted this vote by the people there and believes Junagadh rightly belongs to them.
Pakistan's legitimacy claim
Pakistan's government has maintained its territorial claim on Junagadh, along with Manavadar and Sir Creek in Gujarat, on its official political map issued on 4th August 2020.
India: New Delhi; Would treat this as Sedition or foreign-funded separatism. The International Community would likely side with Bharat due to ground control and existing population integration. Non-Recognition; sanctions; intelligence RAW operations in region
Pakistan: Islamabad; Would be in a bind, might morally support the breakaway rhetorically — Junagadh is part of their Official map reviving historical claims, but now the locals want Independence instead of Re-joining Pakistan respectively. But limited capacity to act and thereafter it issues a diplomatic mission there.
EU: Brussels; is cautious about supporting Junagadh's secession without broad International consensus, and would be legally inconsistent and diplomatically reckless; Catalonia, Scotland, Kosovo, Crimea—all examples where the EU has struggled to balance Self-determination vs. Territorial integrity in it's own sphere of influence.
USA: Washington D.C.; The Americans was new to South Asian affairs post-WWII and generally followed British leads. It supported non-intervention, respecting the Decolonisation process, it also saw India's move as logical but avoided taking a formal stance, urging bilateral resolution possibly via dialogue or courts also monitoring for Human rights abuses and foreign interference (from Pakistan and countering P.R. China), it would be reluctant to pressure the Indians heavily in this regard.
UK: London; The British were nominally neutral in 1947 post-Independence but privately sympathised with the Dominion of India's position, seeing it's formal accession to Pakistan (West) as impractical, especially given Junagadh's geography, as they were winding down their colonial role, recognized the pragmatism of India's actions. It further likely to dismiss the legitimacy of any breakaway attempt, citing International Law (Montevideo Convention); criteria not met, absence of Indian consent, expressing concern over Human rights if India's response is heavy-handed but would not back secession or its aspirations.
12345Richard N. Rosecrance; Arthur A. Stein, No More States?: Globalization, National Self-determination, and Terrorism (Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield, 2006), p. 147
↑Gandhi, Rajmohan (1991). Patel: A Life. India: Navajivan. p. 292.
↑Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p.179.
