Junagadh: Let the Dust Settle Down | Part 1 | PKKH.tv
PKKH Exclusive | By Salman Javed‏
Maps are made and colored according to the wills of those who conquer the territory.
I heard this statement from an Army General long ago. Though at that time, I did not understand the context wherein one would understand that no matter how strong your case is, no matter how much capable you are of presenting your case with reason, proof and logic, the cruel world out there will judge, accept and give its verdict only for the one who is powerful and who can claim its right with the help of sword and not reason.
Junagadh (Old name Mehmud Abad) the princely state that was captured and occupied by India in 1947 is one of the best example of such a case. Many give logic and tell tales from distorted history; presenting the case of Kashmir and trying to devoid its legitimate freedom movement by comparing it with the case of Junagadh and thus confusing masses about the reality which is now buried perhaps in the pages of history.
Junagadh after the Murayan, Solanki and Chudasama Dynasties came under Muslim rule. Mehmud Begada (1458-1511) who reigned over this area of Gujrat, was the one who laid foundation of a city Mehmud abad, which is later named as Juna Gadh (meaning old fort). After Mehmud, the Mughals captured the area and reigned over it for about 2 centuries (1572-1748).
In 1748, Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I, a Yousafzai Pathan, who owed allegiance to the Sultan of Ahmedabad, expelled the governor appointed by the Mughals and re-named Mehmud Abad as Junagadh and declared independence. Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I was the one who laid foundation for the Babi Nawabs Dynasty. Babi Nawabs ruled Junagadh and conquered Saurashtra area as well and ruled the state for next two centuries. They were tributaries to Baroda and later when East India Company took over; they kept their rule under the suzerainty of the British.
List of Babi Nawabs:
1735 1758 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I
1758 1775 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji I
1775 1811 : Mohammad Hamid Khanji I
1811 1840 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji II
1840 1851 : Mohammad Hamid Khanji II
1851 1882 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji II
1882 1892 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji III
1892 1911 : Mohammad Rasul Khanji
1911 1948 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji III
In 1807, Junagadh became a British protectorate. As stated earlier, it did not come under direct rule of the East India Company which took control of its foreign affairs in 1818, but they were ruled by Babi Nawabs under the suzerainty of British. When EIC separated Saurashtra from jundagadh and divided the territory in 217 princely states, the states were administered by old Nawabs and local administration.
In 1947, during the partition process, an Instrument of Accession was introduced by the British. This Instrument was introduced to counter the well known as Two Nation Theory presented by Muslim leaders of the sub-continent such as Jinnah and his predecessor Iqbal. The Instrument of Accession however gave the opportunity and authority to the Ruler of the State to decide the fate of their people. There were 562 princely states which were given the choice on the bases of this same instrument. Only three states faced problem:
Kashmir
Junagadh
Hyderabad
A quick peek into these three cases depicts the unique situation each one faced:
Here it is interesting to know that the first governor general of India, Mountbatten took the position that only states that share borders with Pakistan should accede to Pakistan. Hyderabad decided to stay an independent entity; the ruler of Junagadh Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III decided to accede to Pakistan; and in Kashmirs case the ruler decided to accede to India.
Before partition, Pakistan and India were mainly contesting on two states. One was Kashmir and other was Junagadh. They decided to consider five major options to resolve the issue:
1)Democratic Rule
2) Communal factor
3)Geographical factor
4)Decision of ruler
5)Use of Force
Lets have a look one by one at cases of all three states in the background of above five options:
Continue .
Salman Javed is Defence and Strategies analyst at PKKH.tv, he also looks after operational activities of PKKH. He tweets @FortressMSJ and can be reached at sj@pkkh.tv
Source
PKKH Exclusive | By Salman Javed‏
Maps are made and colored according to the wills of those who conquer the territory.
I heard this statement from an Army General long ago. Though at that time, I did not understand the context wherein one would understand that no matter how strong your case is, no matter how much capable you are of presenting your case with reason, proof and logic, the cruel world out there will judge, accept and give its verdict only for the one who is powerful and who can claim its right with the help of sword and not reason.
Junagadh (Old name Mehmud Abad) the princely state that was captured and occupied by India in 1947 is one of the best example of such a case. Many give logic and tell tales from distorted history; presenting the case of Kashmir and trying to devoid its legitimate freedom movement by comparing it with the case of Junagadh and thus confusing masses about the reality which is now buried perhaps in the pages of history.
Junagadh after the Murayan, Solanki and Chudasama Dynasties came under Muslim rule. Mehmud Begada (1458-1511) who reigned over this area of Gujrat, was the one who laid foundation of a city Mehmud abad, which is later named as Juna Gadh (meaning old fort). After Mehmud, the Mughals captured the area and reigned over it for about 2 centuries (1572-1748).
In 1748, Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I, a Yousafzai Pathan, who owed allegiance to the Sultan of Ahmedabad, expelled the governor appointed by the Mughals and re-named Mehmud Abad as Junagadh and declared independence. Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I was the one who laid foundation for the Babi Nawabs Dynasty. Babi Nawabs ruled Junagadh and conquered Saurashtra area as well and ruled the state for next two centuries. They were tributaries to Baroda and later when East India Company took over; they kept their rule under the suzerainty of the British.
List of Babi Nawabs:
1735 1758 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I
1758 1775 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji I
1775 1811 : Mohammad Hamid Khanji I
1811 1840 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji II
1840 1851 : Mohammad Hamid Khanji II
1851 1882 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji II
1882 1892 : Mohammad Bahadur Khanji III
1892 1911 : Mohammad Rasul Khanji
1911 1948 : Mohammad Mahabat Khanji III
In 1807, Junagadh became a British protectorate. As stated earlier, it did not come under direct rule of the East India Company which took control of its foreign affairs in 1818, but they were ruled by Babi Nawabs under the suzerainty of British. When EIC separated Saurashtra from jundagadh and divided the territory in 217 princely states, the states were administered by old Nawabs and local administration.
In 1947, during the partition process, an Instrument of Accession was introduced by the British. This Instrument was introduced to counter the well known as Two Nation Theory presented by Muslim leaders of the sub-continent such as Jinnah and his predecessor Iqbal. The Instrument of Accession however gave the opportunity and authority to the Ruler of the State to decide the fate of their people. There were 562 princely states which were given the choice on the bases of this same instrument. Only three states faced problem:
Kashmir
Junagadh
Hyderabad
A quick peek into these three cases depicts the unique situation each one faced:
Here it is interesting to know that the first governor general of India, Mountbatten took the position that only states that share borders with Pakistan should accede to Pakistan. Hyderabad decided to stay an independent entity; the ruler of Junagadh Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III decided to accede to Pakistan; and in Kashmirs case the ruler decided to accede to India.
Before partition, Pakistan and India were mainly contesting on two states. One was Kashmir and other was Junagadh. They decided to consider five major options to resolve the issue:
1)Democratic Rule
2) Communal factor
3)Geographical factor
4)Decision of ruler
5)Use of Force
Lets have a look one by one at cases of all three states in the background of above five options:
Continue .
Salman Javed is Defence and Strategies analyst at PKKH.tv, he also looks after operational activities of PKKH. He tweets @FortressMSJ and can be reached at sj@pkkh.tv
Source
