Thread by @GujaratHistory

Today is 75th Junagadh Independence or Liberation Day.75 years ago Junagadh princely state of Babi Nawabs was liberated on 9-11-1947. Indian army hoisted & flown Indian national tri-colour flag on historical Uparkot fort of Junagadh. Here is a thread on full history of liberation

First we tweet Junagadh short history today. Junagadh state last Babi Nawab fled Pakistan in 1947. Girinagar/Jirnadurg/Junagadh is very ancient city which is mentioned in Puranas. It was capital of Gujarat during Maurya & Gupta empires rule in Gujarat from 319 BC to 470 AD.

In ancient time Girnar mountain was known as Urjayat & Raivatak.Ancient names of Junagadh were Giripur & Girinagar .It was capital of Gujarat.Around 945 AD 3rd Sorath king Rah Grahripu found ruins of fort & city of Girinagar in deep jungle of Girnar.He named it Jirnadurg-Junagadh

In 1469 Chudasama Rajput dynasty rule over Junagadh-Sorath was ended with defeat of Ra'Mandlik 3rd.Chudasama ruled Sorath for 600 years-9th to 15th century.Gujarat Sultan Mahmud Begada conquered Junagadh & annexed Sorath to Gujarat Sultnat & Muslim rule over Junagadh-Sorath began

Gujarat Sultnat ruled Junagadh-Sorath from 1469 AD to 1572 AD. In 1572 AD, Mughal emperor Akbar won Gujarat & Junagadh-Sorath came under Mughal empire. Mughal military administrator of Sorath was known as Fauzdar who was under Mughal Suba (governor) of Gujarat at Ahmedabad.

In 1748 AD Nayab Fauzdar Sherkhan Babi was the Mughal administrator of Junagadh-Sorath. He declared himself the independent ruler of Junagadh by taking advantage of weakened Mughal power at Delhi. He founded the Babi Nawab state of Junagadh.His ancestor named Babi was an Afghan.

Babi Nawabs ruled Junagadh-Sorath from 1748 AD to 1947 AD. They were subordinate rulers of Maratha (1758 to 1818 AD) & British (1818-1947 AD. In 1947 AD, last Babi Nawab of Junagadh state Mahabat Khan 3rd decided to merge Junagadh into the newly formed Pakistan & fled there.

In 1758 Junagadh 1st Nawab Sherkhan (Bahadarkhan 1st) Babi died. He had 5 sons. Crown prince Mahabat Khan became Junagadh 2nd Nawab. Hia brother Sardar Muhammadkhan was at Balasinor (part of Junagadh state) at that time.He declared himself as an independent ruler of Balasinor.

In 1758 Junagadh 1st Nawab Sherkhan (Bahadarkhan 1st) Babi died. He had 5 sons. Crown prince Mahabat Khan became Junagadh 2nd Nawab. Hia brother Sardar Muhammadkhan was at Balasinor (part of Junagadh state) at that time.He declared himself as an independent ruler of Balasinor.

9th & last Babi Nawab of Junagadh state,Mahabatkhan 3rd born to Nawab Rasulkhan & his 3rd Begum Ayesha Bibi at Junagadh on 2-8-1900.When he was 11 year,his father Nawab Rasulkhan died on 22-1-1911. As he was minor British government appointed H.D.Rendall (I.C.S.) as administrator

British regent H.D.Rendall (Ic.S.) ruled Junagadh state for 9 years. In his regency rule,he took actions against almost all top officials of previous Nawab Rasulkhan for corruption & accumulation of illegal wealth.When Mahabatkhan became major,he was given reign of state in 1920.

Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto was Zamindar of #Sindh & member of Bombay state council was appointed as Junagadh state Diwan on 30-5-1947.He worked as Indian Muslim League agent instead of works of Diwan.He controlled Nawab Mahabatkhan who was a simple kind gentleman & made him a puppet.

In 1947 Gujarat's Muslim princely states Palanpur,Radhanpur,Khambhat,Balasinor,Sachin,Bajana,Vanad,Dasada merged their states with India. Junagadh state administration & political advisers Abdalkadar & Khanbahadur Nabibaksh advised Nawab Mahabatkhan to merge Junagadh with India.

Junagadh state Diwan Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto (Pakistan PM Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Father & Benazir Bhutto grandfather) decided to merge Junagadh state with #Pakistan against advice of state advisers. He forced his decision on Nawab & kept him in palace. Nobody was allowed to meet him.

Hindu were 82% of population of Junagadh state & it was connected as inseparable part of India geographically.Rulers of other princely states advised Nawab but he was firm & backed his Diwan.Kathiawad Rajkiy Parishad sent Uchchharangrai Dhebar to meet Nawab but he was not allowed

On 15th August 1947, Junagadh state Nawab Mahabatkhan 3rd declared the accession of Junagadh state & its subordinate states Manavadar, Sardargadh, Bantva & Mangrol with newly formed country #Pakistan. Pajod Babi Darbar preferred to join with India.

People of Junagadh state frightened on declaration of Junagadh merger with Pakistan.There was no leader to lead them.All were thinking that state would be finished by Junagadh Nawab suicidal step. No constitutional remedy was available to prevent merger of Junagadh with Pakistan.

Junagadh state council met to approve Nawab's decision to merge Junagadh state with Pakistan.Only Hindu member of council Rai Bahadur Dharamdas Hirnandani protested this artificial,unreal & suicidal merger.He had to resign from council.He left Junagadh state secretly on 17-8-1947

Oldest member of Junagadh state council Rai Bahadur Shivdattrai Mankad resigned earlier from council on state merger with Pakistan.He sent Nawabs confident diplomat Captain Dr.Premrai Majmudar to Delhi for opinion of Indian national leaders.Both were banned to enter Nawab palace.

Diwan Shahnawaz Bhutto's adviser Abdalkadar & political adviser Khan Bahadur Nabibax protested Junagadh state merger with Pakistan & advised to merge Junagadh with Indian Union. So Diwan Shahnawaz Bhutto seized & sealed their bungalows & removed them from Junagadh state services.

Muhammad Zafarullah came from Karachi to Junagadh. He met Junagadh Nawab Mahabatkhan 3rd with Diwan Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto.'Jamaat-ul Muslimeen' of Junagadh became active under leaders Ismail Abredani, Kazi Muhammadminya & Muhammad Bajud to help Diwan Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto.

Junagadh Nawab was advised by his advisers including Diwan Bhutto that merger with India would be detrimental to his heritage, religion & status. Diwan Bhutto invited local leaders of state Taluka & towns to Junagadh for their opinion on Junagadh state merger with Pakistan.

Junagadh state Diwan Shahnawaz Bhutto forced people leaders of state to approve merger of state with Pakistan but people leaders opposed this unreal merger of Junagadh with Pakistan. They under leader Dayashankar Dave gave memorandum of protest against state merger with Pakistan.

Diwan Shahnawaz Bhutto called Hindu & Muslim officers of state & asked them to go villages & rural leaders & to get their signatures in support of Junagadh state merger with Pakistan. They denied to do so. Diwan tried to persuade senior Hindu officers but he could not succeeded.

Junagadh Diwan Shahnawaz Bhutto failed to get support of state people & officers for state merger with Pakistan. He felt that Nawab would change his decision of merger with Pakistan on public demand & his game plan would be failed. So he decided to send Nawab Mahabatkhan Karachi.