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Muhammad Mahabat Khan III Khanji | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nawab of Junagarh | |
| In office 22 January 1911 – 25 February 1948 | |
| Succeeded by | Muhammad Dilawar Khanji (claimed) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Muhammad Mahabat Khan (1898-08-02)2 August 1898 Junagadh,Junagadh State,British India |
| Died | 17 November 1959(1959-11-17) (aged 61) Karachi,Federal Capital Territory,Pakistan |
| Cause of death | Cardiac arrest |
| Nationality | British Indian (1900–1947) Indian (briefly, 1947) Pakistani (1947–1959) |
| Children | Muhammad Dilawar Khanji (son) |
| Residence(s) | Junagadh State (present-dayGujarat,India) (ancestral) Karachi,Sindh,Pakistan (adoptive) |
Sir Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III Rasul Khanji,GCIE, KCSI (2 August 1898 – 17 November 1959) was the last rulingNawab of Junagadh of theprincely state ofJunagadh inIndia from 1911 to 1948. He was the father ofMuhammad Dilawar Khanji – former Governor ofSindh and his claimed successor. Famed for his extravagant lifestyle and his love of dogs, his decision to accede Junagadh to theDominion of Pakistan followingIndia's Independence led to theIndian Army taking military action. He is credited with pioneering a conservation effort in the Nawab of Junagarh's private hunting grounds, in what is now theGir National Park, that savedIndia's last few lions from almost certainextinction.[1]
Nawabzada Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III was born on 2 August 1898 atJunagadh, the fourth son of HH Nawab Sir Muhammad Rasul Khanji,GCSI (1858–1911; r. 1892–1911).[citation needed] As the fourth son, Mahabat was not expected to succeed to themusnaid of Junagadh; however, following the death of his three elder brothers by the time he was eight, he was made heir apparent, and succeeded his father upon his death in 1911.[citation needed] Mahabat was educated atMayo College, and ruled under aregency until his formal accession on 31 March 1920. The following year, he was raised to a 15-gun personal and localgun salute; in 1926, he wasknighted.[citation needed]
According to Sir Cyril Hancock, the former Resident of Western States, theNawab was well loved by his people and the state was well administered. Hancock had a high opinion of Nawab's personal qualities.[2]
During his reign, the Nawab oversaw the opening of the Willingdon Dam, the construction of the Bahadur Khanji Library (named after his ancestor, the first Nawab) and the opening of the Mahabat Khan Free College.[citation needed]
Mahabat Khanji was widely known for his love of animals, particularlydogs. At one point, he owned over 2000 high-pedigree dogs and is known to have spent several thousand rupees on grand birthday and 'marriage' parties for his favourite dogs.[3] However, Mahabat Khanji's love for animals also extended to the regional wildlife, particularly theAsiatic lion, which at the time was on the verge of extinction in India.[1] The Nawab helped to forestall this by preserving vast tracts of theGir forest in order to provide the lions with a stable habitat. He was also interested in animal husbandry, and his efforts in the field served to greatly improve the breeding stock of the localKathiawari stallions and of theGir cows.[citation needed]
At the time ofIndian independence in August 1947, all of the princely states were advised to accede to either of the two dominions of India or Pakistan. By 15 August 1947, most of these states in the interior of India had chosen to accede to India.[citation needed]
Nawab Mahabat Khan, however, spent the summer of 1947 on holiday in Europe.[3] In his absence, hisdewan,Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, ran the affairs of the state, and he consulted withMuhammad Ali Jinnah to join the state to Pakistan. On 11 August 1947, upon his return from his holiday, the Nawab made the decision to accede to Pakistan and sent an emissary to negotiate with Jinnah.[4]
Junagadh's population was predominantly Hindu, with the Muslim population accounting for only about a fifth of its total population.[citation needed]
With Pakistan's acceptance of Junagadh's accession on 16 September, the Indian government invaded Junagadh and took drastic action, inducing two of the Nawab's vassals,Mangrol andBabariyawad, to accede to India. The firstHome Minister of independentIndia,Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, played a major role in this regard.[citation needed]
Sir Mahabat Khanji, his family (including his dogs), and hisdewan (prime minister),Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, fled by plane to Pakistan on 24 October, never to return. Reportedly one of his begums and her child were left behind in the chaotic escape. Bhutto wrote toSamaldas Gandhi, leader of theArzi Hukumat (orgovernment in exile), to take over Junagadh.[citation needed]
TheIndian Army then took over Junagadh on 9 November, installed a new stateGovernor, and called for a public referendum on the status of the state. The referendum, arranged by the Indian government, was held on 20 February 1948. Of over 200,000 people who voted, 91 percent chose India while the rest chose Pakistan. The following year, on 20 January 1949, Junagadh was merged into the new Indian state ofSaurashtra.[citation needed]
After his exile from Junagadh, Sir Mahabat Khanji and his family settled atKarachi, where he died, aged 61, on 17 November 1959 .[citation needed] He was succeeded by his eldest son,Muhammad Dilawar Khanji, who claimed to be rightful Nawab of the statein absentia. The former Junagadh princely family still resides in Karachi.[citation needed]