“If any large state intrudes the sovereignty of a smaller state, that amounts to be an act of aggression.”
These are the words of Mohammad Jahangir Khanji, the current Nawab of the lost state of Junagarh. A princely state geographically dead in India but politically alive in Karachi, Pakistan, where in the Junagarh House, the flag of the Junagarh state flies on its mast.
In 1730, Nawab Muhammad Bahadur Khanji decided to raise the status of his possession of lands to a state. Soon after, in 1735, the proclamation of Junagarh took place. Junagarh, located at the foot of the Girnar Hills of what is now the state of Gujarat, had an area of approximately 3,336 sq. miles and was delimited to the south by the Arabian Sea.
In 1807, Junagarh, under the Nawabs, became a tributary state of the British Empire.
The ninth and the last Nawab Mohammad Mahabat Khanji III ascended the throne as a minor on January 22, 1911. He remained at the helm of affairs till 1947. And post-independence, the drama of the Instrument of Accession took place at Junagarh.
When the British relinquished their claims to paramountcy, the 562 independent Princely States had the opportunity to join India or Pakistan. The Muslim ruler of Junagarh, a state with a Hindu majority population, announced his decision to join Pakistan, by sea.
Except for the Arabian Sea to the south and southwest, it was surrounded by several small States in the Kathiawar region that had acceded to India. Junagarh had no contiguity with Pakistan by land. And on October 27, 1947, the Dewan of Junagarh wrote to Muhammad Ali Jinnah, describing the disastrous consequences following Junagarh’s accession to Pakistan, when over 100,000 Hindus fled the State of Junagarh.
India responded by aiding and abetting the establishment of a so-called “Provisional Government” of Junagarh on Indian territory, which attacked Junagarh with Indian connivance and support. Subsequently, Indian forces also invaded Junagarh, despite protests from Pakistan, to “re-establish public order.”
In October 1947, the Nawab of Junagarh fled by air to Karachi, taking its entire cash balance and the treasury’s shares and securities in tow. An allegedly farcical plebiscite was organized under Indian auspices, with nearly 100% of its people choosing India over Pakistan and what followed was India annexing Junagarh.
The euphoria of independence was short-lived, as the partition had disastrous consequences for India in the wake of the communal conflict. India’s aggressive front in annexing the Princely States was criticized by many. Even today, Pakistan’s government has maintained its territorial claim on Junagarh, on its official political maps.
Just like Junagarh had a not so smooth transition from a princely state to being a part of the Union of India, on this day 75 years ago, Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession, signed the Instrument of Accession to join the Dominion of India, in return for protection from the Indian military. If the stories of what the Union of India was like when it fragmented into various Princely States interests you, KarmaPlay is organizing a quiz on the Princely States of India. Participate and get a chance to get your names down in the history of KarmaPlay!
