Junagadh was merged with India on November 9, 1947.
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s father, Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, played an important role in efforts to merge the Hindu-dominated princely state of Junagadh with Pakistan. In the early months of 1947, Bhutto, leader of the Muslim League, was included in the Nawab’s Council of Ministers. Within a few days, the state’s Diwan Khan Bahadur Abdul Qadir Mohammad Hussain traveled abroad for treatment. Bhutto replaced him. Nawab Sir Mahabat Khan Rasoolkhanji soon came under his influence by Bhutto and the princely state, whose representatives were expressing their desire to merge with India as late as 25 July, announced its merger with Pakistan on 15 August 1947.
The Government of India came to know about this decision of the Nawab through the news published in the newspapers on August 17. Sardar Patel asked the Ministry of External Affairs to know the position of the Pakistan government. On September 13, 1947, Pakistan approved the merger of Junagadh.
It was once a Rajput kingdom.
Junagadh used to be a princely state of Rajputs before it was conquered by Sultan Muhammad, ruler of Ahmedabad in 1473. It became part of the Mughal Empire during the reign of Akbar. During the decline of the Mughals, in 1735, Sherkhan Babi, a military officer from the province, deposed the Mughal governor and captured the state.
The present Nawab Sir Mahabat Khan Rasulkhanji was a descendant of Sher Khan himself. Indifferent to the affairs and administration of the State, the Nawab’s real interest was in the hundreds of dogs whom he loved immensely. This love was to the point that they created a lot of fun at the wedding of a dog couple. Huge sums of money were spent on parties and decorations and a government holiday was declared in honor of the dog couple.
Of the roughly seven lakh population of the princely state of Junagadh, spread over 3,337 square miles, 80 per cent were Hindus. Not only due to the majority Hindu population, but also geographically, there was no logical basis for the merger of Junagadh with Pakistan. He had no contact with Pakistan by road. The Arabian Sea extends to the south and southwest of this princely state of the Kathiawar region. The distance from Varawal port to Pakistan is three hundred miles. The Somnath temple, an important religious center for Hindus, also falls under this status.
Pakistan’s response to India’s efforts to obtain official information on the approval of the princely state’s merger with Pakistan was evasive. In a meeting in the presence of Mountbatten, Pandit Nehru rejected Pakistan’s decision on Junagadh. Nehru said that the people there will decide Junagadh through a referendum. Mountbatten added that this principle would also apply to other princely states. Liaquat Khan saw hope for Kashmir in this offer.
Sardar Patel.
Junagadh increased Patel’s interest in Kashmir
Sardar Patel, who was playing a decisive role in the integration of the princely states, had become well aware of Junagadh. Pakistan’s stance had increased its interest in Kashmir. Patel said if Pakistan can merge Hindu majority Junagadh, why can’t Kashmir be part of India? Interestingly, to the proposed referendum in Junagadh, Pakistan had put a condition for the referendum in Kashmir. But Pakistan was not willing to accept Patel’s condition of holding a referendum in Hyderabad. On the other hand, if Lord Mountbatten had his way, the Junagadh issue would have reached the United Nations along the Kashmir line. He had made a proposal to this effect in a meeting held on September 27, 1947. Nehru, Sardar Patel, Gopal Swami Iyengar and Mohan Lal Saxena present at the meeting rejected it outright.
The cabinet handed over the responsibility to Patel
The Junagadh issue had become a dispute between two countries, India and Pakistan. Nehru discharged the responsibility of both Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister. By law, this matter was outside the scope of the Home Secretary’s jurisdiction. But Patel took on this responsibility with the consent of the cabinet. The cabinet agreed. Patel’s main associate in the unification of the princely states was VP In his book Integration of Indian States, Menon has mentioned in detail his visit to Junagadh and the events that occurred there. On instructions from Patel, he reached Junagadh on 19 September 1947.
All of Menon’s efforts to meet the Nawab failed. Diwan Bhutto did not allow this meeting to take place. The excuse given was the Nawab’s illness and his stay in bed for fifteen days. It was not even possible to meet the Nawab’s son. His busy schedule was cited at a cricket match. Menon was understanding the reality. Nawab was under the control of Bhutto, associated with the Muslim League, and watched, listened and made decisions through her eyes and ears.
Ignoring Mountbatten’s advice
The message to Pakistan was clear: cancel the Junagadh merger. But there was no positive sign from him. Ignoring Mountbatten’s advice, Patel deployed the army to the Junagadh border on 24 September. Patel was also active on another front. With Patel’s support, many people from Junagadh and Kathiawar gathered in Bombay. They formed a civil government under the leadership of Samal Das Gandhi. This princely state government demanded cancellation of the merger of Pakistan. Meanwhile, three jagirs belonging to Junagadh, Mangrol, Manavadar and Bawariyawad joined India. The Cabinet approved its merger with India on October 21.
Nawab thought it was best to flee.
Even after four weeks no response was received from Pakistan. Patel was not willing to wait any longer. The patience of the majority of the state’s population had run out. The civil government led them. On November 1, the people of Araj’s government entered Junagadh. Seeing the anger of the public, the Nawab had already lost his courage. He had fled to Pakistan in the last week of October. As he flew there, he was accompanied by cash, jewelry, wives, and several dogs, all of whom he loved immensely. But the Nawab, worried about the dogs, had forgotten to take one of his wives and his son with him. He is said to have learned this while boarding the plane, but Nawab was not willing to risk stopping at that time.
Patel accepted the referendum with difficulty
Dewan Bhutto had written a letter to Jinnah on October 27 describing the critical situation of the princely state which was getting out of control. It was also disappointedly reported that not even local Muslims have any interest in Pakistan. On November 2, Araji’s government captured the state. On November 7, Bhutto sent a letter to Samal Das Gandhi and then on November 8 to the Government of India to hand over the princely state to India.
When Pandit Nehru heard about this, he was having dinner with Mountbatten. The princely state was under the control of India. The public also had the same desire. But Mountbatten was adamant about the referendum there. Nehru also agreed. At Nehru’s behest, Menon wrote to the Pakistani government that India would include Junagadh only after knowing the wishes of the people. Patel strongly opposed the referendum. He even called that step cowardice. After much persuasion, he agreed to add the condition of “friendly status.”
On November 9, 1947, the army entered Junagadh under the leadership of Brigadier Gurudayal Singh. The army of the princely state surrendered. The chaos ended. Peace was established. The government quickly took steps to improve the administrative system there. The arrangements included getting rid of the Nawab’s abandoned dogs, which at that time cost sixteen thousand rupees a month.
Patel reached Junagadh and warned Hyderabad.
Four days later, on November 13, Sardar Patel reached Junagadh. There were still two princely states, Hyderabad and Kashmir, which were pending merger with India. Now she was among Patel’s priorities. From Junagadh he gave a message to the Nizam of Hyderabad. He had said that if Hyderabad does not read the writing on the wall, it will pass through Junagadh. There was a huge crowd at this Patel meeting. Amidst huge applause, everyone supported India.
Patel had asked if it was necessary to hold another referendum now. However, on February 20, 1948, a referendum was held there. Of a total of 2,01,457 voters, 1,90,870 had exercised their right. Of them, only 91 supported Pakistan. The Nawab continued rubbing his hands. They don’t belong anywhere. In the last attempt, he met Indian Ambassador to Pakistan Shri Prakash. He was willing to accept all conditions. But it was too late. The strict Patel was present here.
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