Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/232

 Junagarh.

THE present rulers of Junagarh are the descendants of Bahadur Khan, an Afgan, who migrated to Delhi in the beginning of the seventeenth century. He was a lord'in'waiting to the Emperor Shah Jahan, whose life he, on one occasion, saved at the risk of his own, and the honourable title of 'Babi' (trusted) was conferred on him. The greatest among his descendants were Jafar Khan, Salabat Khan and Sher Khan. Opinions are divided as to who gained the fief of Junagarh from the Emperor. According to Col. Walker and Col. Jacob, Babi Mahammad Bahadur alias Sher Khan gained possession of Sorath from Mir Daulat Ali Naib, the representative of the Moguls, firmly established himself in Junagarh in 1754 A.D., and assumed the title of 'Nawab.' Sher Khan died in 1758 A. D. and was succeeded by Salabat Khan during whose time the levy of the Zorialbi (compulsory exaction) tribute from the different chiefs of Kathiawar commenced. Salabat Khan died in 1731 A.D. His eldest son, Sher Khan II, was a valiant soldier and one of the defenders of the Mogul Empire against the attacks of the Mahrattas. He died in 1758 A.D. and his son, Mohabat Khan, succeeded to the throne of Junagarh. It was in the time of this Nawab and his successor that Amarji, a Nagar Brahman from Mangrol, who was endowed with military and diplomatic genius, gained large and valuable accesions of territory and wealth to Junagarh.

Nawab Mohabat Khan died in 1775 A.D. and was followed by Hamid Khan. Till 1784 A.D., when Amarji was foully murdered, he not only kept down all the incursions of the neighbouring Chiefs, but proved himself a terror to them. Col. Walker who came to Kathiawar to settle the tribute payable by each Chief to the Gaekwar also determined the Zortalbi due by Junagarh. Hamid Khan died in 1811 A.D. and was succeeded by his son, Bahadur Khanji II, during whose time several vexed questions about territorial jurisdiction were settled. He died in 1840 A.D. leaving four sons of whom the elder two, Hamid Khan and Mohabat Khan K.C.S.I., succeeded to the gadi, one after another.

Nawab Bahadur Khan 111, on the death of his father in 1882 A.D., succeeded him. He had received a liberal education which he turned to good account in managing his State and introduced a variety of reforms according to modern requirements, in recognition of which he was created a K.C.I. E. He died in 1892 A.D. and a dispute arose about the succession between his son by the Radhanpur Begum and Prince Rasul Khanji. The latter was recognised by the Paramount Power and installed on the gadi. From his early days he was of a religious temperament and solicitous about the welfare of those whom Providence had put under him. He was created a K.C.I.E. in 1899 A.D. He died in January 1911 A.D. and has been succeeded by his son, Sher Zaman Khan.

The area of the State is 3,284 square miles containing a population of nearly four lacs of people and yielding a gross revenue of about 26 lacs of rupees.

The Nawab of Junagarh is entitled to a salute of 11 guns.