Indian integration of Junagadh

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Junagadh is one of the modern districts of Saurastra, Gujarat. It is located at the southern corner of the peninsula.

Junagadh was a former princely state of British India. In the independence and partition of India and Pakistan on 1947, the 565 princely states were given a choice of whether to join India or Pakistan. The Muslim Nawab of Junagadh, His Highness Nawab Mahabat Khanji, whose Muslim ancestors had ruled Junagadh and small principalities over the last seven hundred years, since the time Sultan Mehmood Ghaznavi; decided that Junagadh should become part of Pakistan. The Nawab acceded to the Dominion of Pakistan on 15th August 1947. Understanding the political situation, Pakistan accepted on 13th September, in accordance with the agreed principles for the accession of princely states. When Pakistan confirmed the acceptance of the accession in September, the Government of India was outraged that Muhammad Ali Jinnah would accept the accession of Junagadh despite his argument that Hindus and Muslims could not live as one nation.^[1] Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel believed that if Junagadh was permitted to go to Pakistan, it would exacerbate the communal tension already simmering in Gujarat.

The princely state was surrounded on all three sides by India with only an outlet to the Arabian Sea. The unsettled conditions in Junagadh had led to a cessation of all trade with India and the food position became precarious. The region was in crisis and the Nawab was forced to flee to Karachi with his family fearing for his life and established a provisional government with his followers.

Patel gave Pakistan time to void the accession and hold a plebiscite in Junagadh. Samaldas Gandhi formed a democratic government-in-exile, the Aarzi Hukumat (in Urdu:Aarzi: Temporary, Hukumat: Government) of the people of Junagadh. Eventually, Patel ordered the forcible annexation of Junagadh's three principalities. Junagadh's court, facing financial collapse and no possibility of resisting Indian forces, first invited the Aarzi Hukumat, and later the Government of India to accept the reins. A plebiscite was conducted in December, in which approximately 99% of the people chose India over Pakistan.^[2]

A large Hindu majority in the state overwhelming wished to join India. A plebiscite was held on 20 February 1948, in which all but 91 voters out of 190,870 who voted (and an electorate of 201,457) overwhelmingly voted to join India. India then took control over the entire state of Junagadh.

The Government of Pakistan protested, saying that the accession of the state to Pakistan was already accepted (September 13,1947). Junagadh became a part of the Indian state of Saurashtra until November 1, 1956, when Saurashtra became part of Bombay state. Bombay state was split into the linguistic states of Gujarat and Maharashtra in 1960.

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