JUNAGADH

The Babi Dynasty

GENEALOGY

1851 - 1882 H.H. Shri Diwan Nawab Sir Muhammad Mahabat Khanji II Bahadur Khanji, Nawab Sahib of Junagadh, KCSI (20.5.1871). b. at Junagadh, 10^th May 1838, second son of H.H. Shri Diwan Nawab Muhammad Bahadur Khanji II Hamid Khanji, Nawab Sahib of Junagadh, by his fourth wife, Naju Bibi Sahiba, educ. privately. Succeeded on the death of his elder brother, 1851. He was placed under surveillance and certain restrictions by his mother, with the help of an ambitious party at court. Escaped to Wanthali and appealed for British help, when he was freed from the intriguers and allowed to return. Granted a sanad confirming succession in accordance with Islamic laws, 11^th March 1862. Attended the Imperial Durbar at Delhi, where he was granted an increased personal salute of 15-guns 1^st January 1877. Together with the able Diwan Amarsinhji, the Nawab oversaw an extensive building programme to beautify and modernise the city, commissioning schools and colleges, hospital, markets, courts and other buildings, many in a unique Venetian-Gothic. Rcvd: Prince of Wales's gold medal (1875) and KIH gold medal (1877). m. (first) at Radhanpur, 1851 (div. ca. 1856), Bima Shri Kamal Bakhte Sahiba, elder daughter of H.H. Nawab Muhammad Jorawar Sher Khan Babi, Nawab Sahib of Radhanpur. m. (second) at Junagadh, 1853, H.H. Nawab Ladli Bibi Sahiba (d. at Junagadh, 1864, and bur. Mahabatkhanji Muqbara), daughter of Shaikh Muhammad Hashambhai. m. (third) 1866, H.H. Nawab Sardar Bakhte Begum Sahiba (d. at Junagadh, November 1876, and bur. Mahabatkhanji Muqbara), daughter of Khan Shri Jamal Khan Babi, of Ranpur, in Junagadh state. m. (a) Nur Bibi Sahiba, daughter of a mahout. m. (b) Chhotibu [Seja], a former dancer. m. (c) Nanibu. He d. at Junagadh, 29^th September 1882 (bur. there at the Mahabatkhanji Muqbara), having had issue:

• 1) H.H. Shri Diwan Nawab Sir Muhammad Bahadur Khanji III Mahabat Khanji, Nawab Sahib of Junagadh (s/o Ladli Bibi) - see below.
• 2) H.H. Shri Diwan Nawab Sir Muhammad Rasul Khanji Mahabat Khanji, Nawab Sahib of Junagadh (s/o Nur Bibi) - see below.
• 3) General Khan Shri Muhammad Adil Khanji Mahabat Khanji Sahib. b. 2^nd November 1867 (s/o Chhotibu), educ. Rajkumar Coll., Rajkot. Cdt. Junagadh Imperial Service Troops. Contested the succession in 1892.
• 1) Nawabzadi Bibi Shri Taj Bakhte Sahiba. m. at Junagadh, 1876, as his first wife, Khan Shri Sherbuland Khanji Rustam Khanji Babi, Khan Sahib of Bantva (b. 20^th October 1862; d. 12^th October 1933), only son of Khan Shri Rustam Khanji Sarbuland Khanji Babi, Khan Sahib of Bantva. She had issue, one daughter - see India Non-Salute (Bantva).

1892 - 1911 H.H. Shri Diwan Nawab Sir Muhammad Rasul Khanji Mahabat Khanji, Nawab Sahib of Junagadh, GCSI (1.1.1909, KCSI 31.12.1898). b. at Junagadh, 30^th July 1858, second son of H.H. Shri Diwan Nawab Sir Muhammad Mahabat Khanji II Bahadur Khanji, Nawab Sahib of Junagadh, KCSI, by Nur Bibi Sahiba, educ. privately. Proclaimed on the death of his elder half-brother, 23^rd January 1892. Installed on the musnaid, at Junagadh, 20^th June 1892. Granted a personal salute of 15-guns. An enlightened ruler, he expanded educational institutions and built railways and hospitals, and virtually extinguished the historic animosities between the Hindu and Muslim communities. Rcvd: Delhi Durbar gold medal (1903). m. H.H. Nawab Ayisha Bi Sahiba [Maji Sahiba] (d. at Junagadh, 1928). He d. at Junagadh, 22^nd January 1911 (bur. there at the Mahabatkhanji Muqbara), having had issue, four sons and two daughters:

• 1) Nawabzada Shri Sher Zaman Khanji Rasulkhanji Sahib. b. at Junagadh, 1881, educ. Rajkumar Coll, Rajkot. Heir Apparent. Cdt Junagadh Imperial Service Troops. m. 1899, Nawabzadi Bisabma Sahib Shri Mubarak Bakhte Sahiba (d. at Radhanpur, 7th December 1929), younger daughter of H.H. Nawab Muhammad Bismillah Khan Jorawar Khan Babi, Nawab Sahib of Radhanpur. He d.v.p. at Junagadh, 15^th August 1908, having had issue, a daughter:
  • a) Sahibzadi Bima Shri Lal Bakhte Sahiba. m. Sahibzada Edulkhanji Sardar Muhammad Khanji Babi Bahadur, of Sukhpur, son of Sahibzada Sardar Muhammad Khanji Fatehyabkhanji Babi Bahadur, of Sukhpur, under Junagadh, by his wife, Bima Shri Amir Bakhte Sahiba, daughter of Namdar Darbar Shri Muzaffar Khanji Sahib, of Ranpur. She had issue, two daughters - see above.
• 2) Nawabzada Sher Juma Khanji Rasul Khanji Sahib. Became Heir Apparent on the death of his elder brother, 15^th August 1908. He d. before 1912, having had issue, an only daughter:
  • a) Sahibzadi Bima Shri Subhan Bakhte Sahiba [Nawab Junagadhwala Begum Sahiba]. m. at Junagadh, as his first wife, 31^st October 1915, Nawab Shri Muhammad Jamiat Khan II Manowar Khan Babi, Nawab Sahib of Balasinor (b. at the Darbargadh, Balasinor, 10^th November 1894; d. at Baroda, 2^nd February 1945 and bur. at Balasinor), only son of Nawab Shri Muhammad Manowar Khan Zorawar Khan Babi, Nawab Sahib of Balasinor. She d.s.p. at Virpur, 31^st January 1920 - see India (Balasinor).
• 3) Khan Shri Muhammad Bahadur Khanji Rasul Khanji Sahib. He d. at Junagadh, 18^th August 1906 (bur. there at the Mahabatkhanji Muqbara).
• 4) H.H. Shri Diwan Nawab Sir Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III Rasul Khanji, Nawab Sahib of Junagadh (s/o Ayesha Bi) - see below
• 1) Nawabzadi Bima Shri Sobhan Bakhte Sahib. m. at Junagadh, 1894, as his third wife, Khan Shri Sherbuland Khanji Rustam Khanji Babi, Khan Sahib of Bantva (b. 20^th October 1862; d. 12^th October 1933), only son of Khan Shri Rustam Khanji Sarbuland Khanji Babi, Khan Sahib of Bantva. She d. 189x - see India Non-Salute (Bantva).
• 2) Nawabzadi Bima Shri Lal Bakhte Sahib of Junagadh. She d. at Junagadh, 1925.