Chapter outline and page reference:
Introduction 230
A List of Diwans of Junagadh 231
Notes on the Diwans of Junagadh 233
The Office of Vazir 259
British Political Agents in Kathiawar 259
Chapter preview (first few pages only):
Introduction
The Diwans of Junagadh were the chief ministers of the State during 200 years of the Babi dynasty of Nawabs, 1748–1947 AD. The Chief Diwan was the responsible head of the administration, and exercised power of supervision and control over all departments except His Highness’ private and personal khata. The Naib (deputy) Diwan had no office separate from the Diwan Daftar (office of the Diwan), and as the principal assistant to the Chief Diwan, his duty consisted in executing the orders of the Vazir Saheb and the Chief Diwan.
After the demise of Diwan Gokalji in 1879, the Diwan Daftar was separated from the Mulki Daftar (Revenue Department), and special functions were allotted to each during the regime of the next Diwan Khan Bahadur Saleh Hindi. The orders relating to the general administration of the State were from then on passed by the Diwan Daftar. From the year from which budget estimates for the receipt and expenditure of the State commenced to be drawn up in the form of statements, they were made by the Chief Diwan assisted by the Naib Diwan (Junagadh State 1903b).
Edwardes and Fraser (1907) provided a maritime metaphor for the value of an able and conscientious Diwan to the welfare and progress of an Indian State or Principality: ‘The Chief may be in supreme command of the vessel of state as Captain, and may rule with wisdom and philanthropy: yet can his virtue avail little for the progress of the vessel unless he have by his side some faithful master-mariner who knows by intuition and experience the locality of the shoals and quicksands and the proper course to steer in avoiding them.’
Spodek (1976, page 25) commented on the degree of loyalty of Diwans: ‘Ranchodji…noted that occasionally a diwan would lead a revolt against his ruler, as Kalyan Sheth did against the Nawab of Junagadh in 1789 by fleeing to Kutiana. So common was the movement of diwans that Mahatma Gandhi, in describing the ministerial work of his grandfather in the courts of Saurashtra, notes that even when he moved from a position in Porbandar to one in Junagadh, he re-affirmed a loyalty to Porbandar; most diwans evidently felt no such sense of loyalty to territory or to rulers.’
A List of Diwans of Junagadh
The following is a chronological list of Diwans that served under each of the nine Babi Nawabs of Junagadh, in part from Junagadh State (1903a):
(1) Nawab Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I (1735–1758 AD)
Diwans:
Dalpatram
Jagannath Morarji Jhala
(2) Nawab Mohammad Mahabat Khanji I (1758–1774 AD)
Diwans:
Jagannath Morarji Jhala
Somaji Jikar
Dayal Sheth
Mewalal Jagjivandas
Sadanand
Khan Shri Sherjamankhanji
Amarji Kunvarji
(3) Nawab Mohammad Hamid Khanji I (1774–1811 AD)
Diwans:
Amarji Kunvarji
Raghnathji Amarji
Kalyan Sheth
Madhavrai Khushalrai and Kalyan Sheth (jointly)
Kalyan Sheth
Raghnathji Amarji
Rewashanker Trikamdas
(4) Nawab Mohammad Bahadur Khanji II (1811–1840 AD)
Diwans:
Raghnathji Amarji
Umar Mukhasan
Raghnathji Amarji
Seikh Amirulla
Sunderji Shavji Sheth
Syed Huseinmia
Givindji Amarji Jhala
Sunderji Hansraj Sangvi
Sadashivrao Devaji
Amritlal Amarchand
Good HistoryOfJunagadh
Thanks Ashok. The complete chapters will be available soon.
Cheers
Johnbhai.
Where does haribhai viharidas Desai fit in?
Hi Jyotsna
Haridas Viharidas Desai was Diwan of Junagadh for two periods, and covered the time during the reigns of Nawab Mohammad Bahadur Khanji III and Nawab Mohammad Rasul Khanji. In case you are interested in this remarkable man, I have extracted from my document some information about him (with images removed):
Diwan Sardar Haridas Viharidas Desai (September 1883–1893 AD)
Rao Bahadur Haridas Viharidas Desai, of Nadiad, introduced certain administrative reforms. He abolished the ijara system, under which the right to collect revenue from villages was farmed out to private individuals. He also stopped the jamadari system, a remnant of the old feudal days under which a jamadar was appointed for the purpose of certain services, and was expected to maintain law and order by employing men who were paid from the income of lands given to the jamadar. It was because of the efforts of Haridas Viharidas Desai that the stone stairway ascending Mount Girnar was built, from the funds raised from a lottery. To advance his study of Advaita Vedanta, in 1893 Haridas took 12 months leave, which he further extended. During this time he was appointed by the British Government, to participate as one of two Indian Members, in its Royal Commission on Opium.
Diwan Khasusiat Dastagah Chunilal Sarabhai Hazarat (acting) (1893 AD)
Chunilal Sarabhai Hazarat, of Ahmedabad, was recalled by the British Government the same year he was installed as Diwan, as he had some difference with the Political Agent, Colonel Hancock.
Diwan Sardar Haridas Viharidas Desai (1894–1895 AD)
After his work for the Opium Commission ended, Haridas relented to the insistence of Nawab Rasulkhan to rejoin the State, but after only a few months he retired for good.
Haridas Viharidas Desai (29 July 1840 – 17 June 1895), the oldest of five brothers, was educated at Ahmedabad, and became one of the leading figures of Gujarat. He was a man of principles and an exalted character. In 1888, he became the first man from Gujarat to serve in the small Bombay Legislative Council, and in 1894 he sat on the Royal Opium Commission. He developed a deep friendship with Swami Vivekananda, and was a keen student of Advaita Vedanta.
Before he came to Junagadh, Haridas very successfully held senior positions in a number of States of Saurashtra, e.g. Deputy Judge and later Assistant Judge at Bhavnagar State (1870–1876), Administrator (Kharbari) of Wadhwan State (1876–1882), Administrator of Wankaner (1882), and Diwan of Idar State (1882–1883).
The years Haridas spent at Junagadh were his glorious years of just and powerful administration. His first act was to restore peace and tranquillity to the state which had been the battlefield of the Makrani and Maiya rebels. With a firm hand and grave risk to his own personal safety, he faced the rebels with the Junagadh army and police and quelled the rebellion. Nawab Bahadur Khanji now felt secure for the first time in his life and offered Haridas a gift of 100,000 rupees (a huge sum in 1884). Haridas had no need for the money, but to keep the Nawab happy he suggested a formula whereby he would accept the annual interest on that sum, this interest to be added to his wages. In return, his wage would be reduced by that amount. So his wage included the ruler’s gift but it actually remained the same. By this means he respected the gift but did not take it. However, the ruler insisted that the interest from 100,000 rupees would remain to be paid not only to Haridas but to his descendants in perpetuity. This sum the family received annually from Junagadh till the Republic of India took control of Junagadh State.
Ekatmananda (1984) commented on some achievements of Haridas, shortly after he assumed the role of Diwan: ‘Soon realizing that Baudinbhai, a maternal uncle of the Nawab Saheb, had a great hold on him and influenced him, Haridas settled a working arrangement with Baudinbhai thus. ‘While Baudinbhai should mind the personal income of the Nawab Saheb and the State Treasury, the responsibility of administration and judiciary dealing with the public would wholly rest on Haridas.’ This understanding lasted as long as Haridas held office, to the credit of both. Haridas made an expedient compromise with the moyos [= Maiyas, over 70 of whom had been massacred by the Junagadh police, during an uprising, shortly before the appointment of Haridas] granting them their rightful claims and giving them a document enumerating several concessions and rights. In the meantime, another Tribe in the State, the militant and rude Makarana, raised its head and aggressively started raiding and looting the villages. The officer in charge of ‘Operation Makaranas’, Police Superintendent Jamadar Suleman, was a favourite of Baudinbhai… Haridas, who valued law and order most, took personal risk and arrested the criminals.’
In a dispute between Junagadh and the adjacent State of Mangrol, over a few villages and a boundary, Haridas won the case for Junagadh. Griffith (1894) summarised this dispute over territory between Junagadh and Mangrol: ‘There were several joint villages between Junagadh and Mangrol – one of its subordinate Talukas – and a commission was appointed in 1886 to enquire into the rights and interests of the two powers, the result being that Mangrol had the sole proprietary right over twenty-one villages in full settlement of its claims; while the civil and criminal jurisdiction over all was given to the Junagadh state. The generosity of his Highness the Nawab Saheb in this partition of interests has been recognised by the Government.’ See Anonymous (1920) for the report of the Commission appointed to seperate the interests of the State of Junagadh and the Sheikh of Mangrol.
Ekatmananda (1984) noted some further accomplishments of Haridas at Junagadh: ‘In order to find money to build the 12,000 steps up Mount Girnar, Haridas conducted a lottery and got nearly three lakh rupees. After the construction of the steps, the balance amount was deposited with the shroff (banker), and a committee was entrusted with the task of maintaining the steps with the interest on the deposit. He also got built at his own cost a bridge connecting the approach road from Junagad to Mt. Girnar, the sacred Damodar Kund and a temple for St. Narsi Mehta. These facts, incidentally, are inscribed on the marble plaques fixed on either side at the foot of the flight of steps to the mountain and on the parapet of the bridge. It must also be said to the credit of Diwan Haridas that a railway line was laid between Jetalsar and Junagad, and several structures of public utility such as veterinary and general hospitals, dispensaries, and schools and colleges came into being. Moreover, he was instrumental in building the Uparkot Water Works and the starting of agricultural farms.’
Diwan Haridas retired from his post in February 1895 and died in June of the same year.
Typical of the many glowing eulogies written about Haridas after his demise, a Memorial Fund Circular summed up some of his good qualities (Ekatmananda 1984): ‘His many public and private virtues, prominent among which were integrity, straightforwardness, political sagacity, impartiality, spirit of altruism, devotedness to duty, and in short ‘plain living and high thinking’ have won him the love and esteem of all good persons who came in contact with him.’
I was looking for a e Book, in pdf form , on Junagargh Dewan written by Dewan Ranchodji t on those days
Hi Smarajit
The book to which you refer is the following:
Amarji, Ranchhodji (1882) Tarikh-i-Sorath. A History of the Provinces of Sorath and Halar in Kathiawad. Translated to English from the Persian by E Rehatsek, revised by JW Watson; edited by J Burgess. Education Society Press, and Thacker and Co Ltd, London.
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=SP0HAQAAIAAJ
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=YbsOAAAAQAAJ
http://www.archive.org/details/trikhisorahahis00amargoog
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.547151
https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.5192
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.57837
https://archive.org/details/trikhisorahahis00unkngoog
https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.547011
http://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/5192.pdf
http://bit.ly/1PGOcd8
The first two links above are only Google Books snippet views, so it’s better to use one of the various Internet Archive links or alternatively the last two links.
Best of luck
J
Where can I find the pdf of the whole Book collection?
Amazon Kindle Books
There is no name of Swaleh Hindi in Diwan
Hi Anonymous, you are quite right when you say that there is no mention of Swaleh Hindi in this short extract from my chapter on the Diwans of Junagadh. I trust that you will have read above the beginning of the extract that it is a chapter preview (first few pages only). In fact, the preview is of only 3 pages, whereas the entire chapter is 59 pages long. I have devoted 4 pages (pages 18-21) to Diwan Khan Bahadur Muhammad Jamadar Saleh Bin Salem Hindi (1878– 1883 AD) and include 5 different photos of him. I recommend that you take a look at the whole chapter, if you are interested.
Bahauddin Bhai also figured a the Diwan of the Junagadh State, Bahauddin Maqbara is a testament to the fact. His name seems to be missing
Hi Zaid,
I’m sorry, but near the beginning of the blog page for chapter 5 (Diwans of Junagadh) there is a note saying “Chapter preview (first few pages only)”. In fact, only the first 3 pages of the chapter are presented on the blog, whereas the entire chapter is 63 pages long. You will notice that another page on the blog, titled “Kindle Shop” lists all 33 chapters, each with a link to its availability at Amazon Kindle Books. The full account of chapter 5 discusses in more detail about each of Junagadh’s Diwans.
I’m also sorry, but Sheikh Bahauddin Bhai was never a Diwan of Junagadh State. Instead, from 1868 CE he held the more senior office of Vazir of Junagadh State. Toward the end of chapter 5, I made a very brief comment about this office. The following is the short passage, but with images (Figures) deleted:
“The Office of Vazir
Figure 5.23. Monogram of the Vazir of Junagadh State.
The Vazir occupied the principal office of the State. According to Junagadh State (1903b), he was: “the controlling head of all the Rayasat-khata [all the paraphernalia of the Darbar including State institutions such as attendants, guards, military, bearers, conveyances, stables, etc] of the State, the final authority with regard to the management of the treasury, the mint and its trading branch, Kapad department, Kothar and the State Sibandi [local militia], and…[was] the Commander-in-chief of the Imperial Service Troops. He…[was] authorized by His Highness to affix his own seal in token of approval on all Rukkas [promissory notes] and pay-bills of expenses incurred in the mofussil [country districts] under orders of the Diwan Daftar…”.
The most famous of all Vazirs of Junagadh State was undoubtedly Sheikh Bahauddin Hasambhai (1835–1914 CE), affectionately known as Bahauddin Bhai. For an account of this impressive man, see Chapter 6.
Figure 5.24. Painting of Nawab Rasul Khanji shooting a lion from his elephant howdah, with Vazir Bahauddin by his side (from Anonymous circa early 20th century: ‘Bahauddinbhai Album’).”
In chapter 6 (‘Some Notable People from Junagadh’), I made a few notes about him, as follows (again with Figures deleted):
Vazir Sheikh Bahauddin Hasambhai
Figure 6.2. Painting possibly of Sheikh Bahauddin Bhai, on horseback. The suspicion that the image is of Bahauddin is based on use in the ‘Bahauddinbhai Album’ of the title ‘His Excellency’ for him, and the fact that his favourite horse was named Guldar, a name which is presumably derived from its literal meaning of ‘rose’ and therefore may imply an animal covered with rosettes or spots (from Anonymous circa early 20th century: ‘Bahauddinbhai Album’).
Vazir Sheikh Bahauddin Hasambhai was descended from a line of distinguished ancestors of the Sunni faith. The founder of Bahauddin Bhai’s family was Sheikh Hafizuddin, alias Hafiz Bhai, who in 1730 CE came to Junagadh from Multan where he had studied at the shrine of Bahauddin Zakaria (1170–1267 CE), a Sufi of the Suhrawardiyya Tariqa (order). Sheikh Hafizuddin became a hafiz-e-quran (memorizer of the Quaran) and was well educated in theology. He joined service in the palace of the 1st Nawab, Mohammad Bahadur Khanji I, who reigned 1748–1758 CE. The Nawab’s wife became his disciple after the birth of her son Mahabat Khan I. Sheikh Hafizuddin was also appointed as religious tutor of the children of the Sajjada Nashin (hereditary administrator) of the Datar Jamial Shah shrine at Junagadh/Girnar. He married Jamiat Bibi, daughter of a well-known Baloch sardar, and had three sons, namely Sheikh Pir Mohammad (alias Pir Bhai), Sheikh Mohammad Hashim and Mehmood Bhai. Bahauddin Bhai was the son of Sheikh Mohammad Hashim (Zia Usman, personal communication 2016).
Figure 6.3. Vazir Sheikh Bahauddin Hasambhai. The photograph on the left was taken by B B Poochee and is dated April 1892; the photograph on the right was probably taken at the same time by the same photographer.
Sheikh Bahauddin was born in Junagadh in 1835 CE and was the youngest of three brothers; he also had one sister. When he was a child he developed a strong friendship with Mahabat Khan II, as they were of equal age and his paternal aunt Chehatboo and her husband Lalbhai were chief confidants of Maji Sahiba, Mahabat Khan’s mother. Bahauddin became a constant companion of Mahabat Khan. When Mahabat Khan (born 10th May 1838) became Nawab in 1851, at the age of 14 years, he appreciated the past services of his old attendants, and Sheikh Bahauddin was appointed chief of his personal risala (bodyguards). In 1853 CE Mahabat Khan II was married with great pomp to Ladli Begum Sahiba, sister of Sheikh Bahauddin, making the two brothers-in-law. In addition, Bahauddin Bhai was married to the sister of Nawab Mahabat Khan II, also making the two men brothers-in-law.
Figure 6.4. Vazir Sheikh Bahauddin Hasambhai (right, from Shaikh 1936).
When Mahabat Khan ascended the gadi (throne) he was a minor, so a Council of Regency was appointed. When he attained his majority in 1858 the Council of Regency was terminated but affairs of the State remained in the hands of his mother and the administration was poorly managed by two brothers, Keshavji and Virji Luhana, as well as other Luhana family members. The two brothers had been devising schemes to disturb relations between the Agency and the States, and they were in secret alliance with the Wagher dacoits who made depredations in the States in those times. The Nawab, with the help of the Agency, took away all the power from his mother, and all the Luhanas were dismissed from State service. Keshavji received 10 years imprisonment and Virji escaped trial by throwing himself down from a window and dying, while in confinement at Uparkot Fort. Sheikh Bahauddin rendered useful help to the Nawab in this matter, so the Nawab conferred upon him the office of Vazir (chief minister, secretary of state) and the village of Agatarai as a Jagir, in 1862. In 1868, in appreciation of faithful and responsible services, Bahauddin was also given Bhiyal as a Jagir. In 1894 it was noted that: “The Vazir Baha-ud-din is a handsome middle-aged man of refined and genial manners, high intellectual ability and artistic tastes; his house is beautifully decorated, and he has a fine zoological collection” (Griffith 1894).
Figure 6.5. Monograms of Sheikh Bahauddin Hasambhai (from Thakkar 2007).
Figure 6.6. Bahauddin Bhai (from Anonymous circa early 20th century: ‘Bahauddinbhai Album’).
Vazir Sahib Sheikh Bahauddin died on 14th July 1914 and was buried in the Mausoleum built by himself near the Mahabat Muqbara.
Bahauddin Bhai had only one child, a son named Usman, who died young. He also had an elder brother, Mohammad Bhai, who was the Commanding Officer Jail Infantry, Municipal Commissioner, Junagadh. This Mohammad Bhai had a son, Amir Omer Bhai, who in 1911 represented Junagadh State as Aide-de-Camp to King George V at the Delhi Durbar. Omer Bhai named his only surviving son Usman, probably after Bahauddin Bhai’s only son. Amir Usman’s two offspring, a son and daughter, now retired, are residents of Rawalpindi, Pakistan (Zia Usman, personal communication 2015).
Figure 6.7. Brothers of Bahauddin Bhai. Left: Mohammad Bhai, titled ‘Mahmadbhai Commanding officer, Jail Infantry, Municipal Commissioner, Junagad’; right: Jamal Bhai and Lal Bhai (from Anonymous circa early 20th century: ‘Bahauddinbhai Album’).
Figure 6.8. Bahauddin Bhai (centre) with his son, Usman (right) (from Anonymous circa early 20th century: ‘Bahauddinbhai Album’).
A book about Bahauddin Bhai was published in 1896 by Nirnaya-Sagar Press (Javaji Dadaji Chaudhari), Bombay. It is titled: ‘A Short Biographical Sketch of Madarul Maham Shaikh Mahmad Bahauddinbhai Hasambhai, C. I. E., Vazier Saheb of Junagadh’ (Anonymous 1896). In addition, an old and now rare book of photographs, titled ‘The Bahauddinbhai Album’, was published by Suraiya and Company, Ahmedabad (Anonymous circa early 20th century). It is a collection of photographs of Bahauddin Bhai, Nawab Mahabat Khanji II, Nawab Bahadur Khanji III, Nawab Rasul Khanji, State officials, Bahauddin Bhai’s city and country (Sakkarbagh) residences, Junagadh palace and other significant buildings, etc.
Figure 6.9. Personal sword of Vazir Sheikh Bahauddin in the collection of the Junagadh Museum. The curved sword, which dates from about 1890 CE, is a fusion of English imported blade, Irani hilt, Giri lion emblem and Junagadh craftsmanship. The blade is single edged from the beginning but double edged at the lower end, and profusely decorated with floral and geometrical designs. The ivory hilt has a meal lion-shaped pommel and quillon, and an image of Vazir Bahauddin. It has a fully decorated metal scabbard and a chain instead of a knuckle guard (from Pant and Bhowmik 1984).
You’ll notice from the text that a few years ago, Zia Usman very kindly offered some further information for my account.
Cheers,
John