The Nawab Sahib is His Highness Sir MahabatKhan III G.C.I.E., K.C.S.I. who is ninth in succession and seventh in decent from His Highness the Nawab sahib BahadurKhan 1. the founder of the Babi family of Junagadh in 1748 A.D. Nawab sahib was born in 2nd august 1900, and succeeded to the Gadi on 22nd January 1911 A .D. but His Highness being then a minor the state was placed under the British Administrator. He visited England in 1913-14 and receives his education at the mayo college, Ajmere.

The investiture of Nawab sahib has been eagerly looked forward by five lakhs of His Highness subjects and had excited attention far and wide. The auspicious ceremony was performed on Wednesday 31st March 1920 A.D. by Mr. E. Maconochie, C.S.I., I.C.S., and Agent on Governor in Kathiawar. The imposing investiture Darbar was held at 9 a. m. in the Hall of Bahauddin College.

On this auspicious occasion, deputation came from most of the States in Kathiawar and Gujrat. People from outside had gathered in the Junagadh town in unusually in large numbers.

His Highness the Nawab Sahib as the Ruler of the premier State in Kathiawar, ranks first in among the Princess and Chiefs of Kathiawar enjoying plenary powers and enjoys a personal salute of 15 guns, the permanent salute being 15 guns within, and 13 guns outside, Junagadh territory.

The Junagadh State can also be one of the leading Mohomedan State in India, for among the 18 Mohomedan Salute in India, the Junagadh State Ranks fifth in area, fourth in population, but ranks second in annual incomes.

Nawab sahib is the supreme and final authority in the state, and the general administration is conduct under his direction, though a large measure of the authority has been entrusted to Diwan sahib and other officers.

Soon after the assumption of full power by the Nawab Sahib, signs were perceptible which heralded the Dawn of a new and bright era. Nawab Sahib was place to make clear in intensions to train the people in the State in the art of Government by giving them opportunities to manage their local affairs.

So Nawab Sahib was graciously placed to abolish the exciting system of Revenue Patel’s and Village Committees and substitute in lieu their of Village Patel’s and Village Panchayats to be selected by the unfettered choice of the villagers themselves and His Highness was pleased to issue Hazur Farman dated 25th July. The Farman opens with the following memorable words:-

“The welfare and prosperity of the very large proportion of my people who are engaged in Agriculture is very near to my heart. The Khedut are the foundation of all the wealth of Junagadh. Motives of self-interest alone would compel me to regard them as of prime importance in the State and in any future development of its political institution.”

Nawab Sahib Desire to reform the then existing Municipality of the City and to entrust the Municipal Government to a body of nine members, nominated by the State, representing the different communities and a official President. The Bahadur Khanji library was placed under the control of the Municipality which has been furnished with a commodious Council Hall. The opening ceremony took place on 15th August at His Highness hand in a Darbar in a Shamiana erected before the Bahadur Khanji library.

The advantage was taken of the occasion by the subjects of the Junagadh State to present a public address in a fine casket to Nawab Sahib by way of an expression of and respectful and loyal greeting on the assumption of His Highness of the Government of the State with full powers. At the time of Investiture of His Highness, owing to indifferent health, it was decided to postpone the announcement of certain boons which are generally supposed to be connected with an Investiture ceremony. So Nawab Sahib in his interesting speech announced the following boons:-

1. All dues from cultivators up to August 31, 1918 are wiped off.

2. Grain compensation allowance will be permanently included in pay from September 1st next.

3. Pension to State servants on Rs 150/- or less will in future be reckoned on a basis on one half of pay instead on one third.

4. Primary education shall be free through out the State.

5. Secondary education up to and including St. V shall be free through out the State.

6. The tax on marriage is abolished.

7. All taxes on pilgrims levied by the State are abolished.

8. In addition to this I wish to give a special reward to those old servants of the State who were in services in the time of my father and have remained so continuously up to the present time, and I have decided that this shall take the form of month’s pay. This will apply to all ranks of State service.

As a result of the steps that was taken later on to the recast the Municipal system,

the new Municipal Act was brought into effect from 1st November 1933 A. D. A municipal Board under the Act consists of 13 nominated members with an official president.

The marriage of Nawab Sahib was arranged with Munuvvar Jahan Begum Sahiba, the grand-niece of Her Highness the Begum Sahiba of Bhopal. Boundless joy and enthusiasm prevailed among the people of the State and the city of Junagadh presented during the festivities a spectacle of gaiety unique in the annals of the State. On the 29th March 1921 Nawab Sahib accompanied by the Her Highness the Masaheba and other members of the royal family together with a large party of officials and Amirs, preceded to Bhopal by special train. The Nika ceremony was performed on the 3rd April and the party returns to Junagadh on the 7th April. The whole populace of Junagadh and other subjects of the State gathered together in thousand to give an ovation to His Highness the Nawab Sahib and Her Highness the Begum Sahiba and the witness the marriage procession and the illuminations. Inams were distributed to large number of Officers and Amirs on a grand scale. The happy memory of the auspicious occasion will long live in the mind of peoples.

During the visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in Bombay in November 1921 A.D. His Highness the Nawab went to Bombay and attended various functions in connection with the Royal visit.

One of the thing that struck Nawab Sahib on his occasion to the Gadi was the educational backwardness of the children’s of the Amirs of the State. Therefore Nawab Sahib established MahabatKhan Madressa-Tulmualla with adequate but free educational residential and recreational facilities. The opening ceremony of the institution was performed by Nawab Sahib on 8th January 1922 A.D.

H.E. Sir George Ambrose Lloyd, Governor of Bombay arrived at Junagadh State by a special train on 1st of Feb 1922. On the 3rd of February His Excellency and His Highness camped in Gir at Talala for lion shooting. His Excellency left Junagadh for Palitana on the 4th Feb.

Major General His Highness Shri Sir Gangasinhji Maharaja Sahib of Bikanar and Lieut.Col, His Highness Shri Ranjit Sinhji, Maharaja Sahib of Jamnagadh arrived at Junagadh on the 16th of March 1922. Afterwards their Highness Went to Talala for lion shooting.

The Junagadh State Infantry, now called the Mahabat Khanji Infantry, is a newly organized force and has come into existence from 1st February 1924 A. D.

On the 1st January 1931 A. D. His Highness Nawab Sahib was awarded the Insignia of G. C. I. E. by his Imperial Majesty King Emperor. Official investiture ceremony whereof was performed by H. E. the Viceroy at Delhi on Thursday the 12th February 1931 A. D. His Highness arrival from Delhi was official, engine of the special train was duly decorated and also a few ford signals were put on the railway lines from Shakarbag Bridge just to announce the arrival of His Highness special train (on the 14th Feb. 1931 A. D.)

H.H has thus in spite of the shortness of His highness regime already endeared himself the people by sympathy to the poor and the afflicted no less then by his just and Liberal administration.