When it comes to Indian royalty, paintings and pictures seldom do justice to their gravitas. However, one work of art has long evoked and conveyed exactly what it was meant to reveal: the love of a king for his pets. Dressed in royal attire from head to toe and seated on a regal chair, Junagadh's Nawab Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III looked straight ahead at the camera. But what catches the eye every time is the dog by his side, looking sideways, adorned with a collar of pearls.
The Royal Dog Lover
While some kings were known for their love of sports cars and others for diamonds, this royal leader of the princely state of Junagadh in Gujarat was renowned for his love of dogs. He spent a fortune of a whopping ₹2 crore on the wedding of his beloved dog Roshnara. Born in 1898, he ascended to the throne in 1911 after his father's death, becoming the last Nawab of the erstwhile princely state. In 1922, the Nawabzada hosted one of the most lavish weddings in the subcontinent's history, reportedly even inviting Viceroy Lord Irwin, who declined the invitation.
He spent a fortune of ₹2 crore on the wedding of his beloved dog Roshnara, marrying her to Bobby, a golden retriever owned by the Nawab of Mangrol. The wedding day was declared a state holiday, and the entire state was invited to the grand ceremony and a feast that lasted three days. Reportedly, Roshanara was carried on a silver palanquin, while Bobby arrived with a procession led by 25 dogs, sporting gold bracelets. The streets were filled with people eager to catch a glimpse of this bizarre yet heartwarming event. The ceremony was held at the Nawab's grand palace, with music and dance performances creating a festive atmosphere.
An Animal Lover at Heart
Not just Roshanara, the Nawab was known to own anywhere between 300 and 800 pedigreed dogs during his reign. But these were far from random pets. According to reports, they had personal attendants, private air-conditioned kennels, telephones, and even a British veterinary doctor employed for their care. It is said that when Roshanara died, the royal king declared a state of mourning.
Apart from dogs, the Nawab also spent his time and efforts conserving the Gir Lions, whose population was under threat due to the pursuit of hunting as a hobby by Indian rulers. Since the Gir forests fell under the territory of Junagadh, the Nawab took it upon himself to protect the beasts, establishing the Gir sanctuary. He was also involved in establishing a breeding program for Gir cows, native to the state of Gujarat.
Interestingly, the king's love for his furry friends went too far, it seems. After the partition of the country, Junagadh faced political turmoil. The Nawab wanted to join Pakistan; however, due to the intervention of the Indian Army, Junagadh eventually merged with India. Nevertheless, the royal fled to Pakistan, taking his beloved canines with him. In the chaos, he inadvertently left behind one of his wives and a child. He spent the rest of his life in Karachi, where he died in 1959. Today, the Nawab's legacy is remembered as one of an extravagant lifestyle and love for animals, particularly dogs. Among the most royal Indian weddings of all time, that of Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III's Roshanara will always be recalled.
