Ghulam Moinuddin Khanji

Ghulam Moinuddin Khanji (22 December 1911 – 13 February 2003) was the ruler of Manavadar State, one of the princely states associated with British India. Although Khanji chose to accede to Pakistan after the partition of India, the state was soon annexed by India and a subsequent referendum resulted in a massive Indian victory.

An able sportsman, Khanji played first-class cricket for Western India and in his later life, was also the president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation.

Early life Khanji was born as Ghulam Moinuddin Khanji at Manavadar, Bantva Manavadar (in present-day Gujarat, India) on 22 December 1911. He was the eldest son of Nawab Fatehuddin Khanji. His mother, Fatima Siddiqa Begum was the second wife of Fatehuddin. Moinuddin graduated from Rajkumar College, Rajkot.

Reign Khanji ascended the throne of Manavadar on 19 October 1918 after the death of his father.

Following the independence and partition of India in 1947, the princely states were invited to either join India or Pakistan or remain independent. On 24 September, Khanji acceded to the new Dominion of Pakistan. However, on the orders of the Deputy Prime Minister of India Vallabhbhai Patel, India annexed the state on 22 October. A referendum was held in Manavadar, Mangrol, and three other states. Out of 31,434 votes which were cast, 34 were in favour of Pakistan.

Sportsman Khanji was the founder of the Manavadar hockey team coached by Mirza Nasiruddin Masood. Under his captaincy, the team toured New Zealand and won all the matches in 1934. In the same year, he was a member of the India hockey team, representing the country at the Western Asiatic Games. After migrating to Pakistan, he became the president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation. One of Khanji's granddaughters, Sarwat Gilani, is an actress.

Khanji's full name, with titles, was Major Nawab Ghulam Moinuddin Khanji Fatehuddin Khanji Babi, Khan Sahib of Manavadar. He received the Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam in 1953.

Khanji died on 13 February 2003 at the age of 92 at Karachi, Sindh province.