Pathans of Gujarat

[1][full citation needed] The Pathans arrived in Gujarat during the Middle Ages onwards, as soldiers in the armies of the various Hindu and Muslim rulers of the region.

Historical evidence suggests that the earliest settlement of the Pashtuns was during the rule of Mohammad Tughluq in the 14th century, when military colonies were established.

[2] The Pashtuns of Gujarat include three distinct endogamous communities, the Pathan Khanzada, the Babi or Babai (Pashtun tribe) and the Turk pathan they are mostly in the Junagadh, keshod, mangrol, nandarkhi[citation needed] The Babi or Babai arrived in Gujarat during the reign of Humayun.

While the Maratha were successful in establishing overall control over Gujarat, the Babi remained masters of the princely states of Junagadh, Radhanpur, Balasinor, Bantva Manavadar etc.

In gratitude, the local Malik caste chief gave his daughter in marriage, and the village of Raja Mohalla, Gujarat.