Mokhadaji Gohil

Mokhadaji Gohil (1309–1347) was a Rajput ruler of Ghogha, near Bhavnagar in Gujarat during the mid 14th century. He was a descendant of Sejakaji Gohil of Khergadh who migrated to Saurashtra during early 13th century. Mokhadaji Gohil was contemporary of Muhammad bin Tughluq, (1325–1351) of Tughluq dynasty in Delhi.

Mokhadaji Gohil was born to Gohil Rajput ruler Ranji Gohil of Ranpur, a small jagir near Dhandhuka in present day of Ahmedabad district. Ranji Gohil was son of Sejakaji Gohil of Khergadh in Rajasthan. Ranji Gohil was contemporary of last Hindu ruler Karan Vaghela of Patan. Alauddin Khilji had sent the army in 1297 under the generalship of Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan to attack on Patan and Somanath in Gujarat. They had defeated Karan Vaghela of Patan and sacked Somanath temple and broke the Shiva lingam that had been worshipped there. They were carrying the broken pieces back to Delhi. On their way, Ranji Gohil of Ranpur attacked Alauddin Khilji’s army after hearing that Alauddin’s army had captured queen of Karan Vaghela from Patan. Ranji Gohil died in the battle but could not release the Vaghela queen. Meanwhile, 16 wives of Ranji Gohil were waiting for their husband's return to Ranpur Fort but all of them committed jauhar in a well inside the fort after hearing about his death. New born Mokhadaji Gohil was carried away safely to Dholera after his father’s death. He was brought up by Dhanmer Thakor who had a strong naval influence in Gulf of Khambhat during that time.

Dhanmer Thakor of Dholera due to his old age had given the throne of Dholera to Mokhadaji Gohil and decided to spend the rest of his life in Himalayas. Dhanmer Thakor went to Himalayas and young Mokhadaji accompanied him around 1320 AD. On his return from Himalayas, Mokhadaji visited Delhi to find out about the situation because at that time, it was the political center for most of India. He met Khusro Khan in Delhi. Khusro Khan encouraged him to fight against the Turks to save his motherland. He returned from Delhi and strengthened his navy to fight with the Delhi Sultanate. Meanwhile, Khusro Khan died in battle fighting against Ghiyas ud-Din Tughluq who founded the Tughluq dynasty in 1320 in Delhi.

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