Samaldas Gandhi was an Indian independence activist born in 1897. He headed the ‘Aarzi Hukumat’ or Temporary Government of the erstwhile Princely State of Junagadh. Samaldas was a close follower of his uncle, Mahatma Gandhi. He started new newspaper named "Vande Mataram". He played a prominent role in the integration of Junagadh into India. When the Nawab of Junagadh acceded his State to Pakistan in 1947, Samaldas headed a Government-in-exile created by citizens of Junagadh to reflect the wishes of its majority population, who instead wished the State to become part of India. When Indian forces entered Junagadh and its Principalities, Mangrol and Manavadar, at the invitation of the Nawab's Dewan, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, Samaldas was invited to accept the reins of the State but deferred to the Government of India. He died in 1953.
Source: The Unsung Heroes: A Tribute, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration