Wikipedia

Baroda State

Baroda Statewas a kingdom within theMaratha Confederacyand later aprincely statein present-dayGujarat.It was ruled by theGaekwad dynastyfrom its formation in 1721 until itsaccessionto the newly formedDominion of Indiain 1949. With the city ofBaroda(Vadodara) as its capital, its relations with theBritish Rajauthorities were managed by theBaroda Residency.The revenue of the state in 1901 was Rs. 13,661,000.[1]Baroda formally acceded to theDominion of Indiaon 1 May 1949, before which an interim government was formed in the state.[2]

State of Baroda
Baḍōdā rājya(Marathi)
Barōḍā rājya(Gujarati)
1721–1949
Flag of Baroda
Flag
Coat of arms of Baroda
Coat of arms
Baroda State in 1901.
Baroda State in 1901.
StatusState Within theMaratha Confederacy(1721–1805)
Protectorateof theEast India Company(1805–1857)
Princely Stateof theBritish Raj(1857–1947)
State of theDominion of India(1947–1949)
CapitalBaroda (Vadodara)
Religion
Demonym(s)Baroda
GovernmentMonarchy
Raja
• 1721 – 1732(first)
Pilaji Rao Gaekwad
• 1939 – 1949(last)[a]
Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad
History
• Established
1721
1949
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Maratha Empire
Dominion of India
Today part ofIndia
"A Catalogue of Manuscript and Printed Reports, Field Books, Memoirs, Maps..." Vol. iv, "Containing the treaties, etc., relating to the states within the Bombay presidency"

History

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Early history

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Baroda State, 1896
SirSayajirao Gaekwad III(1863–1939), Maharaja of Baroda
Baroda State. Standard of the Maharaja (1874–1936)
Last standard of the Maharaja (1936–1949)

Baroda derives its native nameVadodarafrom theSanskritwordvatodara,meaning 'in the heart of theBanyan(Vata) tree. It also has another name,VirakshetraorVirawati(land of warriors), mentioned alongsideVadodaraby the 17th century Gujarati poetPremanand Bhatt,native to the city. Its name has been mentioned asBroderaby early English travellers and merchants, from which its later name Baroda was derived.[3]Geographically it comprised several disjointed tracts of land, measuring over 1000 square miles, spread across the presentGujaratstate; these were subdivided into fourprant(states), namelyKadi,Baroda,NavsariandAmreli,which included coastal portions of the state, in theOkhamadalregion nearDwarkaandKodinarnearDiu.[4]

TheMarathasfirst attacked Gujarat in 1705. By 1712, a Maratha leader Khande Rao Dabhade grew powerful in the region and when he returned toSatarain 1716, he was made thesenapati(commander in chief). Thereafter during the "Battle of Balapur" in 1721, one of his officers, Damaji Gaekwad was awarded the titleShamsher Bahaduror Distinguished Swordsman. Damaji died in 1721 and was succeeded by his nephew Pilajirao.[5]

Thus the Baroda State was founded in 1721, when theMarathageneralPilaji GaekwadconqueredSongadhfrom theMughals.Before this Pilajirao was appointed as general to collect revenues from Gujarat by thePeshwa,the Prime Minister of theMaratha Empire,who had taken over the region north and south ofSuratfrom the Mughals to established theSarkar of Surat.Songadh remained the headquarters of the "House of Gaekwad" until 1866.[6][7]After theSecond Anglo-Maratha War(1803–1805), theEast India Companywrested control of much of Gujarat from theMarathas.However, the Gaekwads of Baroda (Vadodara), made a separate peace with the British, entering into asubsidiary alliancewhich acknowledged Britishsuzeraintyand control of the state's external affairs in return for retaining internal autonomy.

Princely state

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Silver rupee of Sayaji Rao II of Baroda (ruled 1819–47), naming the Mughal emperor Muhammad Akbar II, dated AH 1238 (= 1822–23 CE). The prominent Nagari lettersastands for Sayaji Rao and we also see a curved sword, one of the dynastic symbols of the Gaekwads and seen also on the Baroda state flag.
Silver rupee of Sayaji Rao III of Baroda (ruled 1875–1939), showing his portrait. This coin is dated 1955 in theVikrama era(= 1897 CE).

Following the death of SirKhanderao Gaekwad(1828–1870), the popular Maharaja of Baroda, in 1870, it was expected that his brother,Malharrao(1831–1882), would succeed him. However, Malharrao had already proven himself to be of the vilest character and had been imprisoned earlier for conspiring to assassinate Khanderao. As Khanderao's widow,MaharaniJamnabai(1853–1898) was already pregnant with a posthumous child, the succession was delayed until the gender of the child could be proven. The child proved to be a daughter, and so upon her birth on 5 July 1871, Malharrao ascended the throne.

Malharrao spent money liberally, nearly emptying the Barodan state coffers (he commissioned a pair of solid gold cannon and a carpet of pearls, among other expenses) and soon reports reached the Resident of Malharrao's gross tyranny and cruelty. Malharrao further attempted to cover up his deeds by poisoning the Resident, ColonelR. PhayreC.B. with a compound ofarsenic.By order of theSecretary of State for India,Lord Salisbury,Malharrao was deposed on 10 April 1875 and exiled toMadras,where he died in obscurity in 1882.[8]With the throne of Baroda now vacant, Maharani Jamnabai called on the heads of the extended branches of the dynasty to come to Baroda and present themselves and their sons in order to decide upon a successor.

Makarpura Palace,built by Maharaja Khende Rao in 1870.

Kashirao and his three sons, Anandrao (1857–1917), Gopalrao (1863–1938) and Sampatrao (1865–1934) walked to Baroda from Kavlana-a distance of some 600 kilometres - to present themselves to Jamnabai.

Eventually, Gopalrao was selected by the British Government as successor and was accordingly adopted by Maharani Jamnabai, on 27 May 1875. He was also given a new name, Sayajirao. On 16 June 1875, he ascended the throne asSayajirao Gaekwad III,but being a minor, reigned under a Council of Regency until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers on 28 December 1881. founding numerous institutions. During the hunting season in 1933, he was saved from lion by two brave boys of Dhari townArjan KoliandHari Koli.After that both Koli brothers were respected in open court (Baroda state darbar) and their bronze statues were established in royalSayaji Baug(Kamati Baug) by Sayajirao Gaekwad.[9]

20th century

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Various important state institutions were founded in the early 20th century, including theBank of Barodaon 20 July 1908. In 1908, Sayajirao also founded the Baroda Legislative Assembly (also known as the Baroda Dhara Sabha).[10]

Laxmi Vilas Palace,Baroda,built byMaharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad IIIin 1890

By the beginning of the 20th century, the relations of the British with the four largest princely states—Hyderabad,Mysore,Jammu and Kashmir,and Baroda were managed by a BritishResidentunder the direct authority theGovernor-General of India.[11]In 1911, Baroda State spanned 3,239 km2(1,251 sq mi), and the population was 2,032,798 persons as per the 1911 census of India.[12]The state was very wealthy.The Pittsburgh Pressreported in 1927 that the diamond necklace, which contained theStar of the Southdiamond, was a part of a royal collection worth $10,000,000 at the time, housed in theNazarbaug Palace(built 1721) inBarodacity; another important part of the collection was a cloth embroidered with precious stones and seedpearls,made to cover the tomb ofMohammed.[13][14]

Dr.B.R.Ambedkarwrites about his experience withuntouchabilityin Baroda in the second chapter of his autobiographical book,Waiting for a Visa.[15]

In 1937, theprincely statesof theBaroda Residencywere merged with those of the agencies adjacent to the northern part of theBombay Presidency—Rewa Kantha Agency,Surat Agency,Nasik Agency,Kaira AgencyandThana Agency— in order to form theBaroda and Gujarat States Agency.[16]A few years before independence the process of the 'Attachment Scheme' began in order to integrate the smallest princely states, estates andthanas.Baroda State was one of the main beneficiaries of this measure by being able to add about 15,000 km2and half a million inhabitants to the state. The merged states werePethapuron 1 February 1940, theKatosan Thana,withDeloli,Kalsapura,Maguna,Memadpura,Rampura,Ranipura,Tejpura,Varsora,thePalajTaluka and bothIjpura Statesbetween June and July 1940. These were followed on 10 July 1943 by the states ofAmbliara,Ghorasar,Ilol,Katosan,Khadal,Patdi,Punadra,Ranasan,WasodaandWao[17]Also many smallTalukasof the region were merged. On 24 July 1943Sachodar Stateand a few small places that had no own jurisdiction were annexed. By December of the same year the small states ofBajana,Bhilka,Malpur,Mansa andVadiafollowed suit.[18]

Finally on 5 November 1944 the Baroda and Gujarat States Agency was merged with theWestern India States Agency(WISA) to form the largerBaroda, Western India and Gujarat States Agency.

After theindependence of India,which initially did not include Baroda or many other princely states, an interim government under Prime Minister Dr.Jivraj Narayan Mehta,son-in-law ofManubhai Mehta,then Dewan of Baroda state, was inaugurated in the State, on 4 September 1948, by the then Maharaja at a specialDurbarin theLaxmi Vilas Palace,Baroda.[19]Finally on 1 May 1949, Baroda State, the third largest state at the time ofBritish India,formally acceded to theDominion of India,[2][20]Initially, Baroda merged with theBombay state,and then, on 1 May 1960, when the two new states ofGujaratandMaharashtrawere formed, it became part of Gujarat, with Dr.Jivraj Narayan Mehtabecoming the firstChief Minister of Gujarat.

Koli revolt

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Koli population in Baroda State in 1931

TheKolirebellion was led by two brothersNathaji PatelandYamaji Patel,chiefs ofChandapTaluq.During the greatIndian Rebellion of 1857,the Kolis of Chandap under Nathaji and Yamaji planning for revolt and Gaekwad of Baroda received that news. So Gaekwad stationed his cavalry at Chandap to control the rebels. But cavalry of Gaekwad was killed and thrown out byKolisof Chandap. After that Kolis went intoTarangahills and continued their rebellion for few months. In the end of October 1857, the combined forces of British,Idar Stateand Baroda attacked Kolis and burnt the Chandap village.[21]

Innorth-west Gujarat, around the southern tip of theAravali,a number ofKoliTalukdarsrevolted against the triumvirate of theBritish,Gaekwadand Raja ofIdar.Together, these three forces burnt down two Koli villages towards the end of 1857. The Koli chieftains collected an army of 2000 Koli- andBhilsoldiers and attacked Gaekwadi villages near present dayGandhinagar.Adoptingguerrillatactics, they continued their resistance till the end of 1858. While Koli chiefs fought around the riverSabarmati.The Kolis paid a huge price for their resistance to British and Baroda. They were not only defeated in battle and punished for having dared to resist but, in the aftermath, kolis were marginalized by the rest of society asoutlaws.Being arms-bearing community, they too were disarmed in early 1858 and also forced to practiseagriculture.[22]

Baroda State Railway

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Main article:Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway

The state owned theGaekwar's Baroda State Railway(GBSR), which started in 1862 as the first narrow-gauge in India. It consisted of 8 miles (13 km) of narrow gauge track fromDabhoitoMiyagam.[23]The railway network extended to Goyagate, Chandod,Bodeliand Samalaya Jn with Dabhoi as its focal point. After independence in 1949 this railway merged with theBombay, Baroda and Central India Railway.The lines are under conversion to broad gauge currently.[24]

Baroda State Navy

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In late 18th century, the Baroda state established a Naval set up atBillimora,a port about 40 miles south ofSurat,known asBunder Billimora Suba Armor.Here a fleet of 50 vessels was stationed, which included mostly sails, cargo vessels for trading and military vessels to secure the sea from Portuguese, Dutch and French.[6]

When political alignments changed, after the Second Anglo-Maratha war, a joint expedition of British and Barodan state troops under Colonel Walker, then resident of Baroda, approachedKathiawadin 1808, and eventually obtained bonds from the chiefs ofOkha-mandaland from the maritime states of Kathiawad renouncing piracy. Then in 1813, the Barodan government acquired theparganahofKodinar(in presentJunagadh district), where at port ofVelana small fleet of four frigates with 12-pounder guns on each for the protection of the trade between Bombay andSindhwas established. These four armed vessels were namedAnandprasad,Sarsuba,Anamat VartandAnne Maria,which was purchased from theShah of Iran,and was known as 'Shah Kai Khusru' until then.[6]

Gaekwad Maharajas of Baroda

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Kirti Mandir,thecenotaphof theGaekwadsin Baroda.
Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad
See also:Gaekwad dynasty

Titular Maharajas

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Later heads of family

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Present line of succession to the Baroda throne

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The Gaekwad dynasty follows the standard of male primogeniture in matters of succession. The present line of succession is as follows:

  1. Shrimant Prince (Maharajkumar)Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad,the Heir Presumptive (6 August 1941–). Uncle of the present Maharaja.
  2. Shrimant Maharajkumar Pratapsinhrao Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad (26 August 1971–). Only son of Sangramsinhrao Gaekwad.
  3. Shrimant Rajkumar Sayajirao Khanderao Gaekwad (6 April 1947–). Great-grandson ofSayajirao Gaekwad IIIby the Maharaja's younger sonShivajirao(1890–1919) and through Shivajirao's son Khanderao (1916–1991). Has two daughters.
  4. Shrimant Rajkumar Anandrao Khanderao Gaekwad (28 September 1948–). Younger brother of Sayajirao Khanderao Gaekwad. Has two sons.
  5. Shrimant Shivajirao Anandrao Gaekwar (21 September 1983–). Elder son of Anandrao Khanderao Gaekwad.
  6. Shrimant Udaysingh Anandrao Gaekwar (3 December 1990–). Younger son of Anandrao Khanderao Gaekwad.
  7. Shrimant Kr Jeetendrasinh Gautamsinhrao Gaekwad (4 Nov 1960–), son of Late Professor Shrimant Gautamsinhrao Bhadrasinhrao Gaekwad (1936–2006). Great Grandnephew of Maharaja Sir Sayajirao III. Great Grandson of the Maharaja's late elder brother 'Senapati' Anandrao,Himmat Bahadur,CIE (1857–1917). Grandson of Anandrao's son 'Rajyakarya Dhurandhar' 'Dewan' 'Barrister' Bhadrasinhrao Anandrao Gaekwad, CIE (1896–1946).
  8. Shrimant Satyajitsinhrao Duleepsinhrao Gaekwad (3 March 1962–). Great-grandnephew ofSayajirao Gaekwad IIIthrough the Maharaja's elder brother Anandrao,Himmat Bahadur,CIE (1857–1917), through Anandrao's son Chandrasinhrao (born 1894–?) and through his grandson Duleepsinhrao (b. c. 1920–?)
  9. Shrimant Yudeepsinhrao Satyajitsinhrao Gaekwad (2001–). Son of Satyajitsinhrao.

Orders of chivalry

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"Most Noble Order of the Rising Sun" redirects here. Not to be confused withOrder of the Rising Sun.

The Royal House of Baroda awards the Most Noble Order of the Rising Sun in three grades, classed as Udayaditya, Vikramaditya, and Arunaditya. This order of chivalry was established during the reign ofMaharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III.[25]Being made of gold, the breast star is arranged as follows:

Twenty four centrifugally arranged petal-shaped diamond studded strips alternating with shorter but similar strips, fanning out from two red enamelled, diamond-bordered circles, inscribed at the topSatyameva Jayate(Truth Shall Triumph). Within the inner circle a diamond encrustedSirpech(pagri-shaped crown with royal pendant-shaped decoration rising upwards from the front of the crown) resting on a diamond encrusted sword below, which, on a strip of red enamel, the inscription in gold,Vadodara Raj(Baroda State)[25]

Diwans of Baroda

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List of Diwans of Baroda:[26]

Historiography

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In 2007, Gujarat State Department of Archives started digitising 600,000 files, including Baroda state registers, prints, maps,abhinandan patraormaan patra(felicitation letters) offered to the erstwhile King by different provincial states and organisation,aagna patrika(gazette),huzurorders, and volumes of letters exchanged and agreements of the princely state with other provincial states and theBritish Raj,currently housed at the 'Southern Circle Record Office' at Vadodara, where a permanent exhibition had also been set up.[27]

The Gaekwar in his palace
Procession in 1872
Baroda king on the Great Sowari royal procession

See also

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Further reading

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  • Foote, Robert Bruce (1898).The geology of Baroda State.Addison.
  • Mukerjea, Satyavrata.Baroda State.Government Printing, 1921.
  • Gadre, A. S. (2007).Important Inscriptions from the Baroda State – (Volume 1).READ BOOKS.ISBN978-1-4067-1136-3.
  • Gupte, Balkrishna Atmaram (1922).Selections from the Historical records of the Hereditary minister of Baroda, consisting of letters from Bombay, Baroda, Poona and Satara governments.University of Calcutta.
  • F. A. H. Elliot.The Rulers of Baroda.Baroda State Press 1934. ASIN B0006C35QS.
  • Gense, James (1939).The Gaikwads of Baroda.D.B. Taraporevala Sons & Co 1942. ASIN B0007K1PL6.
  • Kothekara, Santa.The Gaikwads of Baroda and the East India Company, 1770–1820.Nagpur University. ASIN B0006D2LAI.
  • Gaekwad, Fatesinghrao * Biography of Maharaja Sayajirao III by Daji Nagesh Apte (1989).Sayajirao of Baroda: The Prince and the Man.Popular Prakashan.ISBN978-0-86132-214-5.
  • Gaekwar, Sayaji Rao.Speeches and addresses of Sayaji Rao III, Maharaja Gaekwar of Baroda.H. Milford 1933. ASIN B000855T0I.
  • Rice, Stanley (1931).Life of Sayaji Rao III, Maharaja of Baroda.Oxford university press 1931. ASIN B00085DDFG.
  • Clair, Edward (1911).A Year with the Gaekwar of Baroda.D. Estes & co 1911. ASIN B0008BLVV8.
  • MacLeod, John (1999).Sovereignty, Power, Control: Politics in the State of Western India, 1916–1947.Brill Academic Publishers.ISBN90-04-11343-6.
  • Kamerkar, Mani.British Paramountcy: British-Baroda Relations, 1818-1848.Popular Prakashan. ASIN B000JLZE6A.
  • Kooiman, Dick (2002).Communalism and Indian Princely States: Travancore, Baroda and Hyderabad in the 1930s.Manohar Pubns.ISBN978-81-7304-421-2.
  • Desai, Govindbhai.Forty Years in Baroda: Being Reminiscences of Forty Years' Service in the Baroda State.Pustakalaya Sahayak Sahakari Mandal 1929. ASIN B0006E18R4.
  • Maharaja of Baroda (1980).The Palaces of India.Viking Pr.ISBN978-0-00-211678-7.
  • Doshi, Saryu (1995).The royal bequest: Art treasures of the Baroda Museum and Picture Gallery.India Book House.ISBN978-81-7508-009-6.
  • Moore, Lucy (2005).Maharanis; the extraordinary tale of four Indian queens and their journey from purdah to parliament.Viking Press.ISBN0-670-03368-5.

Notes

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  1. ^before abolition and dilusion in theRepublic of India

References

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  1. ^"Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 7, page 25".dsal.uchicago.edu.Digital South Asia Library.Retrieved12 July2020.
  2. ^ab"Rulers Farewell Message".The Indian Express.1 May 1949.
  3. ^Gazetteer, p. 25
  4. ^Gazetteer, p. 26
  5. ^Gazetteer, p. 31, 32
  6. ^abc"280 years ago, Baroda had its own Navy".The Times of India.27 September 2010. Archived fromthe originalon 3 November 2012.
  7. ^Gazetteer, 32
  8. ^"DEPOSITION OF THE GAEKWAR OF BARODA".The Times of India.26 April 1875.
  9. ^"Know Your City: How Baroda's bronze statues will regain their black sheen in Rs 1.10 crore restoration project".The Indian Express.18 February 2024.Retrieved19 April2024.
  10. ^Kalia, Ravi (2004).Gandhinagar: Building National Identity in Postcolonial India.University of South Carolina Press. p. 37.ISBN9781570035449.
  11. ^Imperial Gazetteer of Indiavol. IV (1907), p. 92.
  12. ^Somerset Playne; R. V. Solomon; J. W. Bond; Arnold Wright (2006). "The State of Baroda".Indian states: a biographical, historical, and administrative survey(illustrated ed.). Asian Educational Services. p. 9.ISBN978-81-206-1965-4.
  13. ^"Baroda City of Palace".The Pittsburgh Press.14 August 1927.
  14. ^"Gaekwad's Star of the South diamond sold".The Times of India.28 March 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 22 October 2012.
  15. ^Ambedkar, Dr. Bhimrao (1991).Waiting for a Visa(PDF).Mumbai: Dept. of education, Government of Maharashtra. pp. 4071–4090.Retrieved15 April2015.
  16. ^History of the State of Gujarat
  17. ^which had been fourth class states in theMahi Kantha Agency.
  18. ^McLeod, John;Sovereignty, power, control: politics in the States of Western India, 1916–1947;Leiden u.a. 1999;ISBN90-04-11343-6;p. 160
  19. ^"Gaekwar Inaugurates Responsible Government".The Indian Express.5 September 1948.
  20. ^"Kher's Appeal to people &Service for Cooperation".The Indian Express.2 May 1949.
  21. ^Dharaiya, Ramanlal Kakalbhai (1970).Gujarat in 1857.New Delhi,India:Gujarat University.pp. 38 – 40 – 52.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  22. ^Yājñika, Acyuta; Sheth, Suchitra (2005).The Shaping of Modern Gujarat: Plurality,Hindutva,and Beyond.New Delhi,India:Penguin Books India.pp. 93–96.ISBN978-0-14-400038-8.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  23. ^"Indian Railways Some Fascinating Facts: First Gauge Lines".Indian ArmyOfficial website.{{cite web}}:Missing or empty|url=(help)
  24. ^Dabhoi-Bodeli broad gauge section to become operational
  25. ^abMcClenaghan, Tony (1996).Indian Princely Medals: A Record of the Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Indian Princely States.Lancer Publishers. p. 55.ISBN978-1-897829-19-6.
  26. ^R. V. Solomon; J. W. Bond (2006).Indian States: A Biographical, Historical, and Administrative Survey.Asian Educational Services. p. 24.ISBN9788120619654.
  27. ^"Erstwhile Gaekwad state's archives being digitised".The Indian Express.27 December 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2012.

Citations

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