The M. S. University of Baroda

Sayajirao was born at Kavlana on 11th March 1863 as Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad, second son of Meherban Shrimant Kashirao Bhikajirao Dada Sahib Gaekwad and Ummabai. He was selected by the British Government as successor to Maharaja Malharrao Gaekwad an ment as successor to Maharaja Malharrao Gaekwad and was accordingly adopted by Maharani Jamnabai on 27th May 1875. He ascended the gadi (throne) at Baroda on 16th June 1875, but being a minor, reigned under a Council of Regency until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers on 28th December 1881. During his minority he was extensively tutored in administrative skills by Raja Sir T. Madhava Rao who groomed his young protege into being a ruler with foresight and with a will to provide welfare to his people. In this period Sir T. Madhava Rao restored the State to its normal conditions from the chaos in which it was left by the predecessor of Sayajirao. Not a little credit for what the Maharaja achieved during his life in every sphere of human activity must be given to F. A. H. Elliot. The learning which Sayajirao acquired under Mr. Eliot's able guidance made him a great statesman, educator, and ruler. It is acknowledged that the Maharaja Sayajirao was a prince among the educators and an educator among the princes. He had to undergo such a heavy course of studies that it would have made many a student hate them. But it made him realize his shortcomings and strengthened his determination to acquire more knowledge.On assuming the reins of Government, some of his first tasks included education of his subjects, uplifting of the downtrodden, judicial, agricultural, and social reforms, building a network of railways to connect areas of his dispersed territories. He played a key role in the development of Baroda's textile industry. His educational and social reforms included, along with others, ban on child marriage, legislation of divorce, removal of untouchability, spread of education, development of Sanskrit and ideological studies, religious education, encouragement of fine arts. Fully aware of the fact that he was a Maratha ruler of Gujarat, he identified himself with the people and developed their cosmopolitan attitude and progressive, reformist zeal. His rich library became the nucleus of today's Central Library of Baroda with a network of libraries in all the towns and villages in his state. He was the first Indian Ruler to introduce, in 1906, compulsory and free primary education in his State, placing his territory far in advance of contemporary British India. ...view more