baroda

BARODA

BRIEF HISTORY

The state of Baroda owes its origins to Pilajirao Gaekwad, a Mahratta military commander who conquered Sonagad in 1726. Initially detailed to collect revenue on behalf of the Peishwa in Gujarat, he remained there to carve out a principality for himself. Damajirao, son and successor of Pilajirao defeated the Mughal armies and conquered Baroda in 1734. He assumed the titles of an independent ruler. His successors consolidated their power over large tracts of Gujarat, becomin easily the most powerful rulers in the region. The state entered into treaty relations with the HEIC in 1780.

SALUTE:
21-Guns.

ARMS:
Party per saltire argent and gules a horseman charging proper. Crest: A naked arm holding a sword in bend sinister. Supporters: Elephants. Motto: Jin ghar jin takht (below) and Jye Mahadeo (above the crest). Lambrequins: gules and vert.

STYLES & TITLES:
The ruling prince: Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja (personal name) Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, with the style of His Highness.
The consort of the ruling prince: Maharani Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati (personal name) Sahib Gaekwad, Maharani of Baroda, with the style of Her Highness.
The Heir Apparent: Shrimant Yuvaraj (personal name) Gaekwad, Yuvaraj Sahib of Baroda.
The consort of the Heir Apparent: Yuvaradni Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati (personal name) Sahib Gaekwad.
The younger sons of the ruling prince: Shrimant Maharajkumar (personal name) Gaekwad.
The daughters of the ruling prince: Shrimant Maharajkumari (personal name) Sahib Gaekwad.
The grandsons of the ruling prince, in the male line: Shrimant Rajkumar (personal name) Gaekwad.
The granddaughters of the ruling prince, in the male line: Shrimant Rajkumari (personal name) Sahib Gaekwad.

RULES OF SUCCESSION:
Male primogeniture, with the possibility of adoption by the recognised Head of the family on the failure of natural heirs. Until 1875, succession was limited to legitimate male heirs, whos mothers were also Mahrattas.

ORDERS & DECORATIONS:
The Most Noble Decoration of the Rising Sun (Aditya Mandal): founded by Maharaja Sayajirao III. Awarded in three classes (1. Vikramaditya, 3. Udayaditya and 4. Arunaditya). Obsolete 1956.

The Most Noble Decoration of the Rising Sun - Vikramaditya, or First Class, breast star (L) and sash badge (R)

The Most Noble Decoration of the Rising Sun - Arunaditya, or Third Class, breast star (L) and neck badge (R)

Title Badges: founded by Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1922 and awarded in three classes (1. Raj Valabh - "Beloved of the Ruler", 2, Raj Mitra - "Friend of the Ruler", and 3. Raj Praya - "Dear to the Ruler"). Obsolete 1956.
The Jewel of the State (Rajya Ratna): founded by Maharaja Sayajirao III in 1922. Awarded in two classes, gold and silver medals with the title Raj Ratna. Obsolete 1956.
The Decoration for Knowledge (Dnyan Mandal): founded by Maharaja Sayajirao III to reward scholarship, poetry and literary endeavour. Awarded in three classes (1. Dnyan Baskhar Mandal in gold, 2. Dnyan Jyoti Mandal in silver, and 3. Dnyan Ratna Mandal in bronze). Obsolete 1956.

The Order of Knowledge - Dnyan Baskhar Mandal, badge.

The Decoration for the Arts (Kala Mandal): founded by Maharaja Sayajirao III to reward artistic endeavour. Awarded in three classes (1. Baskhar Mandal in gold, 2. Kala Jyoti Mandal in silver, and 3. Kala Ratna Mandal in bronze). Obsolete 1956.
The Decoration for Charity (Dana Mandal): founded by Maharaja Sayajirao III to reward charitable and philanthropic services. Awarded in three classes (1. Danamurti in gold, 2. Danaveer in silver, and 3. Danapriya in bronze). Obsolete 1956.

SELECT GLOSSARY:
Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia: Favoured son of the English nation (1876).
Gaekwad: 'cowgate', gae = cow, kavad = small gate
Maharaja: Great Prince
Shamsher Bahadur: Distinguished Swordsman (1721).
Sena Khas Khel: Commander of the armies of the state.

SOURCES:
Lewis Bentham Bowring, Bowring Collection. MSS. Eur. G.38, Oriental & India Office Collection, British Library, St Pancras, London.
Fatehsingrao P. Gaekwad, Sayajirao of Baroda. Popular Prakashan Private Limited, Bombay, 1989.
Gayatri Devi and Santha Rama Rau, A Princess Remembers, The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur. J.P. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, 1976.
Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency. Government of Bombay, Bombay, 1884-1907.
Dr Bhagwan Das Gupta, A History of the Rise and Fall of the Marathas in Bundelkhand (1731-1804). Neha Prakashan, Delhi, 1987.
Tony McClenaghan, Indian Princely Medals. Spantech & Lancer, South Godstone, Surrey, 1996.
Princely Armoury, 1877 together with background notes 1902. (IOR, 1859 F.13), Oriental & India Office Collection, British Library, St Pancras, London.
C.S. Raghunatha Rao, The Ruling Chiefs of India Series - No. 1: Baroda. S. Kristnan & Co., Madras, 1907.
The Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages in the Western India States Agency. 1^st edition. Rajkot, 1928.
The Ruling Princes, Chiefs and Leading Personages in the Western India States Agency. 2nd edition. Manager of Publications, Delhi, 1935.
Thacker's Indian Directory. Thacker's Press & Directories, Ltd., Calcutta 1863-1956.

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Anjali Gaekwar.
Jeetendra Sinh Gaekwar.
Abhijit Malwade, Mumbai, India.
Father Lawrence Ober, SJ.
Hari Pal.
H.R. Patankar.
David Williamson.

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