The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-05-17
A NOTED HINDU
PRINCE IS HERE
Maharaiah Gaekwar Of BarOda Arrives
ia New York.
VERY WEALTHY AND PROGRESSIVE.
Picturesque Character, Whose MlssIOo Is
to Secure IniOrmatiOn That May Be Of
Use In Improving the cendItiou Of His
PeopIe-how he Came to Be q Ruler at
Twelve Years.

New York, (SpeciaD His Highness.
the Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda-
Sir Sayaji Rao vi, Saen Khas Khel,
Sam Sher Bahadur, Frazand-I Khasi-
Dowlat-I I-Ingishia-hrst in rank of the
Hindu princes and second in all India,
arrived Sunday on the White Star liner
Celtic. He has come to the United States
after a tour in Europe to see the country,
study the people and try to learn the
secret of their success. With him are
Her Highness the Maharani of Baroda,
as pretty little woman as ever walked
down a gangplank, and the Gaekwar'S
brother, Samgatrao Caikwad.
For a prince with so many names, the
second wealthieSt in India and the own
cr of collection of jewels that is famous
the world over, the Maharajah is a most
unassuming visitor He sauntered down
the Celtic's gangplank looking like 4
very ordinary tourist who had been
bronzed by a tropical sun, and pleasant
y nodding goOd-bys TO the acquaintance
he had made on the trip over. Perhaps
hat is explained by the fact that, besides
being one of lndia's wealthiest princes,
he is regarded also as her most enlight-
Iened.
He is a little man, not much more
than hve feet tall, but is StOckily built II
than FIVE feet tall, but is stockily built He
lis 43 years OF age, and has ruled over
the State OF BarOda under British SOW
Icreignlty since he was a mere boy. He
traces his ancestry back to Sway, the
founder of the Maharatta power in India,
but he owes his occupation of the throne
10 an indiScrttion of his predecessor,
Gaewar Mulhar Rao, who cut up such
high jinks in 1875 that his Maharani fled
Tor protection 10 the home OF Colonel
Phayre, the English resident The Gaek-
war made a bluff by discharging some
blank cannon charges at the residents
house, but it didn't work. Her HighnesS
refused to return, and a little later Col
onel Phayre got some chemicals in his
food which acted like poison on his
system. The gay old Marharajah was
tried and deposed, although he was not
convited of having poisoned the resident.
1t was up 10 the Maharani then, i'll
accordance with Hindu custom, TO ap-
point the succeeding ruler. Guided by
England's helping hand, she chose Gopal
RaO, the present Maharaiah, then a boy
of IL.
He was educated at home by English
tutors, and began carly TO make a special
study of the needs of his state He de-
cided that there mus he a public school
system. Today he said that there are
schools in more than half of the state
and in some parts of it compulsory ed
ucation. He has established a mans
college and i woman's college and
a technical school in the city of
Baroda. and has changed that place
from a slovenly, antiquated Hindu town
into modern city with fine public build
ings and spacious parks. He declared
early against child marriages, and an
nounced that none of his children would
ever marry before they were 20.
These are only 4 few of the things
he has done. He has taken much active
interest i'll the government of his state,
being allowed considerable latitude by
the British government, and has often
sat as Judge i'll the native courts. The
Maharaja'S income has been estimated
at from $5,ooo,ooo to $7OOo,ooo a year.
The Scindhia of Gwalior with SIS 900 600
year, is said to be the richest of the
Indian princes. The Maharaia has 2,ooo-
600 subjects under MS rule The state
contains 500 square miles.
Besides his enormous annual income
the Gaedwar of Baroda possesses jewels
which have been valued at between $3o-
100000 and $4o,ooo,oOo