The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-19

FESTIVE Under Brit
ish Yoke, and. Other
Enlightened Rulers
of Provinces Are In
Ginning TOY ar d
Movement for Free
dom.
J By BAsANTA KOOMAR ROY,
Mated Hindu Author. Lecturer and
Authority on East India.
TT 10 nothing short of sheer
reckless mutilation of truth
on the part of Lloyd George to
claim that there is nothing be-
tween india and confusion except
British rule"
The aiidacity of this statement
q only surpassed by its m>ndacity,
and mendacity by deceit. Long be-
fore the British emerged from a
state OF, barbarism India was ruled
BY the Indians themselves, and her
contributions to human civiliza-
ton have not yet been surpassed
BY any other nation or race on
the face of the earth. 1t may be
wise for those Americans who al
low themselves to be gulled by the
rigmaroles of professional British
propasandists to know that even
today q great part of India is ruled
BY the Indian princes.
The total area Of India ia LIS
1SS square miles. Out OF this 675,-
2s7 square miles are under the
rule Of the princes. And out of
the total population of $50, 000, 900
they rule over more than 100000
900. about twice the population of
England proper. Altogether there
are about 700 ruling princes in
India. Their states vary in size
from nineteen square miles to one
~ large as Italy itself.
Undoubtedly the most widely
known OF all these principalities is
the state of Baroda. The progress
sive administrative changes have
made Baroda famous all over the
world. His highness the Gaekwar
of Baroda, Sir Sayaji Rao, has
transformed the state within his
lifetime.
Son of a poor man, he became
the ruler of Baroda by mere ac-
cident Of adoption. Today he rules
over s.1S2 square miles and $780,
900 people. The annual revenue
Of Baroda amounts to about
$4,000. 900. D..
In the palaces of Baroda one can
natsrialixe the dreams of the Ara
ban Nights tales. The pomp and
spisndor of the Laxi Villas Palace
battle all description.
SOLID GOLD CANNON.
Solid gold cannon greet you at
The gate. And inside this palace
q rare artistic taste Ia to be found
Sps OF the rarest collections of
prscious stones and jewels. The
tetai value Of the Baroda state
1svels has been estimated at $780,
eo>.ooo.
There are robes and turbans
Aads Of pearls, diamonds and
sRpphires. There are swords and
soAbbards set with precious
atpasA When his hishness IL in
fun official dress the jewels on
him, from crown to slippers, are
worth more than s6.ooo.o0o.
The pearl necklace Of the
Naharani IL valued at about ST..
$4,000. and her sash of 100 rows
- pearls IL worth more than
St,eso.oos.
Above Al. there II the famous
Daeri carpet made by ono Of the
ferwsr rulers Of the state. It 10
ten and ons-haf feet long and six
fPtt wide. The central design Is
Dads Of diamonds. with its
sreQnd Of sssd pearls. its flowers
and CROSSES Of diamonds. large
Dsaxis And sapphires. It 10 an OBJ
jsct not only Of admiration, but Of
WONDER
II took the best artists three
ysars to finish the carpet; and it,
price 10 estimated ut $500, 900. 1t
Wa originally intended by Khands
Rsc to BE- given as = present to q
woman hs loved In Mecca
EHE CHARM OF BARODA.
The real charm of Baroda IL not
lA III palaces and precious stones,
but In its progressive administra-
don. 30 there II . natural antag-
enism between Baroda and the
British raj. The British raj wants
. keep India In the darkness of
lSnorancs and illiteracy. but the
GaSkwar OF Baroda il spreading
ovsr his entire state tho light Of