Evening star., 1926-04-18
BARODA GAEKWAR
SETS NEW RECORD
Ruler of Odd State Has Held
Throne for 50 Years.
Was Shepherds Son.

The Gaekwar Of Baroda has
achieved a record. He has sat upon
his throne for 80 years, an unusual
term among Indian rulers in recent
centuries. Therefore. Baroda has
had a jubilee. climaxed by great
state dinner, at which the important
citizens of Baroda sat Cross.leeGed
on the floor of the palace audience
hall with eastern Viands before them,
while the Maharaj jah Gaekwar sat
alone at a table in a chair of state
The state over which the oddly titled
ruler has presided for half a century
IS described by the National Geogra-
phic Society.
"BarOda, one of the wealthieSt of
the Indian native states, is "A group of
islands un dry land" says the bull
Ietln. only preWar Prussia had
more scattered dominionS. There are
four main divisions. but about each
OF the ktrGer regions cluster small
districts ana even separate villages
That fairly pepper the territory Of the
Bombay presidency of British India,
III which the GaekWdrs 5 islands lie.
There is probably a separate fraG-
ment of Barodan territory for each of
the 30 years the GackWar has ruled.
The territories which total 5000
square miles. begin near the west
coast of India $40 miles north of
Bombay City. and extend for POO
miles to the north. Other fragments
are scattered off To the west on the
kathiaWar d'eninSula, the most re-
mote being 225 miles from Baroda
City, the capital.
Is Agricultural Land.
.,r n 50 i,- NJ "A
In a high state of cultivation. This
is especially true of the region lying
To the north of the capital. With its
fields. we'll ordered hedges, and
groves Of trees, this section has
much the appearance of English
park land. Some of India's best cot
ton land is in Baroda. and the state
has - gins and a cotton mill. Rice
and wheat are raised. and a CON
siderable area is devoted to poppy
growing for the making of opium.
Growers of poppy are licensed, and
the handling of opium is a state
monopoly.
"Baroda City has population CT
100000. There and in the vicinity
are the palaces of the Gaekwar. The
white Stucco palace of Nazar Bagh
is notable chiefly as the Barodan
strong box. In it are stored the
$lo,000,000. Among them is one of
the worlds famous diamonds, the
Star Of the South of 125 carats.
Another unit of the collection is a
cloth embroidered with precious
stones and seed pearls. This was
prepared for a Mohammedan ruler
and WAS meant as a cover for the
tomb of Mohammed.
-Four miles south of the city is
hn I.,l- Dol,
place OF the Gaekwar 1t is noted
for it's fine gardens. fountains. grot-
toes. and pergolas, The chief of the
rulers residences is the Lakshmi
Villas. In il is 4 huge Darbar hall
around which are covered and
screened wooden galleries from
from which the women of the
Gaekwar's menaCe may observe
state functions without being seen.
English Influence Seen.
Heading off the main street of
Baroda City are numerous wards,
each set aside for a separate caste
or class. These are culS de sac and
across their entrances are heavy
gates. In certain sections of the
town English influences are notice
able. Baroda College has it's cricket
grounds. its tennis courts and its
gymnasium. BarOda spends more on
public education than any other ma
tive state, maintaining public schools
for both boys and girls. There are
even Zenana classes for adult women.
who must remain in seclusion.
The 2.250.0O0 inha bitants of
Raroda belong predominantly to the
Hindu faith. and the pinnacleS of
numerous Hindu temples pierce the
skyline of the capital. The minority
religions are not molested and the
GaekWar. in fact. patroniZeS one OF
the chief Mohammedan festivals.
The life of the present Gaekwar
has been like that of the hero of Il
fairy tale. In 1875 the ruler of
Baroda was accused of attempting
to poison the British resident and
was depoSed. lie had no heir, so
q search was made by the British
government for a collateral relative.
y young lad, the son of a humble
herdsman, was chosen and was
placed on the throne in 1875. 1t
is he who is the present Gaekwar.
"Raroda is important as we'll as
wealthy. The Gaokwar is one of
only five Indian rulers entitled to
receive salute of p guns anywhere
IN India"