Volume III Special Issue VIII August 2023

Name of Author : Mr. Tanumoy Kumar Ghosh

Title of the paper : Analyzing the Role of King Sayajirao III in the Socio-economic Development of the erstwhile Baroda state and its Contemporary Relevance

Abstract: The Baroda state was a princely state located in the present-day Gujarat. It was formed in the early decades of the eighteenth century and ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty of the Maratha confederacy. The state faced issues of succession in the 1870s after the death of the king Khanderao II due to the absence of a male heir. The queen, Jamnabai, decided to adopt a 12-year old boy from the related family. The boy, born as Gopalrao in a village nearly 400 kms south of Baroda city, was crowned as Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1875. Although a minor, he quickly learnt the fundamentals of administration. Once he assumed full power at the age of 18, he focussed on improving the basic infrastructures of the state. His welfare works included areas such as improving water supply, development of railways, setting up educational institutions, building medical facilities, boosting economic activities such as industrialization etc. He was one of the first rulers of South Asia who introduced the policy of free and compulsory primary education in 1893. Two of his major works were his effort towards eradicating social discrimination and untouchability, and laying a foundation for woman empowerment. This research paper will try to look into the contribution of King Sayajirao Gaekwad III in the society and economy of the Baroda state during his 64 yrs reign. The paper will also try to analyse the significance of Sayajirao IIIs works in the day-to-day lives of the people of Baroda, also known as Vadodara. The research paper will use various archival documents as primary sources and different books, papers and articles as secondary sources.

Keywords : Education, Social upliftment, Public welfare, Economic development, Library movement

DOI :

Page Number : 80-84