Baroda State

Quick Facts: Who was Baroda State?

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Baroda State

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A historical princely state in Gujarat, India, ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty.

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Origins & Early Life

Baroda State was a kingdom within the Maratha Empire, and later, a princely state of the British Indian Empire in present-day Gujarat. It was ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty from its formation in 1721 until its accession to the newly formed Dominion of India. With the city of Baroda as its capital, its relations with the British Raj authorities were managed by the Baroda Residency, with the State under British suzerainty. The revenue of the state in 1901 was Rs. Baroda merged into the Dominion of India on 1 May 1949, preceding which an interim government was formed in the state.

Career & Major Achievements

Baroda derives its native name Vadodara from the Sanskrit word vatodara, meaning 'in the heart of the Banyan (Vata) tree. It also has another name, Virakshetra or Virawati (land of warriors), mentioned alongside Vadodara by the 17th century Gujarati poet Premanand Bhatt, native to the city. Its name has been mentioned as Brodera by early English travellers and merchants, from which its later name Baroda was derived. Geographically it comprised several disjointed tracts of land, measuring over 1000 square miles, spread across the present Gujarat state; these were subdivided into four prant (states), namely Kadi, Baroda, Navsari and Amreli, which included coastal portions of the state, in the Okhamadal region near Dwarka and Kodinar near Diu. The Marathas first attacked Gujarat in 1705.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

By 1712, a Maratha leader Khande Rao Dabhade grew powerful in the region and when he returned to Satara in 1716, he was made the senapati (commander in chief). Thereafter, during the "Battle of Balapur" in 1721, one of his officers, Damaji Gaekwad, was awarded the title Shamsher Bahadur or Distinguished Swordsman. Damaji died in 1721 and was succeeded by his nephew Pilajirao. Thus, the Baroda State was founded in 1721 when the Maratha general Pilaji Gaekwad conquered Songadh from the Mughals. Preceding this, Pilajirao was appointed as general by the Peshwa, the Prime Minister of the Maratha Empire, to collect revenues from Gujarat; the latter had captured the region north and south of Surat from the Mughals to established the Sarkar of Surat.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1000: 1000 Milestone — Geographically it comprised several disjointed tracts of land, measuring over 1000 square miles, spread across the present Gujarat state; these were subdivided into four prant (states), namely Kadi, Baroda, Navsari and Amreli, which included coastal portions of the state, in the Okhamadal region near Dwarka and Kodinar near Diu.
2. 1705: 1705 Milestone — The Marathas first attacked Gujarat in 1705.
3. 1712: 1712 Milestone — By 1712, a Maratha leader Khande Rao Dabhade grew powerful in the region and when he returned to Satara in 1716, he was made the senapati (commander in chief).
4. 1721: 1721 Milestone — It was ruled by the Gaekwad dynasty from its formation in 1721 until its accession to the newly formed Dominion of India.
5. 1901: 1901 Milestone — The revenue of the state in 1901 was Rs.
6. 1949: 1949 Milestone — Baroda merged into the Dominion of India on 1 May 1949, preceding which an interim government was formed in the state.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Baroda State

True or False: “The Baroda State was entirely independent of British influence throughout its existence from 1721 to 1949.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While it maintained nominal internal autonomy, the state operated under British suzerainty and managed relations through the Baroda Residency.

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