March 16, 2012
Vadodara History
Formerly known as Baroda, Vadodara is the third largest city
in the Indian state of Gujarat. According to archeological survey history of
Vadodara dates back to the 9th century when it was a small village named
Ankottaka. During the early years of Christian era the region was under the
rule of Gupta dynasty. Then it was Chalukyas who after several fierce battles
captured the region and ruled it till the Solanki Rajputs annexed the region to
their kingdom. Then the region came under the control of Delhi sultans who
ruled it for long time before they were overthrown by the Mughal emperors.
Baroda was formerly princely state in western India. Modern
history of Baroda (Vadodara) dates back to the time of Maratha rule. Pilaji Gaekwad a general of Maratha captured
Songadh in Gujarat from Mughal in 1726. Pilaji Gaekwad brought the Maratha
campaign in southern part of Gujarat and conquered Baroda from Babi Nawabs who
were ruling there under the Mughal kingdom.
Baroda remained under the rule of Gaekwad from 1734 to 1948. Pilaji
Gaekwad was originally assigned the work of collecting the revenue on Maratha’s
behalf but he and his descendents went on to carve a separate state form
themselves. Finally they consolidated
their rule and managed to become the most powerful kingdom in the region. The
treaty with British made Baroda a princely state and permitted Maharajas of Baroda
to have the internal political sovereignty with its foreign affairs being
controlled by British. Thus a form of suzerainty was established in the kingdom
of Baroda. Baroda state witnessed the golden days during the rule of Maharaja
Sayajirao Gaekwad. He ruled Baroda state from 1875 to 1939 and during the
period he made every effort to modernize Baroda. He made the primary education
compulsory in the state. He also established a university and model textiles
and other industrial factories. This helped Baroda to gain the image of modern
industrial hub. For his great works the city of Baroda is also sometimes
referred as Sayaji Nagari.
After the independence of India 1947, the princely state of
Baroda was annexed to Indian republic. Earlier (after the independence) it was merged
into Bombay state which was in 1960 divided into states namely Gujarat and
Maharashtra with Gujarat retaining the region of Baroda. It was in 1974 that
the name of Baroda was changed to Vadodara.
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