Maharaja Sayaji Rao III was born on 11th march, 1863 in a village in the Nashik District of the then Bombay Presidency. Originaly named Gopalrao, he, with his two brothers, went to a dilapidated primary school, the only one in the village. At the age of 13, he was adopted by the Dowager Maharani of Baroda State. He was re-named Sayaji Rao Gaekwad-III and put through a crash programming to prepare hism for his life as a ruler. Almost from the word go, Sayajirao was in conflict with the British, having continuous and longstanding verbal and written disputes with the British Residents. On assuming the reins of Government, some of his first tasks included education of his subjects, upliftment of the down-trodden, judicial, agricultural and social reforms, building a network of railways to connect areas of his dispersed territories.

His educational and social reforms included, aong others, ban onchild marriage, legislation of divorce, rmoval of untouchability, spread of education development of Sanskrit and indological studies, religious education, encouragement of fine arts and his total commitment to free and compulsory primary education, which placed his territory far in advance of contemporary British India. Fully aware of the fact that he was Maratha ruler of Gujarat, he identified himself with the people and developed their cosmopolitan attitude and progressive, reformist zeal.

His rich library became the nucleus of today's Central Library of Baroda. He was the first Indian Ruler to introduce, in 1906, compulsory and free primary education in his State. Though a prince of a native state, an admirer of the English people and in many respects of the English rule in India, he jealously gaurded his rights and status even at the cost of annoyance to the Indian Governemnt. The English bureaucracy considered him a 'Patron of Sedition' as he talked to his countrymen on love of the country, Swadeshi, Indian heritage and the need for political reforms. Though he loudly proclaimed his loyalty to the British Crown, he was always suspected of harbouring anti-British ideas and tendencies.

The incident of Delhi Darnar of 1911, at which he was accused of planned and delibrate insult of their Majesties and certain involvements of his officers with the seditious activities in British India, his association with some institutions having sympathy for the Indian National Congress, and finally, his great popularity among the nationalists, earned him British wrath and bitter attcks in the British Press. Wolly secular in his views, an admirer of Parliamentary form of Government, a believer in industrialization, an advocate of all round reforms and imbued with love for his country and his people,he played a decisive part in the general awakening of the people.

After a long and eventful rule of 63 years, Sayajirao Gaekwad III died on 6th February, 1939.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India