Men of the Time, eleventh edition/Baroda, The Maharajah Gaekwar of
BARODA, The Maharajah Gaekwar of. His Highness Maharajah Syaji Rao Gaekwar was born on the 10th of March, 1863, at the town of Kavalana in the Nassick District, and is the son of the late Rao Bhikaji Rao Gaekwar. He was educated in the "Maharajah's School" at Baroda, under the personal supervision and tuition of Mr. F. Elliot, of the Indian Civil Service. It will be in the memory of our readers how the late Gaekwar, Mulhar Rao, for his attempt to poison Colonel Phayre, the British Resident, and for continual and gross misgovernment, was, after being tried by a mixed commission of European officials and native chiefs, deposed from his government and sent into exile at Madras, where he died at the end of 1882. On Mulhar Rao's deposition, and with the consent of the Earl of Northbrook, then Viceroy of India, the Maharanee Jumna Bai adopted, on the 27th of May, 1875, the present Maharajah, who was on the same day installed on the guddee or throne. During the minority of the Maharajah the administration was carried on by a Council of Regency under the direction of the European representative; and Raja Sir Taujore Madhava Rao, Bahadoor, K.C.S.I., who was the Dewan to His Highness Maharajah Scindiah of Gwalior, was specially selected to fill the post of Prime Minister, together with a seat at the Regency Board. On the 28th December, 1881, and at the early age of 18, His Highness was invested with full and sovereign powers, and since he has held the reins of state he has, with the assistance of Sir Madhava Rao, whom he has retained as his Prime Minister, given the greatest satisfaction by his aptitude for work and desire to introduce reforms. His Highness is an excellent English scholar, and speaks the language as fluently as his own.