BARODA, one of the most important of Indian States, associated with the province of Bombay, but in direct relations with the governor-general. It consists of four isolated divisions interlaced with British territory or with other Indian States. Three of these divisions—Kadi, Baroda and Nausariare in Gujarat proper; the fourth, Amreli with Okhamandal, is in the peninsula of Kathiawar. The total area covers 8,164 square miles. In 1931 the population was The princes of Baroda were one of the chief branches of the i8th century Mahratta confederacy. About 1721 one Pilaji gaekwar carved a fertile slice of territory out of Gujarat, and after wards received the title of "Leader of the Royal Troops" from the peshwa. In 1800 the inheritance descended to a prince feeble in body and almost idiotic in mind. British troops were sent in defence of the hereditary ruler against all claimants; a treaty was signed in 1802, by which his independence of the peshwa and his dependence on British Government was secured. For some time the history of the gaekwars was very much the same as that of most territorial houses in India : an occasional able minister, more rarely an able prince ; but, on the other hand, a long dreary list of incompetent heads, venal advisers and taskmasters op pressive to the people. In 1874 an attempt at poisoning the British resident led to the gaekwar Malhar Rao being formally accused of the crime and tried by a mixed commission. The result of the trial (1875) was a failure to obtain an unanimous verdict on the charge of poisoning; the viceroy, Lord Northbrook, however, decided to depose Malhar Rao on the ground of gross misgovernment, the widow of his brother and predecessor, Khande Rao, being permitted to adopt an heir from among the descendants of the founder of the family. During the boy's minority the state was for eight years under the charge of Sir T. Madhava Rao, formerly diwan of Travancore, one of the ablest and most en lightened of Indian statesmen. The result was a conspicuous suc cess. The gaekwar repeatedly visited Europe in company with his wife. In 1887 Queen Victoria conferred upon him at Windsor the insignia of G.C.S.I., and in 1892 upon his wife the Imperial order of the crown of India.
The gross revenue of the State is nearly one and a quarter million sterling. In 1901 the State currency of Babashai rupees was withdrawn, and the British rupee was introduced. The regular military force consists of a field battery, with several regiments of cavalry and battalions of infantry. In addition, there is an ir regular force of horse and foot. Compulsory education has been carried on experimentally since 1893 in the Amreli division with apparent success, the compulsory age being 7 to 12 for boys and 7 to io for girls. Special measures are also adopted for the education of low castes and aboriginal tribes. There is a female training college under a Christian lady superintendent. The Kala Bhavan, or technical school, has departments for drawing, car pentry, dyeing, weaving and agriculture. There is also a State museum under a European director and a State library.
The city of Baroda is situated on the river Viswamitri, a station on the Bombay and Baroda railway, 245m. N. of Bombay by rail. Pop. (1931) 112,860. The whole aspect of the city has been changed by the construction of handsome public buildings, the laying-out of parks and the widening of the streets. An ex cellent water-supply is provided from the Ajwa lake. The canton ments, garrisoned by a native infantry regiment, are under British jurisdiction, and have a population of 4,000. The city contains a college and many schools. The chief hospitals are called after the countess of Dufferin, Sayaji Rao and Jamnabai, the widow of Khande Rao.