THE STATE OF BARODA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 62, 10 September 1910, Page 10

THE STATE OF BARODA.

A STRENUOUS RULER. When, hi 1883, the present ruler of Baroda came of age, and into power, he found the affairs of the State in a deplorable condition, observes the New York Evening Post apropos of the Gaekwar's visit to America. Tho welfare of the people had been neglected, and they were ignorant and downtrodden. By always keeping before him a high ideal of government and a lofty sense of his responsibility toward his subjects, the Gaekwar brought light into dark places, and transformed a run-down people into happy, prosperous men and women. His interest has not been confined to any one department of life alone. In educational, agricultural, industrial, and social matters, he has eagerly sought to adopt every modern" idea that would uplift the inhabitants of Baroda. In the matter of encouraging industries, the Gaekwar is indefatigable. It must be remembered that Baroda is a small State, with about 2,000,000 population, and an area of only about BUOO square miles ; yet it has a number of flourishing industries, and is constantly adding to them. In order to further the business interests of his people, the ruler of Baroda has appointed an American engineer as economic adviser, and under his guidance purposes to introduce a number of new industries. Not content with that, he has passed a stringent law punishing parents or guardians who permit children in their care to marry before the girl is fourteen and the boy is eighteen years old. This law has been enforced . in tho face of determined^ resistance on the part of the Hindus arid Brahmins, and to-day no one thinks of disobeying it. Moreover, he has given people to understand that he proposes further to raise the marriage age to sixteen and twenty for females J and males respectively, as soon as the J people have become accustomed to the present innovation. Orphanages for boys and girls are maintained by the Gaekwar's State, and here the children are taught useful arts and industries, and husbands and wives are found for them. The little State maintains an agricultural college and an experiment farm. The young men of the principality are taught theoretical work in the class and practical work on the farm. Before completing their course, the students of the agricultural college become good farmers, able to take complete charge of large or small agricultural operations. One of the problems with which the Gaekwar has had to deal concerns the forest tribes at Songad and Vyari. These "Dhanka" boys are extremely backward, and the question of educating them is one in which the ruler takes great interest. The hereditary work of these tribes ,is fanning, and hence the Maharajah has seen fit to approach their general education through agriculture. Ho has established model farms at Sengad and Vyari.