GAEKWAR OF BARODA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 5

GAEKWAR OF BARODA.

CANNOT BE JOINED IN DIVORCE CASE. By Telecraph-Fress Association—Copyright London, December 21. In the case of Statham versus Statham and Sir Savaji Rao, Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda (India), tho Divorco Court which reserved its decision on the point whether tho Gaekwar was a foreign ruling prince and immuno from proceedings, lias now decided that Baroda is an independent State, and that therefore tho Prince is outsido the jurisdiction of tho Court. THD DURBAR INCIDENT. London, December 21. The "Daily News" protests against the newspaper attacks on the Gaekwar of Baroda, for his alleged slighting behaviour to tho King at tho Durbar. The newspaper recalls the fact that tho Gaekwar introduced educational and other reforms iu parts of India where they were long overdue. A MUCH-TALKED-OF PRINCE. Tho Gaekwar of Baroda led tho section of Indian princes in the Coronation processioirin June last, and thn "'Westminster Oazotle," in writing at the time, said of him:—Ho can undoubtedly claim to bo tho most widely travelled, as lie is tho most talked-of, amongst tho Indian princes. Ho has reigned for thirty years, during which time ho has beeii able thoroughly to the miministration oi Baroda, and to-day the various departments which collect and spend revenue, protect life and property, adjudicate complaints and train tho rising generation, run smoothly ,md cflj. Ciently. When his Highness eamo to the tlirono, a lad of twelve, his predecessors, Malliar Eao, who was deposed in 1875 for maladministration, had left things iu a muddle. The treasury was emntv, and nono of the State Departments "was organised. Even the most uncompromising jTitics, according to tho "Westminster, are agreed that the Gaekwar lias !, , w, sely and well. Tho beneficence of jus rule is attested by well-kept roads, railways, telephones, irrigation and waterworks, oourts, gaols, hospitals, schools and colleges, and efficient military, police, and judiciary. Probably nothing typifies the spirit, of the Gael;war s Government batter than the schema for the separation of the judicial and executive functions which ho inaugurated some years ago in order to protect his people from official arrogance—a safeguard which does not as yet eiist even in British India. Savaji lfao has mndo primary education freo and compulsory. Tho'percentage of boys nnd girls of school-going ago attending educational insiitutions in his Slato is by far tho largest in Hindustan. Tho Maharaja's zeal for education is so great that he has made snocial and adequate provision for tho instruction of children of the low castes. Ho also is sending promising young men to foreign countries to broaden their mental horizon. Apart from his odministrativo genius, tho Gaekwar is endeavouring to drair his subjects out fiwm the cesspools of easle and conservatism in which they have Iwn mired for many ccnhn-ies. Ho himself has defied every "priestly canon, and has spared no breath in preaching to others the advisability of ridding themselves of Brahminica!" tyrannv.