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Sitter: H.H. Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia, Shrimant Maharaja Sir Sayajirao III Gaekwad, Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Maharaja of Baroda, GCSI (15.12. 1887), GCIE (1.1.1919).
Image published in The Lafayette Studio
b. at Kavlana, 10th March 1863 as Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad, second son of Meherban Shrimant Kashirao Bhikajirao alias Baba Sahib Gaekwad, by his wife Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Umma Bai Sahib. Chosen and proclaimed by the GOI, 25th May 1875. Adopted by H.H. Maharani Jamna Bai, widow of H.H. Maharaja Sayajirao, 27th May and installed on the gadi at Baroda, 16th June 1875. Reigned under a Council of Regency until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers, 28th December 1881. Received H.M. The King-Emperor Edward VII at Baroda when he was Prince of Wales, 1876 (rcvd POW’s Medal). Granted the title of ‘Farzand-i-Khas-i-Daulat-i-Inglishia’, 29th December 1876. Attended the Delhi Durbars of 1877, 1903 and 1911 (rcvd. KIH Medal and Gold Durbar Medals 1903 and 1911). Rcvd. Silver Jubilee Medal (1935) and Coronation Medal (1937). DGBStJ (20.5.1932). Acquired the 262 carat diamond ‘Star of the South’. Married (firstly) at Nazar Bagh Palace, Baroda, 6th January 1880, H.H. Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Chimna Bai I alias Lakshmi Bai Sahib (b. at Tanjore, 1864; d. at Baroda, 7th May 1885), daughter of Shrimant Sardar Daji Sahib Mohite, Amir Rao, by his wife, Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Nagamma Bai Sahiba, daughter of Shrimant Abaji Rao Ghatge, Serjirao, of Tanjore. Married (secondly) at Baroda, 28th December 1885, H.H. Shrimant Akhand Soubhagyavati Maharani Chimna Bai II alias Gajra Bai Sahib, CI (2.8.1892) (b. 1872; d. at Bombay, 194X), daughter of Shrimant Sardar Baji Rao Amrit Rao Ghatge, of Dewas. He d. at Gopal Bhavan, Malabar Hill, Bombay, 6th February 1939, having had issue four sons and three daughters. Date: 21 September 1910. Occasion: Visit to England, 19 July 1910-23 November 1910, during world tour. Location: Lafayette studio, 179 New Bond Street, London. Descr: FL standing. Costume: -(1) Orders, Decorations & Medals: Star of The Most Noble Order of Vikramaditya.(2) Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop.
Photographer: Lafayette Ltd., 179 New Bond Street, London. Evidence of photographer at work: - All images of sitter:
Copyright: V&A All
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References: Biog: Dictionary of National Biography; Who's Who; The Times, 7 February 1939, p 16d; Who's Who In India, Lucknow, 1911; P.W. Sargeant, Ruler of Baroda, [CK], 1928; P. Stanley Rice, Life of Sayaji Rao III, Maharaja of Baroda, Oxford, 1931; John Lord, The Maharajahs, London, 1972, pp 142-147; Maharajah of Baroda, The Palaces of India, London, 1981, pp 154-156; Pauline Rohatgi, Portraits in the India Office Library and Records, London, 1893, pp 264-265; Charles Allen & Sharada Dwivedi, Lives of the Indian Princes, London, 1984, pp 99-102. Occasion: The Times, 22 July 1910, p 13a, 11 August 191, p 9c & 24 November 1910, p 13a. Costume: - Orders, Decorations & Medals: - Reproduced: -
Acknowledgements: (Orders) A.N. McClenaghan, Editor, Durbar Magazine; (Costume) Rosemary Crill, Indian Department, V&A.
1. On top of a typical European formal suit, the Gaekwar wears the small, neat turban favoured by the Maratha rulers of western Central India since the early 19th century. This example is unusually plain. 2. In 1909 Sayaji Rao instituted various insignia and formulated rules concerning investitures and the wearing of insignia. In 1909, in a bid to honour those of his high officials, like the Chief Minister, he founded The Most Noble Order of Udayaditya (The Ascending Sun). A special set of insignia within this Order, but intended only for the Royal Couple, was designated The Most Noble Order of Vikramaditya (Victory of the Order of Sun). The obverse of the star has twenty-four centrifugally arranged petal-studded diamond studded strips alternating with shorter but similar strips, fanning out from two red enamelled, diamond-bordered circles, inscribed at the top Satyameva Jayate (Truth Shall Triumph). Within the inner circle a diamond encrusted Shirpech (pagri-shaped crown with royal pendant-shaped decoration rising upwards from the front of the crown) resting on a diamond encrusted sword below which, on a strip of red enamel, the inscription in gold, Vadadara Raj (Baroda State). Source: Anthony McLenaghan, Durbar magazine. In 1907 Sayaji Rao II instituted various insignia and formulated rules concerning investitures and the wearing of insignia. In 1909, in a bid to honour those of his high officials, like the Chief Minister, who had rendered meritorious service to the State, he founded: THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF UDAYADITYA (The word Udayaditya, when literally translated, means The Ascending Sun). A special set of insignia within this Order, but intended only for the Royal Couple, was designated: THE MOST NOBLE ORDER OF VIKRAMADITYA (Victory of the Order of Sun) Star (Obverse): Twenty-four centrifugally arranged petal-studded diamond studded strips alternating with shorter but similar strips, fanning out from two red enamelled, diamond-bordered circles, instribed at the top Satyameva Jayate (Truth Shall Triumph). Within the inner circle a diamond encrusted Shirpech (pagri-shaped crown with royal pendant-shaped decoration rising upwards from the front of the crown) resting on a diamond encrusted sword below which, on a strip of red enamel, the inscription in gold, Vadadara Raj (Baroda State). (Reverse): Believed plain (Size): Not known. (Metal): Gold (Ribbon): 3˝ inch sash, 1˝ inch deep maroon flanked by 1˝ white, quarter inch saffron and 1/5 inch white borders. (Suspension): Not known. (Designer): Not known. (Naming): None (Bars issued): None. Badge: (Obverse): Petal-shaped base comprising seven diamond encrusted and seven ruby encrusted segments. In the centre the royal effigy facing left of Sayaji Rao III, circled twice with diamond paved borders. Within the circle the words Satyameva Jayate (Truth Shall Triumph) set in diamonds. At the top of the badge a flower shaped with 18 diamond-encrusted petals. Between the flower and ruby cum emerald crown is a sword (scimitar) traced with diamonds. (Reverse): Believed plain. (Size): Not known. (Metal): Gold. (Ribbon): 50mm, 22mm centre stripe of deep maroon flanked by 8mm white, 3mm saffron and 3mm white edges. (Suspension): Hook. (Designer): Not known. (Naming): Not named. (Bars issued): None. The neck badge may also have served as a sash badge, its position of wear depending on what else the Gaekwar was wearing at the time. One picture of Sayaji Rao III, taken in about 1935, shows him wearing a high-necked tunic with the Star and sash of the GCSI, and the Star and neck badge of this order. Another picture is known of Sir Pratap Singh, taken sometime between 1938 and 1943, which shows him clearly wearing the sash and breast star of this Order. He is, however, wearing a high-necked tunic with a magnificent jewelled necklace and there is no sign of the neck badge and riband around his neck. Nevertheless, not quite so clear on the photograph is what seems to be the neck badge worn at the base of the sash near the bow. |
