America’s Influence on Sayajirao, Baroda and India

Maharaja SayajiRao’s method of developing his dominions is illustrated by his dispatching some seeds from Colorado to his State for agricultural experiments. This was characteristic of his foreign visits and his efforts to achieve all-pervasive development of his State. Wherever he went, he made an attempt to see the best in the region. He tried to ascertain the basic factors that had enabled those progressive countries to rise high in industrial, economic, social, and other spheres of life. He inquired into the intricacies of the systems developed abroad and tried to adopt them and to adapt them to suit the special situations obtaining in his own State. Not only did he import new ideas into his State, but he also invited foreign specialists to implement those ideas in his territories.

“His Highness paid a visit to the United States of America where he took the opportunity to study various industries. Consequently, we find a number of letters in connection with the development of the resources of the State. Writing from Boston on 10-6-1906 [i.e. June 10] to the Minister, Shrimant Sampatrao stated, ‘His Highness the Maharaja Saheb desires the statistics about the export and import of the Baroda State for the last five years may be collated and arranged as early as possible. If it is not usual to record this information and, therefore, not available now, His Highness desires that hereafter arrangement should be made to keep an accurate record of such statistics.

“Mr. Bumpus was also asked to procure for the State the services of an expert in industrial matters. Writing to him from New York on 3-6- 1906, Shrimant Sampatrao says: ‘An expert manufacturer or a person competent to explore a country, who after studying the natural conditions and facilities as well as past and present history and political and industrial circumstances of the state and people should be competent enough to recommend definite lines of policy to be followed by the State, is wanted by His Highness the Maharaja Gaikwad of Baroda to go and visit the different parts of his State. He wishes you if you can think of a good, reliable, and conscientious man, to find out and introduce him while he is in Boston. It is believed that a period from 4 to 6 months will be enough for him to travel in the different parts of the State and its neighborhood and acquire the necessary kind of information to enable him to recommend a definite line of policy to be followed by the Baroda Government in future…The Baroda State is mainly agricultural, and judging from the geological report of the State it seems that if any manufacturers are to be started, they will have to be dependent mainly on such agricultural products as may be found near about the place of manufacture. The gentleman will have to study all the conditions that are necessary, instead of what is mentioned here. He will not find an expert officer to advise him in the matter so that he will have to depend greatly on himself in the submission of his reports.’ Writing in the same connection again on 3-8-1906 to Mr. Bumpus, Shrimant Sampatrao says, ‘Please remember the gentleman must not be a mere theorist, but he must be able to submit practical schemes with necessary information before the Government and before private people interested (or to be interested) in the development. He will have to impress upon the people by lectures, etc., of what they can do to promote their material interests under circumstances. He may be handed over charge of some of the departments bearing on the inquiry of the question.

“On 16-6-1906 His Highness sent an order from Colorado Springs to the effect ‘that a systematic and exhaustive memorandum should be drawn up for starting a small paper mill in the Navsari district or any other part of Baroda State to turn out paper sufficient to meet the wants of the State. The due inquiry should be made on all necessary particulars- -local merchants, etc., should be consulted; inquiries should be made as to whether the necessary material for making paper can be had, and in what quantities; whether it is practicable to start such a mill with the co-operation of private individuals. It should also be considered what facilities are necessary to be given if such a mill were to be started as a private enterprise. In fact, the scheme should be completely thrashed out and a memo drawn up in such a form that it can very conveniently be referred to experts in this country.’ Again from the same place, another order was sent on 17-6-1906 to start a flour mill in the State. ‘It is not intended that the State should conduct it but it is meant to be a concern opened and managed by the public. The government may have only to give the necessary facilities.

“While in America, His Highness inquired of Mr. Bumpus whether he could arrange for some person to write notes on citizenship. Shrimant Sampatrao’s letter to Mr. Bumpus in this connection may be noted. He wrote, His Highness the Maharaja Gaikwad desires that you should arrange to have drawn up, by some competent person, good instructive note on citizenship, its duties and obligations, and the historical treatment of citizenship. It should be in such a form that when translated20 it can at once be incorporated as one of the lessons to be taught in schools. The note should be such as can be easily understood by boys between the ages of 15 and 18. His Highness desires that you should settle the ideas, etc. that ought to be embodied in the note, and in fact, see that it is complete. If you think that a similar note [is?] desirable to be drawn up for boys under 15 years of age, you are at liberty to have one drawn up for them also. The note should conveniently show how and when the rights and duties of citizens change according to the different forms of Government if there be any such

change.

“Mr. Bumpus was also requested to arrange for drawing up another note touching a variety of subjects. The following extract from Mr. Datar’s letter to Mr. Bumpus throws some light on the nature of these subjects. He wrote, ‘His Highness the Maharaja of Gaikwad of Baroda desires that you should arrange to get written (either by yourself or some other competent person) chapters on the following subjects:

(1) The industrial development of the United States and the policy followed by the Government to encourage it and the different ways in which the encouragement is given. The statistics relating to exports and imports should be consulted. His Highness would like to have information collected on this point, in an interesting and instructive form, to serve as a chapter of the notes he is thinking of writing about his tour in America for the benefit of his people [Bravo]. Special remarks may be made of industries that can be advantageously introduced in India.

(2) Education in the United States.

(3) Agriculture in the United States with some of the industries connected with it.

(4) The bringing up of the children and the relation of their parents with them, when they grow up.

(5) Labour Unions, how they are formed, and the general principles regulating them.

“The notes are intended for the general public, who are not much educated. In the chapter regarding industrial development, the comparison may be made with Europe and other countries.”