Sayajirao Gaekwad III

Sayajirao Gaekwad III (Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad) an Indian maharaj, statesman, social reformer.

Maharaja of Baroda State.

First Indian ruler to introduce free and compulsory primary education.

Pioneer of the public library movement in India, establishing a free, state-supported library network.

Founder of the Bank of Baroda.

A staunch supporter of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, he funded Ambedkar’s education at Columbia University.

He worked to abolish untouchability, child marriage, and the parda system.
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