"The people must rise superior to their
circumstances and realize that more knowledge is their greatest need, their
greatest want. They must be brought up to love books, not simply attractive
bindings or pretty pictures, but their contents. They must be taught to regard
books as part of their lives. Libraries will not then appear a luxury, but a
necessity of existence." - Sayajirao Gaekwad III
Sayajirao Gaekwad III (born Shrimant Gopalrao
Gaekwad, 11 March 1863 – d. 6 February 1939) was the Maharaja of Baroda State,
and is notably remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule.
Crowned in 1875, Sayajirao is widely regarded as one of the greatest statesmen
and educator of pre-independent India. He was an avant-garde ruler who
initiated several educational, economic, cultural and societal reforms during
his lifetime.
The Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad, is
undoubtedly the father of the Library Movement in India. He was a
great patron of learning. He decided to establish library as an experiment in
one of the towns of a taluka and in order to implement his idea in 1906. He
brought to Baroda an American library expert Mr. Borden who started a system of
public libraries in the state.
At the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the
Shree Jayasinhrao Library of Baroda, 16th December 1937, Sayajirao spoke -
“Partly successful in my efforts to promote the welfare of my people. We do not
all get equal opportunities in life, nor do we get sufficient scope or
encouragement for what we wish to do. I have done the best I could within my
limitations and I am happy to say that I have been able to provide a network of
libraries for my people, bringing about a healthy change in their outlook,
culture and general knowledge.”
