Baroda State Army

Baroda State had its own army (and Navy) & was called Baroda State Royal Army. In olden times, it was one of the most modern & capable army force in India.

The Army :

It was Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad (1856 to 1870A.D.), who created and organized a regular force of infantry, cavalry and artillery and engaged the services of Europeans and Anglo-Indians to train the men.

The head of the army was known as the “Senapati” or “Supremo”. The Baroda State Army, Baroda State Police Force, State Vigilance and Baroda Spy Network, all worked under this “Senapati” and it was his responsibility to manage these forces. Almost 8 million soldiers would be stationed under his command.

Baroda Army force had 6 major barracks, where 16 small barracks worked below each of this 6 major barracks. Each barrack consisted of almost 1,08,000. The 6 barracks were located at the major districts of the Baroda State. Baroda, Navsari Fort, Mehsana-Patan Fort, Dhari Fort of Amreli, Dwarka-Okha bet and Songadh Fort were the states where these barracks were stationed.

Himmat Bahadur Anandrao Kashirao Gaekwad (1857-1917) was the one of the heads of the Baroda State Royal Army who had made notable contributions to the army. Nanasaheb Shinde was one other celebrated “Senapati” of the state army between 1922 & 1938 and was appointed by the Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III himself. He was honored with title of Rajratna in 1927 by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III for contribution to the State Army. There is also a road named after him, near the Shiyabaug area.

During the 2nd World War, Mahraja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad sent the Baroda Forces to Burma to fight against Japanese.

The Merger :

In 1949, following the integration of Baroda State, the two principal units of the Army, 1st and 2nd Infantry, were absorbed into the Indian Army as the 20th and 21st Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry. Later the 20th and 21st Battalion were amalgamated as 20th Maratha Light Infantry, and finally the Battalion was re-designated as the 10th Battalion (Baroda).

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The 20th Maratha Light Infantry, now the 10th Mechanized Infantry is the sole successor who carries forward the legacy of the Baroda State Royal Army.

Partial Sources: Salute