Sayajirao was born at Kavlana, 10th March 1863 as Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad, second son of Meherban Shrimant Kashirao Bhikajirao [Dada Sahib] Gaekwad. He was selected by the British Government as successor to Maharaja Malharrao Gaekwad and was accordingly adopted by Maharani Jamna Bai, on 27th May 1875. He ascended the gadi (throne) at Baroda, 16th June 1875 but being a minor reigned under a Council of Regency until he came of age and was invested with full ruling powers, 28th December 1881.
The large public park originally called Kamati Baug and now called Sayaji Baug were his gift to the City of Baroda. On the occasion of his Diamond Jubilee of accession to the throne, he set apart large funds out of his personal as well as the state funds for setting up a University in Baroda for the benefit of students from the rural areas of his state...... a task which was ultimately completed by his grandson Sir Pratapsinghrao Gaekwad who founded the Maharaja Sayajirao University and settled the trust as desired by his grandfather. This Trust known as Sir Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee and Memorial Trust exists today also and caters to the educational and other needs of the people of the former state of Baroda.The idea of establishing a University at Baroda had engaged the attention of the Government of the former State of Baroda and its educational advisers long before the question of regional universities and decentralisation, reorganisation and reconditioning of higher education to suit the cultural educational needs of particular areas had taken root in the country. The concept was first visualized by Dr. Jackson, when, as Principal of the Baroda College in the 1908, he advocated the establishment of a Science Institute at Baroda on an improved and independent basis. It was a consistent policy of the Government of Baroda to subject its educational system to periodical inquiries of a searching nature by educational experts of international fame, as a result of which the first Commission was appointed in 1909. The principal recommendation of that Commission was to expand the activities of the Baroda College by establishing additional chairs in new branches of knowledge. As a result of this policy of chalking out untrodden paths in higher education and thereby evolving a university atmosphere in Baroda, chairs of Comparative Region and Household Science were instituted. Prof. Widgery and Mrs. Strong were appointed to hold these chairs. In 1916, the educational policy of the State was again reviewed. As a part of this inquiry, one of the members of the Commission, Shri S.V.Mukerjea, prepared a minute of recommendations and in his note he definitely advocated the establishment of a University at Baroda.
These details have been retrieved from www.msubaroda.ac.in
Mission & Vision
The Government of Baroda and its people had for a long time desired to have a separate University of their own. The affiliation of all the institutions of higher education to a University situated far away was not conductive to the development of new courses of instruction suited to the needs of the region. It acted, on the contrary, as an obstacle. The main object of establishing the Maharaja Sayajirao Univerity of Baroda was, therefore,to provide a distinct type of University-a teaching and residential University which sould have complete freedom in all academic matters and would be free to institute new branches of studies suited to the needs and aspirations of the region in particular and of the country in general.
Accommodation
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda has one of the largest Hostel Campuses in the western India . 12 Boys Hostels and 4 Girls Hostels are spread over the area of approximately 100 acres.
Total approximate accommodation in Boys Hostels:
2500 Students
Total approximate accommodation in Girls Hostels:
1300 Students
Total approximate accommodation in All Hostels:
3800 Students
All the students residing in the hostels are provided with minimum facilities like a bed, a cupboard, a table and a chair in the room individually. All the hostels are equipped with In every Hostel automatic gas fired hot water boilers facility, which provides hot water during the winter season. Hostels are also equipped with a dining hall, a common hall , Mike system facility etc.
