Baroda State has a long history with cannons, and while roaming the city, one may come across small cannons located at various sites. Among the most famous are the cannons cast in solid gold and silver.
The Guns of Gold and Silver:
The state once had a pair of solid gold guns, along with at least six solid silver guns, each weighing about 200 kg. The pair of golden guns was commissioned by the infamous king Malharrao Gaekwad between 1870 and 1875. As for the silver guns, two were commissioned by Maharaja Khanderao Gaekwad, while the other four were later commissioned by Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad sometime after 1939. According to the book “A Year with the Gaekwar of Baroda,” written by Rev. St. Clair Weeden in 1911, these guns were stored in a mud building near the Nazarbaug Palace.
Like other royal possessions, these guns held special status and were worshipped by priests daily with offerings of flowers and incense. The guns even had specially designed carriages drawn by two milk-white bulls. All the necessary equipment for the guns and ornaments for the bulls were made from precious metals.
Unfortunately, one of the two gold guns was melted down by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III in 1929 during the Great Depression. The other is said to have remained in the state treasury until 1991.
The Gift of King George VI:
One notable cannon that led to the commissioning of four silver cannons was a gift from King George VI. It is located on Bagikhana Road, opposite the entry of Gate No. 3 of Lukshmi Vilas Palace, which serves as the entrance to Motibaug Palace.
This cannon marks an important episode in history. The pedestal it sits on bears the inscription: “Presented by Indian Army in Remembrance of the Services of Baroda State and Contribution by its Armed Forces to the Common Effort (1939–1945).” It was presented to Maharaja Pratapsinhrao by King George VI in recognition of the Baroda State Army’s contributions during World War II. Following this, to commemorate the gift, Pratapsinhrao commissioned four solid silver cannons, which were then presented to four different regiments of the state army.
This particular cannon was cast by W.G. Armstrong & Whitworth and is classified as a lightweight cannon battery. Sometimes referred to as a fast-charge cannon, it could fire 2-4 shots per minute and had a firing range of up to one mile.
In addition, two regular cannons can be seen flanking the main gate of Lukshmi Vilas Palace, while two others are located at the memorial of Yuvraj Fatehsinhrao Gaekwad.
Once the pride of the state and its citizens, the current whereabouts of the surviving gold and silver guns remain unknown.
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