Baroda State was renowned as one of the wealthiest states during the princely period, boasting its own army and navy.
In 1725, 299 years ago, the first Maharaja of Baroda State, Pilajirao Gaekwad, was appointed by the Peshwas as the General of Revenue Collection. To safeguard the coastline from foreign invasions and enhance trade, a navy was established. Ships armed with Maratha troops were stationed at Bilimora near Surat, where Gaekwad’s port, Bilimora Suba Armour, was located.
Under the Maratha Empire, Baroda State stood out as the richest kingdom with a coastline, encompassing territories such as Bet Dwarka, Moti Daman, Veraval, Bilimora, and Umargaon.
Interestingly, passports were issued during the expansion of Baroda State’s navy from Surat to Valsad. Besides its wealth, Baroda was the only state in the Maratha Empire that possessed a coastline. Gaekwad’s navy comprised approximately 50 ships, including cargo vessels for trade and military ships for protecting against the Portuguese, Dutch, and French naval forces.
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the Baroda State Navy was crucial in maritime security and trade protection. Armed vessels were kept in optimal condition to safeguard shipping routes. Ships were categorized as “kowli” (with proper passports) or “be kowli” (without passports). Notably, vessels from Portuguese India were often treated as “be kowli,” leading to thorough inspections. Unauthorized ships were subject to various fees, including ‘kol’ (pass fee), ‘wallawa’ (convoy fee), ‘chaoni’ (beaching fee), ‘avria’ (or ‘avardi’), ‘hudiuj’, ‘karkoon’ fees, ‘bhet’ (presents), and ‘fag’ (a small fee paid during the Holi festival).
By the beginning of the 19th century, piracy had been eradicated along the Surat coast but persisted on the Kathiawad coast, where neither the British nor the Baroda government had direct control. In 1808, British and Baroda troops, under the leadership of Colonel Walker, resident of Baroda, conducted a joint expedition to Kathiawad. Colonel Walker secured bonds from the chiefs of Okha-mandal and the maritime states of Kathiawad, who agreed to renounce piracy.
In 1813, the Baroda government acquired the ‘parganah’ of Kodinar, which included the port of Velan. To protect trade between Bombay and Sind, the Baroda government established a small fleet of four frigates: ‘Anandprasad’, ‘Sarsuba’, ‘Anamat Vart’, and ‘Anne Maria’. Notably, the ‘Anne Maria’, purchased from the Shah of Iran, was formerly known as ‘Shah Kai Khusru’ before becoming part of the Baroda fleet.
Source: Gujarat Samachar & Times of India
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