Sayajirao Gaekwad III (born Shrimant Gopalrao Gaekwad, 11 March 1863 – 6
February 1939) was the
Maharaja of
Baroda State from 1875 to
1939, and is notably remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule. Maharaja was donating Rs. 6,000/- only per year to Viswabharati University since 1925. In most of the time he used to stay in Europe.This year he was coming to his own country. It was his desire that he would invite Rabindranath to his palace and request him to deliver a lecture. He sent a letter in the form of an invitation. But did not like the language of the letter. He replied in a letter, saying;" I have to go to Baroda and deliver a lecture there. This is the advice. I am confined by silver-made chain with the king's gate - I have been purchased on account of my Viswabharati. But I am not happy." The last week of January, 1930, was fixed as the date for delivering lecture.He left for Ahmedabad after finishing Paush-Utsab. He stayed there for a fortnight in the house of Ambala. the place was lonely and he got warm welcome there. He reached Baroda on 26th Jan, just a day before his lecture. He was a guest of the King.. The subject of the lecture he delivered was "Man the Artist"
In the Teachers' Training College he delivered a lecture on Education..
Bangiya Literature Conference was going to be held in the month of February and Rabindranath was supposed to take the chair. But as he was not in a position to remain present in the Conference he wrote a letter conveying success of the conference.
