Gaekwad's policing history to get national recognition

VADODARA: The rich policing history of the erstwhile Baroda state will soon get a national prominence.

The centuries-old police chowkies built by the Gaekwadi rulers will be displayed at a police museum that is taking shape at the National Police Memorial in New Delhi. Also on the display would be mobile police chowkies, which were seen only in the erstwhile Baroda princely state. The photos of these chowkies will be displayed in the halls of the memorial along with heritage and contemporary elements of the police departments from across the country.

The police memorial located in Chanakyapuri was opened for public in October 2016.

"Photographs, historical facts along with contemporary aspects of the police department will be displayed at this upcoming museum. We are sending photographs of our heritage and other interesting historical facts," said Manoj Sashidhar, city police commissioner.

Eight heritage police chowkies from the city that were established during Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III's rule have been selected for display there. "These chowkies are very old and an important part of the police heritage of the city. We will send their photographs along with the brief history of policing in Vadodara," said Saroj Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (crime), who is nodal officer for the project in the city.

Jeetendrasinh Gaekwad, the great grandnephew of Sayajirao, said, "Policing was one of the hallmarks of the Gaekwad rule. Ensuring security of the Baroda state and its residents was their top priority. Many police chowkies were established and the Gaekwads had formed special squads to crack down on the dacoits."

The department will also be sending photographs of the police teams of those era, their uniforms, weapons and insignia. "We also have some photographs of the guard of honour given during Gaekwad's rule. Some replicas will also be sent for the museum. Vadodara being a princely state, it has a rich history," Kumari told TOI.

Jeetendrasinh said, "The mobile chowkies having iron wheels were pulled by horses or elephants. These used to be taken around for registering complaints and addressing law and order issue. Many of these police chowkies also had lady constables.