Under his rule, a hundred years ago, Maharaj Sayajirao erected a tiny building in the princely town of Baroda. His vision, I understand, was to set up a bank which would “prove to be a beneficial agency for lending, transmission and deposit of money and a powerful factor in the development of art, industries and commerce of the state of Baroda and adjoining territories”.
The vision of the Maharaj is today a legend which has etched footprints in the sands of time. The small Baroda building has today grown into an empire with an impressive network of around 2700 branches in India. Bank of Baroda has also created history beyond the frontiers of India.