Mumbai, Jun 19 (PTI) Culture minister Ashish Shelar has directed his department to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state archives of Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Speaking at a meeting of the archives department here, the Maharashtra minister said the state has a historical bond with the then princely state of Baroda, in particular with Sayajirao Gaekwad, the renowned ruler of that state.
To share and preserve historical documents, the culture department should initiate an MoU between the state archives of Gujarat and Maharashtra, he said.
It would pave the way for presenting the documented legacy of Sayajirao Gaekwad to future generations, he added.
Sayajirao Gaekwad's formative influence was his mother, Maharani Jamnabai Gaekwad, whose maternal home was in Rahimatpur, Satara district of Maharashtra, a statement from Shelar's office quoted him saying.
Despite adverse circumstances, Maharani Jamnabai raised an ideal king, Sayajirao Gaekwad, who went on to build a model state, earning widespread acclaim for Baroda. Given this legacy, there has been a longstanding demand to establish a memorial and beautify the surrounding area at her native place, Rahimatpur, in her honour, the minister said.
Directing officials to submit a detailed plan for the proposed memorial, Shelar stressed the importance of honouring the historic ties between Maharani Jamnabai Gaekwad's native place, Rahimatpur, and the Baroda princely state.