Sri Aurobindo had significant relation with Baroda. Immediately after completing his education in England, he returned to India to join Baroda State Services and worked in administrative department, secretariat and finally as a professor and Vice-Principal of Baroda College. He stayed in Baroda, from 1893 to 1906, for about thirteen years, which is the longest stay at one place in India except at Pondicherry. It was during his stay here that he acquired mastery over Sanskrit, learnt other Indian languages, made deep studies of political, cultural and other problems of India, started doing yoga and realized essential truths of past spiritual experiences. He also read Mahabharat, Ramayana, Kalidas, Bhavbhuti, Bankim as well as Homer, Dante and many others and wrote or initially started some of his literary and philosophical works. Thus Baroda happens to be the "Karmabhoomi" of Sri Aurobindo as Pondicherry is his "Tapobhoomi".
Sri Aurobindo at Baroda