Maharani gayatri devi biography

Maharani of Jaipur and Indian politician (–)

For the member of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, see Gayatri Devi (Madhya Pradesh politician). For the member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, see Gayatri Devi (Bihar politician).

Gayatri Devi^[1] (born Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar; 23 May − 29 July ) was the third Maharani consort of Jaipur from to through her marriage to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II.^[2] Following her husband's signature for the Jaipur State to become part of the Union of India and her step-son's assumption of the title in , she was known as Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur.

She was born in the Hindu royal family of Cooch Behar.

Her father was Maharaja Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar in West Bengal, and her mother was the Maratha Princess, Indira Raje of Baroda, the only daughter of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, and she was sister to Jagaddipendra Narayan, informally known as 'Bhaiya', who succeeded their father to the throne of Cooch Behar.^[4]

Following India's independence and the abolition of the princely states, she became a successful politician in the Swatantra Party.

Gayatri was also celebrated for her beauty and became something of a fashion icon in her adulthood.

Maharani of jaipur autobiography featuring pdf This is the autobiography of Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, who made a Guinness record by winning the Jaipur seat in Lok Sabha Elections on a Swatantrata Party ticket. First Half of the book over a rich insight into lives of pre indpendce Royalty.

She served 12 years in Swatantra Party, during which she was a prominent critic of Indira Gandhi's government. After her departure from politics, she lived a quiet life in her large estate, spending time on hobbies and leisure.

She died on 29 July in Jaipur, at the age of She was suffering from paralytic ileus and a lung infection.

She left an estate estimated at £ million, which was passed on to her grandchildren.^[5]

Early life

Born into a Hindu royal family, she had Bengali^[6] and royal Koch ancestry on her paternal side, while her maternal side was of royal Maratha descent.^[7][8] Her father, Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, presently in West Bengal, was the younger brother of the Yuvaraja (Crown Prince).

She was related to Keshub Chandra Sen (A prominent figure in the Bengal Renaissance and social reformer) through her paternal grandmother, Suniti Devi, who was the daughter of Keshub Chandra Sen.^[6][9][10] Her mother was Maratha Princess Indira Raje of Baroda, the only daughter of Maratha King, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, an extremely beautiful princess and a legendary socialite.

Early in her life, her uncle's death led to her father ascending the throne (gaddi). Gayatri studied at Glendower Preparatory School in London,^[11]Patha Bhavana of Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan,^[12] and later in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she travelled with her mother and siblings, then studied secretarial skills in London School of Secretaries; Brillantmont and Monkey Club London.

She first met Sawai Man Singh II when she was 12 and he had come to Calcutta to play polo and stayed with their family.^[13] She married Sawai Man Singh II Bahadur on 9 May ^[2]

Gayatri was a particularly avid equestrienne. She was an excellent rider and an able Polo player. She was a good shot and enjoyed many days out on 'Shikars'.

Gayatri was fond of cars and is credited with importing the first Mercedes-Benz W, a SEL to India which was later shipped to Malaysia.

Maharani of jaipur autobiography featuring david: Gayatri Devi, Maharani of Jaipur, , Gayatri Devi, Maharani of Jaipur, , Gayatri Devi Maharani of Jaipur , Princesses -- India -- Biography, Princesses, India, India- -- Princes and princesses Publisher Philadelphia: Lippincott Collection internetarchivebooks; inlibrary; printdisabled Contributor Internet Archive Language.

She also owned several Rolls-Royces and an aircraft. Gayatri had one child, Prince Jagat Singh of Jaipur, late Raja of Isarda, born on 15 October , who was granted his uncle's fief as a subsidiary title. Jagat Singh was the half-brother to Bhawani Singh, who was the eldest son of his father born by his father's first wife.^[2]

As a style icon, Gayatri was shot by photographer Cecil Beaton for Vogue.^[14][15] Gayatri was described by Beaton as one of the ten most beautiful women in the world.^[16][17] In a interview, Gayatri mentioned "I have never felt beautifulI remember as a young girl, my mother had to literally force me into applying lipstick, physical appearance doesn't bother me, it never has, it never&#;will".^[16] In Jacqueline Kennedy visited Gayatri Devi in India and were photographed together at a Polo match and on her tour of India.^[18][19] In an exhibition 'Maharani: ‘Remembering the Princess'" was held in Mumbai to celebrate the Maharani's Centennial year.^[20] In designer Sabyasachi made five limited edition saris presented at the Taj Mahal Palace in honour of Devi's enduring style icon status.^[21]

She started two schools in Jaipur, Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Public School established in ^[22] and Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya, Jaipur which is a co-educational school in memory of her husband.^[23] She revived and promoted the dying art of blue pottery.^[24]

Political career

Gayatri Devi ran for Parliament in and won the constituency in the Lok Sabha, winning , votes out of , cast.^[25] She continued to hold this seat in and as a member of the Swatantra Party founded by C.

Rajagopalachari,^[12] running against the Indian National Congress.

In , during a meeting with Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Gayatri was again asked to join Congress. Despite the fact that her husband was being made ambassador to Spain, she stuck to her principles and decided not to join the party.

In the Swatantra party joined hands with Jan Sangh that was led by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. The alliance won a large number of seats in the election. In the assembly election Gayatri lost to Damodar Lal Vyas, in Malpura constituency, but won the Lok Sabha election.

The privy purses were abolished in , terminating all royal privileges and titles.

Gayatri was arrested under the COFEPOSA Act during the Emergency in July on the accusation of violating tax laws, and served 5 and a half months in Tihar Jail.^[26][27] She retired from politics and published her biography, A Princess Remembers,^[28] written by Santha Rama Rau, in ^[29] It was also published in Marathi language as A Princess Remembers: Gayatri Devi.^[30] She was also the focus of the film Memoirs of a Hindu Princess, directed by Françoise Levie.

There were rumours that she might re-enter politics as late as , when the Cooch Behar Trinamool Congress nominated her as their candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, but she did not respond to the offer.^[31]

Family

Gayatri Devi had one son, Prince Jagat Singh, Raja of Isarda (15 October – 5 February ), who was granted his paternal uncle's (father's elder brother) fief of Isarda as a subsidiary title.

Maharani of jaipur autobiography featuring Gayatri Devi, Maharani of Jaipur, , Princesses -- India -- Biography, Princesses, India Publisher Calcutta: Rupa Collection internetarchivebooks Contributor Internet Archive Language English Item Size M.

Jagat Singh was married on 10 May to Mom Rajawongse Priyanandana Rangsit (b. ), daughter of Prince Piyarangsit Rangsit and Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit (née Rajani) of Thailand. The couple had two children:

• Rajkumari Lalitya Kumari (b. )
• Maharaj Devraj Singh, Raja of Isarda (b. )

Today, they are her only surviving descendants, and as such, have claimed to be heirs of their paternal grandmother.

Maharaj Jagat Singh was paternal half-brother to Bhawani Singh of Jaipur, the eldest son of the late Maharaja by his first wife, a Jodhpur princess.^[32]

Family relationships

Gayatri Devi was related to several erstwhile royal families in India. She was herself not from the Rajput community, but from a dynasty native to Cooch Behar in Bengal, and was daughter of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan and Maharani Indira Raje, who was daughter of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III and Maharani Chimnabai, belonging to the Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas.

Her paternal grandparents were Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur and Sunity Devi of Cooch Behar. Maharani Sunity Devi was the daughter of the Brahmo social reformer Keshab Chandra Sen.

She had two brothers, Jagaddipendra Narayan and Indrajitendra Narayan of whom Jagaddipendra Narayan became the Maharaja of Cooch Behar in his infancy after the death of their father in

Thus, maternally, she was closely connected to Gaekwads of Baroda State.

Further, her sister Ila Devi was married into the Tripura royal family, and her younger sister, Maneka Devi, was married into the royal family of Dewas State. Thus, through various relatives, she was related to the royal houses of Kota, Sawantwadi, Akkalkot State, Jath State, Dewas Jr., Jasdan State, Sandur, Tehri-Garhwal, Mayurbhanj, Dhar State, Kolhapur, Lunawada State, Baria and Raja of Payagpur, which was considered normal amongst the royalties of India.

Death

She was admitted at Santokba Durlabhji Memorial hospital (SDMH) on 17 July She died at the age of 90 on 29 July , reportedly due to lung failure.^[33][29]

Her family has approached the Delhi High Court to regain kg of gold which was taken away by the government in describing possession of the gold by Gayatri Devi to be illegal as per the Gold Control Act, In , the central government counsel S.K.

Dubey told the court the possession of raw gold by Gayatri Devi was illegal. Dubey added, "The family has violated both the rules, so a fine of Rs crore was imposed on them by the government. It was later reduced to Rs lakh."^[34]

Filmography

• Stephane Bern. Gayatra Devi, une princesse au pays des Maharajas. Documentary by Roland Portiche and Vanessa Pontet.

  1h45'. First broadcast on 26 December , FR2 (French TV).

References

Additional sources

External links