Maharani Gayatri Devi - rest in peace
From Wikipedia:
Gayatri Devi (23 May 1920 - 29 July 2009), often styled as Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur, was born as Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar. She was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 through her marriage to HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. The royal titles and the accompanying privy purses were technically abolished through a constitutional amendment in 1971.
Following India's independence and the subsequent abolition of the princely states, she became an extremely successful politician. Gayatri Devi was also celebrated for her classical beauty and became something of a fashion icon in her adulthood.
She died on July 29, 2009 in Jaipur, at the age of 90, due to paralytic ileus.
Early life
Her father, Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, was the younger brother of the Yuvraja (Crown Prince). Her mother was Princess Indira Raje of Baroda, the only daughter of 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 Devi studied at Shantiniketan, and later in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she travelled with her mother and siblings, then studied secretarial skills in London School of Secretaries; Brilliantmont and Monkey Club London.
She married HH Saramad-i-Rajahai Hindustan Raj Rajendra Sri Maharajadhiraj Sir Sawai Man Singh II Bahadur on 9th May 1940
Maharani Gayatri Devi (as she was styled after marriage) was a particularly avid equestrienne. Gayatri Devi had one child, Prince Jagat Singh of Jaipur, ex-Raja of Isarda, born on 15th October 1949, who was granted his grandfather's fief as a subsidiary title, and Gayatri Devi was called the Rajmata or Queen Mother. Jagat Singh was thus half-brother to Bhawani Singh of Jaipur.
Gayatri Devi was once included in Vogue magazine's Ten Most Beautiful Women list.
Gayatri Devi started schools for girls' education in Jaipur, most prominent of which is the Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Public School. She also promoted the dying art of blue pottery.
Political career
After Partition and Independence Day in India in 1947, and later the abolition of royal privileges and privy purses in 1971, Gayatri Devi ran for Parliament in 1962 and won the constituency in the Lok Sabha in the world's largest landslide, winning 192,909 votes out of 246,516 cast, confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records. She continued to hold this seat on 1967 and 1971, Swatantra Party of C. Rajagopalachari, the second Governor-General of Independent India, running against the Congress Party.
When the privy purses were abolished in 1971, terminating all royal privileges and titles, Gayatri Devi was accused of violating tax laws, and served 5 months in Tihar Jail. She retired from politics and published her autobiography, A Princess Remembers, written with Santha Rama Rau, in 1976. She was also the focus of the film Memoirs of a Hindu Princess, directed by Francois Levie.
There were rumors that she might re-enter politics as late as 1999, when the Cooch Behar Trinamool Congress nominated her as their candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, but she did not respond to the offer.
Her father Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur was the second son of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur and Maharani Sunity Devi of Cooch Behar. After the untimely death of his elder brother Maharaja Raj Rajendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, a bachelor, he ascended the throne of Cooch Behar in November 1913, few month's after his marriage with Princess Indira raje Gaekwad of Baroda. Maharani Sunity Devi was the daughter of illustrious Brahmo social reformer Keshab Chandra Sen.
Family relationships
Gayatri Devi was related to several other erstwhile royal families in India, and not only the Rajput royals. Her maternal grandparents were Maharaja Sayajirao and Maharani Chimnabai of Baroda. Through marriage, she was related to Maharaja Hanuwant Singh of Jodhpur, the Maharaja of Dewas, the Maharaja of Tripura, and the Maharaja of Pithapuram in South India.
She had one son, Maharaj Jagat Singh of Jaipur (erstwhile Raja of Isarda), and two grandchildren, Lalitaya Kumari and Devraj Singh. She is also indirectly related to the former royal families of Lunawada and Baria.
Death
She developed gastric problems in London and was admitted to a hospital there.She was being treated for gastric disorder at the King Edward’s Hospital in London and had expressed her desire to return to Jaipur as she felt lonely in London. Gayatri Devi was flown in an air ambulance to Jaipur. She was admitted at Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital (SDMH) on July 17.
Dr. S C Kala, who was attending on her, said she was suffering from paralytic ileus. This is a condition when one’s intestines don’t move. She was kept in the ICU. There was a polypoid growth in her colon.
Her death came a day after the passing away of actress Leela Naidu, both of whom were named by Vogue as amongst the 10 most beautiful women in the world. Maharani Gayatri Devi passed away on 29 July 2009 at the age of 90.
Maharani Gayatri Devi - rest in peace
From Wikipedia:
Gayatri Devi (23 May 1920 - 29 July 2009), often styled as Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur, was born as Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar. She was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 through her marriage to HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. The royal titles and the accompanying privy purses were technically abolished through a constitutional amendment in 1971.
Following India's independence and the subsequent abolition of the princely states, she became an extremely successful politician. Gayatri Devi was also celebrated for her classical beauty and became something of a fashion icon in her adulthood.
She died on July 29, 2009 in Jaipur, at the age of 90, due to paralytic ileus.
Early life
Her father, Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, was the younger brother of the Yuvraja (Crown Prince). Her mother was Princess Indira Raje of Baroda, the only daughter of 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 Devi studied at Shantiniketan, and later in Lausanne, Switzerland, where she travelled with her mother and siblings, then studied secretarial skills in London School of Secretaries; Brilliantmont and Monkey Club London.
She married HH Saramad-i-Rajahai Hindustan Raj Rajendra Sri Maharajadhiraj Sir Sawai Man Singh II Bahadur on 9th May 1940
Maharani Gayatri Devi (as she was styled after marriage) was a particularly avid equestrienne. Gayatri Devi had one child, Prince Jagat Singh of Jaipur, ex-Raja of Isarda, born on 15th October 1949, who was granted his grandfather's fief as a subsidiary title, and Gayatri Devi was called the Rajmata or Queen Mother. Jagat Singh was thus half-brother to Bhawani Singh of Jaipur.
Gayatri Devi was once included in Vogue magazine's Ten Most Beautiful Women list.
Gayatri Devi started schools for girls' education in Jaipur, most prominent of which is the Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Public School. She also promoted the dying art of blue pottery.
Political career
After Partition and Independence Day in India in 1947, and later the abolition of royal privileges and privy purses in 1971, Gayatri Devi ran for Parliament in 1962 and won the constituency in the Lok Sabha in the world's largest landslide, winning 192,909 votes out of 246,516 cast, confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records. She continued to hold this seat on 1967 and 1971, Swatantra Party of C. Rajagopalachari, the second Governor-General of Independent India, running against the Congress Party.
When the privy purses were abolished in 1971, terminating all royal privileges and titles, Gayatri Devi was accused of violating tax laws, and served 5 months in Tihar Jail. She retired from politics and published her autobiography, A Princess Remembers, written with Santha Rama Rau, in 1976. She was also the focus of the film Memoirs of a Hindu Princess, directed by Francois Levie.
There were rumors that she might re-enter politics as late as 1999, when the Cooch Behar Trinamool Congress nominated her as their candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, but she did not respond to the offer.
Her father Jitendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur was the second son of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur and Maharani Sunity Devi of Cooch Behar. After the untimely death of his elder brother Maharaja Raj Rajendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur, a bachelor, he ascended the throne of Cooch Behar in November 1913, few month's after his marriage with Princess Indira raje Gaekwad of Baroda. Maharani Sunity Devi was the daughter of illustrious Brahmo social reformer Keshab Chandra Sen.
Family relationships
Gayatri Devi was related to several other erstwhile royal families in India, and not only the Rajput royals. Her maternal grandparents were Maharaja Sayajirao and Maharani Chimnabai of Baroda. Through marriage, she was related to Maharaja Hanuwant Singh of Jodhpur, the Maharaja of Dewas, the Maharaja of Tripura, and the Maharaja of Pithapuram in South India.
She had one son, Maharaj Jagat Singh of Jaipur (erstwhile Raja of Isarda), and two grandchildren, Lalitaya Kumari and Devraj Singh. She is also indirectly related to the former royal families of Lunawada and Baria.
Death
She developed gastric problems in London and was admitted to a hospital there.She was being treated for gastric disorder at the King Edward’s Hospital in London and had expressed her desire to return to Jaipur as she felt lonely in London. Gayatri Devi was flown in an air ambulance to Jaipur. She was admitted at Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital (SDMH) on July 17.
Dr. S C Kala, who was attending on her, said she was suffering from paralytic ileus. This is a condition when one’s intestines don’t move. She was kept in the ICU. There was a polypoid growth in her colon.
Her death came a day after the passing away of actress Leela Naidu, both of whom were named by Vogue as amongst the 10 most beautiful women in the world. Maharani Gayatri Devi passed away on 29 July 2009 at the age of 90.