Rajmata of Jaipur – Maharani Gayatri Devi
Formative years:
Maharani Gayatri Devi’s father, Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, was the younger brother of the Crown Prince, Yuvraja. She was born in a Koch Rajbangshi Hindu family. Gayatri Devi’s mother was Maratha Princess Indira Raje of Baroda. She was the only daughter of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the Maratha King. Gayatri Devi got educated at different places such as, “Glendower Preparatory School” in London, Patha Bhavana of Visva-Bharati University and Shantiniketan. Afterward, she went to study in Lausanne, Switzerland. Maharani Gayatri Devi lived with her parents in the swish part of London, on the brink of Harrods. It is world's most renowned department store. She studied secretarial skills in London School of Secretaries. On one occasion Mahrani Gayatri Devi’s name was included in the “10 Most Beautiful Women list” of Vogue magazine.
Marriage:
At the age of 12, maharani Gayatri Devi met Maharaja Sir Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur who was also known as “Jai”. Gayatri Devi fell in love with Jai and also remained undeterred. In due course, the couple got married on May 9th, 1940. Jai took her into a colorful world of indescribable sumptuousness. She got tuned to her royal life including polo, hunting, gigantic household bills. Maharani Gayatri Devi, as she was styled after matrimony was an especially an enthusiastic equestrienne. She was a wife and friend of the elegant and wealthy Sawai Man Singh who was known as the “Jai” of Jaipur.
Extraordinary Skills of Maharani Gayatri Devi:
Maharani Gayatri Devi was a brilliant rider and also a skillful Polo player. She enjoyed several days out on the ‘Shikars'. Maharani had a fondness for cars that is attributed to the import of the foremost W126, a 500 SEL to India. Later, this car was shipped to Malaysia. Prince Jagat Singh of Jaipur, was the only son of Gayatri Devi. He was born on October 15th 1949. Maharani Gayatri Devi instigated schools for the sake of young women’s edification in Jaipur. The most famous school of all is the “Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Public School” that was established in the year 1943. In addition, Gayatri Devi re-energized and promoted the vanishing blue pottery art.
Political ingress:
Subsequent to the Independence Day and Partition of India in the year 1947, Gayatri Devi went to Parliament in 1962. She was the victor of the constituency in Lok Sabha. As the globe’s biggest massive win, she won 192,909 votes out of 246,516 cast. This giant victory was also long-established in the “Guinness Book of Records”. Maharani sustained to clutch her seat during 1967 & 1971. As soon as the privy purses were eliminated in the year 1971, all stately constitutional rights and titles were concluded. Gayatri Devi was charged for infringing tax laws. She was arrested for 5 months and kept in Tihar Jail. Later, Maharani took a leave from politics and published her memoirs. Santha Rama Rau compiled Gayatri Devi's memoirs into a book. This book was sold in massive figures and was reprinted time and again on account of the gorgeous cover photo of Maharani Gayatri Devi.
Final days of existence:
Maharani Gayatri Devi struggled with gastric problems and was admitted at the King Edward’s Hospital in London where she was treated for her gastric disorder. However, she articulated her wish to go back to Jaipur. So, Gayatri Devi was transported to Jaipur in an air ambulance. In Jaipur, Maharani was admitted at “Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital (SDMH)” on 17 July 2009. Unfortunately, Maharani breathed her last on 29 July 2009 apparently because of lung failure.