If men were intoxicated by her, women idolised her.
Within Indian history, Gayatri Devi is a symbol of culture and refined monarchy.
From 1940 to 1949, she reigned as the third Maharani consort of Jaipur. Her husband was Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II.
Her father was Maharaja Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, West Bengal.
Meanwhile, her mother was a Maratha Princess named Indira Raje, who hailed from Baroda.
Gayatri Ji was renowned for her effervescent beauty and continues to be regarded as a fashion icon.
After India achieved its independence in 1947, Gayatri Ji became a respected politician in the Swatantra Party.
She achieved monumental things in her life.
Paying tribute to this glorious Maharani, we explore the life of the Jaipur monarch, Gayatri Devi.
Beginnings & Marriage
The legendary monarch was born to a Hindu family in London, England, on May 23, 1919.
When she was young, Gayatri Devi’s uncle passed away, which led her father, Jitendra Narayan, to assume the throne.
Gayatri Ji completed her formative education at the Glendower Preparatory School in London.
She later moved on to Patha Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, Shantiniketan.
Travelling with her mother and siblings to Lausanne, Switzerland, Gayatri Ji saw a spell of education there.
At the London School of Secretaries, she studied to be a secretary.
Gayatri Ji was an enthusiastic horse rider and Polo player. She was also fond of hunting.
Describing this passion, Gayatri Ji says: “When I’d go shooting, I would plead with the mahout to let me sit on the neck of the elephant.
“Then I used to lie down, my head between the elephant’s ears. At dusk, I would come home riding on my elephant.
“When I remember this moment, it takes me back to a time when my life was untouched by change and the loss of people dearest to me.”
Her love for cars enabled her to import the first Mercedes-Benz W126 to India. The vehicle was a 500 SEL.
She owned several Rolls-Royces and an aircraft.
When she was 12 years old, Gayatri Ji met Sawai Man Singh II and married him on May 9, 1940.
Sawai Man Singh II had a son from a previous marriage named Bhawani Singh.
He and Gayatri Ji had one son together named Prince Jagat Singh.
Fashion & Style Icon
It is often a cliche attached to royals that their appearances must be aesthetically pleasing.
However, when it comes to Gayatri Ji, she not only abides by this but represents a whole generation of female beauty.
The British photographer Cecil Beaton took pictures of Gayatri Devi for Vogue, capitalising on her charming looks.
He once described her as one of the “ten most beautiful women in the world”.
If men were intoxicated by her, women idolised her.
In an interview with Simi Garewal, Simi tells Gayatri Ji:
“You created a template for what is the elegant Indian woman.”
To this, Gayatri Ji simply responds: “I never noticed anything like that. I was never aware of it.”
Simi goes on to tell her: “You have been my only role model and inspiration all my life.”
In 2019, years after her death, an exhibition entitled Maharani: Remembering the Princess was held in Mumbai.
In 2013, the designer Sabyasachi made five limited edition sarees and presented them at the Taj Mahal Palace to honour Gayatri Devi’s endurance as a style and fashion icon.
Politics
In 1962, Gayatri Devi ran for Parliament and won the Lok Sabha constituency.
She was a member of C Rajagopalchari’s Swatantra Party from 1967 to 1971. opposing the Indian National Congress.
In 1965, Gayatri Ji refused an invitation to join the Congress.
During Indira Gandhi’s ‘Emergency’ period in India, Gayatri Ji was arrested in July 1975 for allegedly violating tax laws.
She served five and a half months in Tihar Jail. Reflecting on this time in her life, Gayatri Ji states:
“When I heard other opposition members were going to jail, I wondered if I would go or not.
“I thought to myself, ‘How undignified would it be if I didn’t go, meaning that I didn’t count!’
“Tihar was not a woman’s jail. Women only go there when they’re under trial. For the men, it was alright.
“There was quite a big garden. I put up a badminton net, and we used to play with murderers and prostitutes.
“Sometimes, I thought it was going to be forever, and sometimes I thought we would be exterminated.
“I was diagnosed with gallstones, and I was allowed out on parole.”
Death
In 1970, Man Singh II passed away, leaving Gayatri Ji widowed.
On February 5, 1997, her only son, Jagat Singh, died at the age of 47.
Jagat Singh had two children with his wife, Mom Rajawongse Priyanandana Rangsit of Thailand.
They had two children together: Rajkumari Lalitya Kumari and Maharaj Devraj Singh.
Gayatri Ji’s two grandchildren inherited her fortune of an estimated £250 million.
Gayatri Ji was admitted to King Edward Hospital in London due to gastric problems.
As per her last wish, she was flown home to Jaipur.
Maharani Gayatri Devi passed away on July 29, 2009, due to lung failure. She was 90 years old.
In 2012, a court ruled that Gayatri Ji was in illegal possession of raw gold, and her family was fined Rs 80 lakhs (£74,151).
Through relatives, Gayatri Ji was related to royal houses of many places, including Kota, Jath State, and Akkalkot.
In the aforementioned interview, Simi Garewal asks Gayatri Ji: “What in your life do you feel most grateful for?”
Gayatri Ji replies: “For the love and support I have had, and for just being who I am.
“I’ve had a very happy family life and a very happy married life. Just having people who can look after you and love you.”
Gayatri Devi remains a beacon of beauty, culture, strength, and hope.
She accomplished many things in her life and inspired legions of followers as she did so.
Expressing her life philosophy, she states: “We all come, and we all have to go one day.
“While we’re here, one has to try to do what one can to make the world a happier place for other people.”
When legendary figures of Indian history are discussed, Maharani Gayatri Devi will always be mentioned with pride and honour.
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