GAYATRI DEVI
Jaipur royal Rajmata Gayatri Devi was dead to the age of 90 in Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital in Jaipur following prolonged illness. With her beauty and with her political experience, Gayatri Devi ruled over the hearts of many people in India. She is an extremely successful politician who served as three-time member of parliament of India. In addition, she was named as ”World’s Ten Most Beautiful Women” by ‘Vogue’ magazine.
BIOGRAPHY
Gayatri Devi was born on 27th May, 1919 in London as the daughter of Prince Jitendra Narayan and Princess Indira Raje. She was studied in Shantiniketan and in Lausanne, Switzerland. She also studied secretarial skills in London School of Secretaries. She was married to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and became the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 and was later known as Rajmata or Queen Mother. After the marriage, she was adjusted to the formality and restrictions of royal life, but at the same time, she used her authority to bring the palace women forward into the 20th century. In addition, she was opened schools for girls titled “Gayatri Devi School for Girls” and “Sawai Man Singh Vidhyalaya” in Jaipur which was become known as one of the finest schools in India. She was always beautiful in elegant chiffon saris, diamonds and pearl necklaces and many life magazines often called her ‘one of the most beautiful women’ in the world. In 1960, she joined the conservative Swatantra political party founded by C. Rajagopalachari and this party was running against the Congress Party. Gayatri Devi was contested in Parliament election in 1962 and won the constituency in the Lok Sabha in the world’s largest majority of votes, and she continued to hold this seat on 1967 and 1971. In 1971, all the royal rights and personal payments were abolished. Then Gayatri Devi was accused of violating tax laws and served 5 months in Tihar Jail. After that, she retired from the politics. She published her autobiography titled “A Princess Remembers” written with Santha Rama Rau in 1976. She was also a tennis player and a keen rider with a deep knowledge of horses. She was attached to all her children, fond of flowers like lilies and gladioli and birds. Her only and only one son Jagat Singh died in 1997 and her husband died in 1970. Gayatri Devi passed away on 29th July 2009 at the age of 90. It was a tragic irony that Gayatri Devi’s death comes a day after the death of actress Leela Naidu, both of whom were named by Vogue magazine as among the 10 most beautiful women in the world. She was really a queen who ruled over the hearts of many Indians with her beauty and charm.

