Gayatri Devi

was born on 23 May 1919 into a royal family, the daughter of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar. She was known as Ayesha within the family. The principality of Cooch Behar covers 1318 square miles in what is now West Bengal, India, and has been in existence since 1511. Gayatri Devi's mother, Maharani Indira Devi, was a famous beauty and socialite, who travelled extensively with the family in Europe. Gayatri Devi studied at Shantiniketan and abroad, and speaks several languages.

Gayatri Devi in the early '50s with her husband, Maharaja Jai Singh of Jaipur, and her son Jagat Singh

At the age of 19, she fell in love with Man Singh, the heir to the Jaipur throne. Their marriage was initially opposed by her parents, as Man Singh (whom she called Jai) already had two wives, the daughters of the Maharaja of Jodhpur. However, they gave in to her determination, and she was married in 1939. The Jaipur royal family lived a lavish life with hunting, summers in London, children educated in England, and streams of famous visitors, which was normal for rulers of principalities at that time. Man Singh was the last ruler of Jaipur and oversaw its transition to a secular part of Rajasthan state in independent India. He served as India's first ambassador to Spain. The Maharaja died in 1970 while playing polo.

Gayatri Devi was listed by Vogue as one of the world's most beautiful women, and was a favourite of society columnists and photographers. She started schools for girls' education in Jaipur, and promoted the dying art of blue pottery. In 1962 she entered politics, and won an astounding majority to become the Lok Sabha representative. (She still holds the Guiness record for this electoral majority). She won the seat again in 1967 and 1971 from the Swatantra party, running against the Congress Party. This enraged Indira Gandhi, who retaliated in 1971 by abolishing the privy purses, and stopping all royal privileges, breaking the treaties agreed upon in 1947. Gayatri Devi was accused of breaking tax laws, and served 5 months in Tihar jail. She retired from politics after this experience, and published her autobiography A Princess Remembers, written with Santha Rama Rau, in 1976. She was also the focus of a film called Memoirs of a Hindu Princess, directed by Francois Levie.

Bibliography



A Princess Remembers
Rupa & Co (1995)

The autobiography of Maharani Gayatri Devi, daughter of the Maharaja of Cooch-Behar, wife and later the widow of the Maharaja of Jaipur. Raised in sprawling palaces, she shot her first panther when she was twelve. She was famous for her beauty, celebrated by Vogue, and won election with the largest majority ever recorded in a democracy. [Sawnet review]

Review in the Indian Express, comparing this memoir with that of the Maharani of Kapurthala.

South Asian Women authors
Sawnet Bookshelf
Sawnet