First heard about her in an interview with Simi Garewal and she is a woman Simi admires. Then got hold of this book written in 1995, when we visited Jaipur in 2014. 104 of 2021 was A Princess Remembers by Gayatri Devi herself.
Maharani Gayatri Devi was the last Queen of Jaipur in Rajasthan. Gayatri Devi was listed in Vogue as one of the most beautiful women in the world.
She was the daughter of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar and the wife of the Maharaja of Jaipur. She was raised in a sumptuous palace staffed with 500 servants and she shot her first panther when she was twelve. Gayatri Devi describes her carefree tomboy childhood; her secret six-year courtship with the dashing Maharaja of Jaipur, her life with the dashing, internationally renowned polo player, Jai the Maharaja of Jaipur; and her marriage and entrance into the City Palace of the pink city where she had to adjust to unfamiliar customs and life with his two wives.
Part I covers her life upto her engagement in her parents house, their marriage, Part II covers their wedding, her palace life in Jaipur, wartime, independence while Part III covers India's new Government, The Swatantra Party, her meeting Rajaji, Campaigning for election, becoming an MP, role as the Ambassador of Spain and Jai's last Polo game. Part IV covers further changes, the emergency period and life post that, She was put behind bars during emergency and her days were in Tihar Jail, she lost her only son as well. In the latter years she faced tragedies as great as her former triumphs.
Jais liberating influence, combined with Gayatri Devis own strong character, took her well beyond the traditionally limited activities of a Maharani. She founded progressive schools and won unprecdent success in the political arena. This is an intimate look at the extraordinary life of one of the worlds most fascinating women and an informal history of the princely states of India, from the height of the princes power to their present state of de-recognition.
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