ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Gayatri Devi, the former Queen of Jaipur who was once considered among the world's most beautiful women, died last week. She was 90.
Fondly known as Rajmata, she was the maharani of Jaipur state from 1939 to 1970, was an excellent marksman, a tennis player and a keen rider, with a deep knowledge of horses, died on July29 after prolonged illness. She was died 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.
Gayatri Devi, who also served three times as a national lawmaker in India, was hospitalised for about 10 days with stomach and respiratory problems before she died.
Ms Devi's classic looks ensured that photographs of her in elegant chiffon saris and diamonds and pearls were splashed across fashion and lifestyle magazines.
She was born into the royal family of the Cooch Behar district in what is now eastern India on May 23, 1919, decades before the partition of the subcontinent that heralded the demise of Indian royalty.
She became the third wife of Sawai Maan Singh, the "maharaja," or ruler, of Jaipur, in 1939. In 1960, Ms. Devi launched a political party and contested and won a place in India's Parliament.
She withdrew from politics in the 1970s.
She supported education for women and established a girls’ school that was named after her in Jaipur, now the capital of the state of Rajasthan and the city where she died.
Gayatri Devi, the former Queen of Jaipur who was once considered among the world's most beautiful women, died last week. She was 90.
Fondly known as Rajmata, she was the maharani of Jaipur state from 1939 to 1970, was an excellent marksman, a tennis player and a keen rider, with a deep knowledge of...
Gayatri Devi, the former Queen of Jaipur who was once considered among the world's most beautiful women, died last week. She was 90.
Fondly known as Rajmata, she was the maharani of Jaipur state from 1939 to 1970, was an excellent marksman, a tennis player and a keen rider, with a deep knowledge of horses, died on July29 after prolonged illness. She was died 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.
Gayatri Devi, who also served three times as a national lawmaker in India, was hospitalised for about 10 days with stomach and respiratory problems before she died.
Ms Devi's classic looks ensured that photographs of her in elegant chiffon saris and diamonds and pearls were splashed across fashion and lifestyle magazines.
She was born into the royal family of the Cooch Behar district in what is now eastern India on May 23, 1919, decades before the partition of the subcontinent that heralded the demise of Indian royalty.
She became the third wife of Sawai Maan Singh, the "maharaja," or ruler, of Jaipur, in 1939. In 1960, Ms. Devi launched a political party and contested and won a place in India's Parliament.
She withdrew from politics in the 1970s.
She supported education for women and established a girls’ school that was named after her in Jaipur, now the capital of the state of Rajasthan and the city where she died.
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