A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur

by Gayatri Devi, Santha Rama Rau

She is the daughter of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar and the widow 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. She has appeared on the lists of the world's most beautiful women. Gayatri Devi describes her carefree tomboy childhood; her secret six-year courtship 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. Jai's liberating influence, combined with Gayatri Devi's own strong character, took her well beyond the traditionally limited activities of a Maharani. This is an intimate look at the extraordinary life of one of the world's 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, India, History, Biography, Memoir, Autobiography, Historical

408 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 1976

About the author

Gayatri Devi (23 May 1919 − 29 July 2009), often styled as Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur, was born as Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar. She was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 through her marriage to HH Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II.

Following India's independence and the subsequent abolition of the princely states, she became an extremely successful politician. Gayatri Devi was also celebrated for her classical beauty and became something of a fashion icon in her adulthood. She has been counted in 'The Ten Most Beautiful Women of the World' along with actress Leela Naidu by Vogue Magazine.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Digi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I selected this book because its written by my grandmother .She is the daughter of the Maharaja of Cooch-Behar, and the widow of the Maharaja of Jaipur. Raised in sprawling palaces. She shot her first panther when she was twelve. Later in her life, she won a seat in the Indian Parliament with the most staggering majority that anyone has ever earned in an election. Much prettier than today’s alleged beauties, in her heydays she, was considered by Vogue to be amongst the Ten Most Beautiful Women in the World. She is also chosen as the fourth most beautiful woman of the century. The book gives the image of a princess’s majestic life .It describes the time of independence in 1947, when the princes lost their power. Somehow they seem to have adjusted remarkably well in very difficult circumstances. In short it’s a wonderful book that everyone should read.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend this book for the first half which is a rich (not a pun, but a truth) description of the life of Indian royalty in the first half of the century. This is a rare peak at a bygone world that was not so long ago. The book is light on World War II and after that Gayatri Devi’s description of her life, particularly in politics, has little depth.

Although her grandfather ruled a small kingdom near what is now Bangladesh, her mother’s active social life brought Gayatri into the orbit of Jai the Maharaja of Jaipur a very large kingdom quite a distance away. The description of the courtship and the fabulous life that surrounds it makes the book. After the wedding (The clothes! The guests! The gifts! Polo! Traveling from palace to palace!) she is installed in a zenana (women’s quarters) in partial purdah (female sequester), with two sister wives in full purdah.

After the exotic first half, the second is a let down. I was anticipating something, not sure what, about life during the war. There are some day to day observations about the rationing and how Jai led parades and troops.

The post war narrative was a bigger let down. There is nothing on the partition. With Gayatri’s family’s kingdom on the border of the new Bangladesh, I expected, well, something. It is simply said that they worked with Louis Mountbatten and like other royals agreed that their kingdom will be part of India. There is little on how this came about or worked, but suddenly their palace was to be a hotel and museum. Their status seems diminished (the kids at school hear that it is) but they are still leading a life of hunting expeditions, polo matches and formal parties.

Gayatri says she ran for office because the Congress Party was corrupt and not getting things done. She gives a rather unbelievable account of well managed things had been (i.e. maharaja’s arranged for water to be available in droughts, created parks and cared for roads) and how they had deteriorated. In office, it was hard to tell her goals or her point of view. There was a lot on campaigning and meeting dignitaries. She mentions hearing grievances of the people. As for clues on her style and/or politics, she had to have been well known: John F. Kennedy called her “India’s Barry Goldwater” and during riots, her husband warned her not to go since her prescience would be inflammatory.

One political item takes several pages. In 1970 a constitutional amendment was proposed (and succeeded) to end stipends for former royals. Apparently, the British had negotiated these to get rulers to sign on to the new India. It does not seem that Jai and Gayatri needed this stipend since their wealth (the source is unexplained) seems to be extensive; Gayatri is sympathetic to her social peers and writes quite a bit to justify her stance.

If you are interested in Indian royal life in the early 20th century this is the book for you.

The photos are fabulous.

[Gorab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Priceless!

Loved:
The details which the princess remembers - from color of car to dresses while describing the royal events.
The opulence on display, the personality, the cordial relations
Details on how a king runs a kingdom and what are the different considerations
Can be considered as a biography of her husband, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Ji II, referred to as Jai by the queen.
Structured well in 4 parts, with apt chapters and titles.
Loads of images and insets.
Literally priceless as there is no MRP on the book anywhere :P

Loved the courtship period details. Beautifully expressed.
The last part is not as good as the previous 3, in terms of writing, as well as the hardships and misfortunes of her life.

[david · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once, a long, long, time ago, there lived a young woman.

She married a prince and became a princess.

It was in a small and pink city of only three quadrillion people.

The walled hamlet was in India.

She soon was known, throughout the world as the most beautiful woman alive, the aesthetic opposite of my mother.

And she also worked in the government before she retired to the UK.

And she lived happily thereafter, pre-Boris Johnson.

Now she is dead. (and less attractive)

The end.

(a true and touching memoir)

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I visited the Pink City of Jaipur as I traveled through the state of Rajasthan in India. The Pink Palace was alive in all its glory as I read this princess' memoirs. The people and rulers I had "heard" about from our guide in Jaipur were introduced by Gayatri as if they were alive and well, for she was the third wife of the adopted Raja, the last raja before the merger of Indian states fell under the new democratic country of India. Gayatri Devi tells about the enchanted lifestyle of a princess in her own right of generations of princesses, before she married the love of her entire life, Jai, the raja of Jaipur. Dayatri's early life, and life as a Raja's wife took her all over in majestic style, to say the least, through India, to England, to Spain and to Thailand. Jai was a polo star in India and in England, and Jai and his wife lived in the lap of luxury, entertaining, and being entertained by royalty. I liken their lives to Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and the "royals." Although Jai and Gayatri did much good for their "state," such as build schools and hospitals, and treat Muslims and Hindus as equals, it was hard for me to read that when the politics got tough in India, Gayatri could jet set anywhere in the world to escape the blues. Although the majority of the prince's wealth was taken away by the new government of India, Gayatri continues to live in Jaipur in Lilypool, in a much less extravagant style, but still in much more style than most people. She has worked hard as a leader in the Parliament, fighting for the rights of her Jaipur people. She expresses the truth about the people who are now in power in India, "They are obsessed by money and profit." Seeing so many people living in poverty with my own eyes throughout the north of India, I know her words to be true. Gayatri Devi describes the pomp and circumstance of a past life in India. Drought, poverty, illiteracy, and the destruction of beautiful artifacts continue to plague India. The rajas of the past that were described in this book, sincerely cared about the people they ruled.

[Hazeanni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very engaging and fascinating memoir of the world most beautiful woman, Maharani Gayatri Devi, the Rajmata of Jaipur. It's offering rare glimpses on her parts of historical India back from the period of princely rule to her retirement from politics post Indira Gandhi. For me, this memoir served as a continuity to Royal India theme I had read; in particular were of her grandmothers, Chimnabai II and Sunity Devi.

Her Highness used lots of nicknames here.
Ayesha - Herself. The story was, prior to her birth, her mother reads a novel by Rider Haggard and decided to name her newborn after the heroine. Being told that it was a Moslem name, and priest consultation concluded that her daughter auspicious name should start with the alphabet G, Ayesha remained as her calling name.
Jai - Man Singh II, her consort.
Bhaiya- Jagaddipendra Narayan, Maharaja of Cooch Behar. Her eldest brother.
Jo Didi - The Second Highness, Maharani Kishore Kanwar, her elder sister-wife.
Bubble - Bhawani Singh, Maharaja of Jaipur. The eldest son of Man Singh II
Joey - Jai Singh III, Jo Didi eldest son.
Pat - Prithviraj Singh, Jo Didi second son.
Mickey - Prem Kumari. The eldest children and the only princess born to Sawai Man Singh II and Maharani Marudhar Kanwar, the first consort.
Baby - Kamal, a daughter of Nawab Khusru Jung, a nobleman of Hyderabad that managing the financial aspect of Cooch Behar.

The story began with an exciting journey to Baroda located in the northeastern part where her maternal grandparents reigning as the Gaekwad of Baroda and the Maharani Consort. I felt transposed to the Laxmi Palace while listening to her breeze and beautiful descriptions.

On the second chapter, her mother got betrothed to the Maharaja of Gwalior who already had a wife. As the only princess of a premier Maharaja marrying a childless Maharaja of another premier state, this kind of alliance was highly desirable. (There were only 5 states with 21 gun salutes; Hyderabad, Mysore, Jammu and Kashmir, Baroda and Gwalior). The marriage prospects greatly to the advantage of Princess Indira Raje; especially after the birth of heir to the throne of Gwalior later. But the princess thought otherwise. She fell in love with a younger brother of the Maharaja of Cooch Behar which she met during the Delhi Durbar. To break the engagement, she wrote to her betrothed, informing His Highness, that she didn't want to marry him. An unprecedented action among Indian royalty. Then, she demanded to wed her beloved and met with disapproval. Only after 2 years, her parents finally relented but on condition, they would not take any part on the wedding. So, it's done in London with Miss Tottenham, lady companion to Chimnabai II and a lawyer acting as loco parentis.

I think it's written in the destiny that Indira Raje will become a Maharani. Barely 3 weeks, the newlyweds received news of the death of the groom's elder brother. With it, her husband ascended the throne as the Maharaja Jitendra Narayan.

Now, her part began with the childhood memories in Cooch Behar. I liked the fact that her reminiscence properly captured the household, everyday life, environment and surrounding without being overdone. She alternated that with brief history and anecdotes when appropriate. A smooth writer.

I managed to unravel something here. In her grandmother's memoir (Sunity Devi), the cause of death of Maharaja Rajendra Narayan (her eldest uncle) was vague at best. Here, the reason given was alcoholic abuse due to broken heart of non-permission to marry Edna May, an English actress.

Everybody knew she shot her first leopard at the age of twelve. Upon reading, I realized it's a part of royal duty in Cooch Behar as much as it was a royal leisure. When public lodged complain to the palace of threatening wildlife, upon investigation, the palace shooting unit will organise search to hunt the beast. It was in this manner that Her Highness shot that leopard.

In term of love life, I saw history repeated itself though in much reduced gravity. It had to do with the fact that Jai already had 2 wives and 4 children. Both wives were of Rajput clan, being a sister and another one, the daughter to the Maharaja of Jodhpur. As she acknowledged, her marriage was not popular with the Rajput. She, probably being seen as an outsider entering the already dynastically correct matrimonies.

Before this, we were entertained by her fairytale-like story and immersed ourselves in the richness of royal culture, festivities and journeys. Now this memoir entering it's tense phase. British was having it's war against fascism (Nazi) invasion of Poland; at the same time political agitations on national front and the princely armed forces recruitment to various front. She followed Jai's posting on the border of Afghanistan as a captain's wife.

Returning from the war front, both of them were not under illusion that princely states will remain as it were if independent are to be achieved. Jai became the 1st ruler to accede his dominion together with armed forces, administration, government building and many more. His actions opened the floodgate of other princes to follow. Rulers in return, being compensated with privy purse and their dignity recognised in the new India. In recognition of his sacrifice to the independent nation of India, he was appointed as the Rajpramukh for life of a newly created Rajasthan state. It was at this time she started to be involved in official event as the hostess. In 1956, Jai being informed that the office of Rajpramukh will come to the end. Which hurt him very much as the none of the office holder were being consulted of this. I think this step was a prelude to Congress long-term plans to abolish whatever remain of princely order.

Jai taken a wise step in converting Rambarg Palace to a palatial hotel. It make a good economic sense. City Palace also being converted into museum which should be commended for their tourism potential and preservation of the historical heritage of Jaipur.

My thinking, Rajmata herself didn't realise her potential in political arena. She received an invitation to join the ruling Congress Party by Chief Minister of Rajasthan, though she declined and registered membership with Swatantra Party few years later. Her parliamentary candidacy on 1962 general election saw her winning with the biggest majority in the world of any election.

I believe her upbringing and surrounding did a lot in shaping her thinking. Both sets of grandparents were progressive, future forward rulers. At one time, she even studied in school set up by the great poet and Nobel Prize receipent Rabindranath Tagore, where lessons conducted under the trees.

To me, her political part was the best part of her memoir. It showed her maturity, philosophy, principles and love of one's motherland and how she, the former Maharani of Jaipur could contribute to the well being of a nation. I do pity when the privy purse abolished by Indira Ghandi. It's their dignity that being taken away. I think they had been deceived of their fair due of signing the Instrument of Accession. I also pity that she had being held in jail under Internal Security Act. She definitely didn't enter it to become a glamourous poster woman which probably will be the case if she accepted Congress's invitation in 1957. Whatever her shortcomings might be, she was a patriot.

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

My elderly aunt picked up a little hardback copy of this book--simple black cover with golden print for the title--in a bookshop when she was wandering in India twentysome years ago. This year she gifted it to me on my birthday with the advice that India is complex and fascinating and I would do well to learn more about the country and visit it someday if possible.

I didn't know exactly where Jaipur was on the subcontinent but I understood who a maharani would be, and when I flipped through the musty old pages I found intriguing illustrations of tiger hunts, elephant processions, and gargantuan palaces. I quickly gathered that this would be a memoir of someone very very rich, and from her pictures I could see she was a dazzling beauty. She tells the story of her family life as one of the Indian elite royals who lived through the 20th century transition of India from part of the British Empire to a new democracy working out its future path. Her family connections were linked to power and wealth across the subcontinent, and the number of servants, possessions, and home arrangements she describes seemed extraordinary in their excess to me, but I see how it was a norm for her. She covers details of daily schedules for maharajahs, maharanis, and other members of the royal family, and shares what her fears, concerns, and personal hopes were as she moved through her distinctive life experience.

Her progressive and Western educated mother set a pattern the author would follow in her own life as the third wife of the powerful monarch of Jaipur who was also an international polo star, for she helped erode the strict traditions of female segregation in domestic life, known as purdah. She gave an explanation of a polygamous family functioning manner that was foreign to me, but I learned from how it was so accepted and sensible from her perspective.

Those interested in the rituals and ceremonies practiced among the royalty in colonial India will enjoy this book, and so will students of political science, for the author became a significant figure in an opposition party that arose to challenge the almost complete control the Congress Party political machine had on emergent India following the partition of India (the creation of Pakistan, the merging of the princely states and the areas under British authority into one unified land). It was a life of incredible privilege and wealth this princess lived, with houseguests ranging from Douglas Fairbanks in the 1920s to Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s, and flights to Monte Carlo, Buenos Aires, or London taken on a whim. This certainly wasn't a typical life story, and I ended up reading it during a tropical rainstorm in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, sitting on a balcony looking over the old part of that city. I was reminded that life can take us to exotic exciting places--and so can books.

[Shuk Pakhi · Rating 3 out of 5]

গায়ত্রী দেবী তিনি ছিলেন ব্রিটিশ ভারতের করদ রাজ্য কুচবিহারের রাজকুমারী। পরবর্তীতে জয়পুর রাজ্যের মহারাজাকে বিয়ে করে তিনি হোন মহারানী। এরকম একজন মানুষের জীবন যাপন বিলাস বহুল হবে এতে আশ্চর্য হওয়ার কিছু নাই। হাতির পিঠে করে বাঘ শিকারে যাওয়া ত ছিল নিত্য নৈমিত্তিক ব্যাপার। উনাদের পরিবারের ছেলে মেয়েরা পড়তে যান ইংল্যান্ডে, সুইজারল্যান্ডে। ছুটি কাটাতে লন্ডন গিয়ে যখন ভালো লাগে না তখন এককথায় চলে যান প্যারিসে, জুয়া খেলে হারেন জিতেন আনন্দ করেন। লন্ডনে পার্টি দিলে সেখানে হাজির হতেন স্বয়ং রানী এলিজাবেথ, প্রিন্স ফিলিপ।

১৯৪৭ সালে ভারত স্বাধীন হলে করদ রাজ্যগুলোর রাজারা তাদের রাজ্য ভারত ইউনিয়নে দিয়ে দেন, না দিয়েও অবশ্য উপায় ছিলো না। শুরুতে রাজাদের সম্মানজনক পদ ও ভাতার ব্যবস্থা থাকলেও পরবর্তীতে ইন্দিরা সরকার '৭১ সালে সংবিধান সংশোধন করে রাজাদের টাইটেল ও ভাতা বন্ধ করে সাধারন নাগরিক করে দেন। এরপর গায়ত্রী দেবী সক্রিয়ভাবে রাজনীতিতে অংশ নেন। ইন্দিরা সরকার জরুরি অবস্থা ঘোষনা করে তাকে জেলে পুরে দেন। এক সময়ে তিনি রাজনীতি থেকে নিজেকে দূরে সরিয়ে নেন। সব ছেড়ে দিয়ে নিজের মতন করে বাঁচেন জীবনের শেষ কটা দিন।

মহারানী গায়ত্রী দেবী এই জৌলুশপূর্ণ জীবন যেমন দেখেছেন তেমনি দেখেছেন রাজ্যের বিলুপ্তি। তারপরও তিনি চেষ্টা করেছেন সাধারন মানুষের জন্য ভালো কিছু করতে।

বি.দ্র. Voge ম্যাগাজিনে ‘World’s Ten Most Beautiful Women’ লিস্টেও ছিলো মহারানী গায়ত্রী দেবীর নাম।

[Shreya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slow read.. I generally have a fascination of palaces and grandeur described with minute detailing. This is what Maharani does.. I traveled Cooch Behar, Jaipur and Europe with the book. It remains dreamy in three fourth of the book, which I absolutely dig for and takes a political turn in the last part with the Maharani getting involved in post Independence politics.

An absolutely dreamy read.. and all I could say after putting it down is wish I was a Princess :) :)

[Prabhat sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Princess Remembers::the memoirs of the Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur(Paperback) by Gayatri Devi of Jaipur and Santha Rama Rau : Cooch Behar Princess Gayatri Devi daughter of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan and Princess Indra Raje of Baroda. Date of birth 23-05-1909. She studied at Glendower at Glendower Preparatory School, London, Vishwabharati Vishwavidyalaya, Shantiniketan and at Lausanne, Switzerland. Later she studied at London School of Secretaries, Brillantmont and Monkey Club London. She has narrated her childhood at Palace in Cooch Behar and travels in Europe and UK with her parents and other siblings. Here she along with her studies, she practiced equestrian, Polo and participated in Shikar in forests. She was married to Savai Man Singh II of Jaipur on 09-05-1940,. She was his third wife. She had one son Jagat Singh who is half-brother of Bhawani Singh who is son of the first wife of Sawai Man Singh. First important event described is independence of India, after which her State merged with Rajputana. Second event is when elections are declared in 1962. She contests for the post of Member of Parliament. She convenes meetings with people of her constituency and visits various people. She has described them as a poor but they are dressed in coloured clothes and have dressed their animals. After election, she has described that all her sisters and other Kings and families attended Parliament as visitors. hird, she contests and wins for Lok Sabha, lower house of the Parliament membership second time in 1967 as member of Swantra Party. Fourth, in 1971 she rejects to join ruling party Congress and contests as member of Swatantra Party. Her husband is made ambassador of India to Spain. Fourth, In 1971, Swatantra Party joined hands with Jan Sangh Party and contested for post of Member of Legislative Assembly of Rajasthan. She lost but she won election to the post of Member of Parliament. In 1971, vide Constitutional amendment, the Privy Purses and Privileges of Kings were abolished. Fifth, In 1971 emergency was declared under the Constitution. She was arrested and put in Tihar jail in New Delhi for violation of tax laws. After 5 months, she was released. She retired from politics. It is a worth reading book.

[Sanya Lakhani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could. Greedily gobbled this one up - this book has it all - the British raj, India in its prime, Postcolonial Independent India, the dirty politics that plagued us as a new nation, and the grace and poise of India's royalty - really transports one to the bygone era of princely states, polo matches, and french chiffon saris. Wish I read this while I was lazing by the pool in Rambagh or Rajmahal in Jaipur! I would have loved to meet her and have a signed copy sigh...

Of course some of her accounts are hard to believe - one can really see the naivete and ignorance of a young princess in her earlier years of hunting (she claims they hunted panthers and tigers to save the local community). A reductionist viewpoint on how well managed things would have been if the Rajpramukh was still in office (no droughts, parks and cared for roads) and how they had deteriorated. Would love to discuss and understand what exactly her goals or point of view were... in some parts I found her measured in the telling of her story, but then again it was perhaps for the sake of brevity and a page count. Great read for those who love royal accounts and retellings.

[Agrja Saxena · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a remarkable lady... I remember watching her interviews as a child and being in awe of her even though she was of a considerable age by then.. grace, poise, sophisticated, enigmatic, charming, knowledgeable- I doubt words would do her justice... and all that I got from watching her on screen, so I had to read her book... and although she came from a privileged family, she seems so ordinary and humble.... never lost the zest for life, despite having gone through tumultuous times- as an aristocrat or in her personal life... wish we had more of such books on indian influential women of the eras bygone!!

[Georgie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t really find the words for this one yet, my only real problem was with the format of the book it was whacked

[Garima Manpuria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written.

[aiswarya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beyond beautifully written, I can't imagine I'll ever read a book as captivating and loving as this one. It has brought me so much comfort in the last weeks, and now I don't know what I'll do with myself.

[Ritumbhara Ashish Iyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being someone who’s always been fascinated and held respect towards the lives and Valour of Indian Kings and Queens, I couldn’t bypass picking this Incredible book by Gayatri Devi, The queen of Jaipur!!


Through the first half, Gayatri Devi takes us through her fascinating world recounting every facet of life - Right from her Childhood in Cooch Behar, To getting married to Raja Man Singh ll of Jaipur and the following beautiful period.,


The later half of the book takes us through The Difficulties Kings faced during Independence as an outcome of - Loss of their rights alongside
The Nation being affected due to Poor Breakdown of Administration by The Congress!!
Paving way to Gayatri Devi’s Political Life Opposing The Congress under Rajaji’s Swatantra Party, Getting Elected and Serving her people to the Best!!


On the whole, This has been An Extremely beautiful catalogue by the Queen that facilely transported me to her Era helping me understand how things were back then!!

[Yash Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gayatri Devi : The Maharani Of Jaipur
--------------------------------------------------------------------

I must frankly confess that I am a socialist and a republican, and am no believer in kings and princess, or in the order which produces the modern kings of industry who have great power over the lives and fortunes of men than even the Kings of old, and whose methods are as predatory as those of the feudal aristocracy.

- Jawahar Lal Nehru



A princess remembers, The memoirs of the maharani of Jaipur is a royally written book. Although, it's a literature about the life and times of a former Maharani, but while reading this I feel that I was reading about the life of a political dynast of the 21st century India.

Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur tells us about her early childhood days in the state of 'Cooch Behar'. She was the daughter of the maharaja of Cooch behar state. She also shared about her travels abroad with her mother and father. Though, her father passed away when she was very young.

Her mother was the daughter of the 'Gaekwar of Baroda'.

Gayatri Devi, was the third wife of the maharaja of Jaipur. Throughout the book she mentioned her love for her husband. How they travelled together in Europe, America, Southern America, and other kinds of sojourn together.

She also shared her political journey as a Member of the Parliament from the Jaipur constituency. And her dissatisfaction with the incompetent and corrupt attitude of the politicians of the 'Great Indian Politics' and inhumane 'Bureaucracy'.

Kings, Queens and other members of the Royal families of India, enjoyed their life at the expenses of their subjects. Although, there were few princely states who before the Indian independence had done some good amount of development of their States, and Jaipur was one of them.

Albeit, when India gained its Independence from their colonial masters, most of the people at that time thought that a new dawn will start in the Indian history, but instead of creating an equatable and a just society 'we the people of India' had just replaced the old monarchs with the new ones, who calls themselves as the dynast.

I will end with this bon mot :-

'A country gets the government it deserves'.

My Ratings : ⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)

I hope you like this, Thanks for reading, Jai Hind.

For more information You can visit - https://dontbignorant.in/

[সারস্বত · Rating 4 out of 5]

রূপকথা নয়, এ এক সত্যিকারের রাজকন্যার গল্প। আর বিংশ শতাব্দীর রাজকন্যা বলেই হয়তো তাঁর জীবন রূপকথার জীবন থেকেও অনেক সমৃদ্ধ, ঈর্ষনীয়।

এই রাজকন্যার নাম ছিল প্রিন্সেস গায়েত্রী। সবাই ডাকত আয়েশা বলে। কারণ প্রসব বেদনা উঠার আগ পর্যন্ত মা মহারানী ইন্দিরা দেবী হ্যাগার্ডের সী পড়ছিলেন। আর তাই সদ্য ভূমিষ্ট কন্যার নামও রাখেন এই প্রিয় চরিত্রর নাম অনুসারে।

জন্মেছেন সীমাহীন আভিজাত্য আর প্রাচুর্যের মাঝে। পিতা ছিলেন কুচবিহারের মহারাজা। মাতামহ বারোদার মহারাজা। ছোটবেলা থেকেই স্বাধীনচেতা আর ডানপিটে স্বভাবের। মাত্র ১২ বছর বয়সে হাওদা থেকে গুলি করে মেরেছেন হিংস্র এক চিতা বাঘ।

জীবনের একটা উল্লেখযোগ্য অংশ কাটিয়েছেন ইউরোপে। পড়েছেন বিভিন্ন নামি-দামী প্রতিষ্ঠানে। তাঁর মধ্যে আছে সুইজারল্যান্ডের লা নয়েজটিয়ার, ভারতের শান্তি নিকেতনের মত প্রতিষ্ঠান। পেয়েছেন কবিগুরু রবীন্দ্রনাথের সান্নিধ্য।

বিয়ে করেন রাজস্থানের জয়পুরের মহারাজা জয় সিংকে। তারপর সময়ের সাথে জড়িয়ে যান বিভিন্ন কর্মকান্ডে। রাজকন্য থেকে হয়ে ওঠেন মহারানী। প্রতিষ্ঠা করা অনেকগুলো স্কুল আর একাধিক সর্বভারতীয় সংগঠন পরিচালনা করেন। তবে সবথেকে বড় চমক দেখান রাজনীতি।

একবার ইউ এস ভ্রমণে হোয়াইট হাউসে ফার্স্ট লেডি জ্যাকুলিন কেনেডির সাথে বাগান ভ্রমণে বেরিয়েছিলেন। এমন সময় প্রেসিডেন্ট কেনেডি ওনাদের অফিসে ডেকে নেন। সেখানে কিছু সিনেটর আগে থেকে উপস্থিত ছিল। মহারানী গায়েত্রী দেবীকে উদ্দেশ্য করে বলেন, "এই সেই মহিষয়ী মহিলা যিনি সাধারণ নির্বাচনে এমন ভোটের ব্যবধানে জয়লাভ করেছে যা পর্যন্ত কেউ পারেনি।"

এখানে উল্লেখ্য যে, কংগ্রেসের বিরুদ্ধে জীবনের প্রথম নির্বাচনে গায়েত্রী দেবীর ফলাফল সেই সময় গিনেস বুক অফ ওয়ার্ল্ড রেকর্ডে জায়গা করে নেয়। তিনি প্রতিবারই পার্লামেন্টারি আসনে জয়লাভ করেন। রাজনীতিতে তিনি ছিলেন প্রচণ্ড উজ্জ্বল। একটা জিপ গাড়িতে করে চষে বেড়িয়েছেন ১৬০০০ বর্গ কিলোমিটারের বিশাল নির্বাচনী উত্তপ্ত রাজস্থানি এলাকা। সংসদে প্রধানমন্ত্রী নেহেরুর কথার বিরুদ্ধেও কথা বলেছেন দীপ্তকন্ঠে।

ইন্দিরা গান্ধীর জরুরী অবস্থা জারি করে যেসব ব্যক্তিদের কংগ্রেসের একচ্ছত্র ক্ষমতা বিরুদ্ধে হুমকি মনে করলেন তার মধ্যে মহারানী গায়েত্রী দেবীও ছিলেন। যখন সব বিরোধী দলের সদস্যদের জেলে আটক করা হচ্ছে উনি জেনেও ভয়শূণ্য দ্বিধাহীনভাবে গেছেন দিল্লীর এসেম্বিলিতে যোগ দিতে। ফলশ্রুতিতে কল্পনাতীত বিলাসিতার মধ্যে অভ্যস্ত থেকেও ওনাকে দিনের পর দিন কাটাতে হয়েছে তিহার জেলের ছোট্ট একটা ঘরে।

এ এক সত্যিকারের রাজকন্যার গল্প। যাকে সোনার কাঠি, রূপোর কাঠি বদলে জাদুমন্ত্রে প্রাণ জাগাতে হয়না। বরং যার প্রাণের সঞ্জীবনী শক্তিতে জেগে উঠেছিল অজস্র প্রাণ। যিনি রেখে গেছেন এক বিস্ময়কর জীবন। যার গ্লামার আর ব্যক্তিত্ব মুগ্ধ হয়নি শুধু সেই সময়ের মানুষ, হয়েছে পরবর্তী একাধিক প্রজন্মও। রাজকন্যা, মহারানী এবং রাজমাতা গায়েত্রী দেবী, যিনি নিজেই ছিলেন একটা সময়, একটা ইতিহাস।

[Tamanna A. Shaikh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a wonderful book. Almost like a crumbling fairy-tale. A simple, honest recount of a fading life. And of the princely provinces.

What I liked the most was that it gives a fairly good description of the glory of royal India--the days when most of India was under British Raj and/simultaneously that of the Indian kings and princes. It was a glorious time in the history of India. There was no democracy and yet absolute peace, prosperity and a rapport of trust and love between the ruler and the ruled. I wished to be in that era as I read on. Besides the descriptions of the magnificence of royalties--their architecture, wealth-all; are evident of the richness the country once had. Those rulers then were way sophisticated, mannerly and civilized compared to the crass and brash politicians of today. After all, they WERE royal blood.

Interestingly, Maharani Gayatri Devi, as an individual wasn't impressive to me at all, in contrast with what I had expected, but if that's what it takes for her to be honest, salud! Who did impress me was her mother Indira Raje--powerful woman that!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really, really glad that I read this book. At one point it lagged a bit, but I pushed through and as I finished it I realized I had just learned more about the history of India through this book that I ever learned in school. I loved learning these things, but was also a little be sad that I hadn't learned all this before. Looking forward, I would love to see high school curriculums that included the history of major global players such as India and Brazil. I did take a fabulous class in high school about the history of the Far East that still serves me today and helps me have a deeper understanding of the culture and history of that region.

Anyways, for me it was most interesting to learn about the history of India post 1950.

Yes, the Maharani is glamorous and lived a very "fabulous" sort of life, but I also thought her vivid retelling of living through the various governmental transitions in India was the most fascinating thing about this book. I'm now inspired to read more about India.

[Aryan Prasad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the autobiography of Maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur, who made a Guinness record by winning the Jaipur seat in 1962 Lok Sabha Elections on a Swatantrata Party ticket. First Half of the book over a rich insight into lives of pre indpendce Royalty. The second part was on how she took up to electrical politics, the disinformation campaign agsint princes, end of privy purses and how she was targeted during the Emergency.

[Ketki Chandavarkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written...
Exactly how a princess lived her life and the opportunities and excess that it allows. Also the description of the indian landscape from pre to post independence is good and heart breaking. The views are from a privileged stand point and she accepts that her views are biased. But a true indian princess story.. thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Vartika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been fascinated by the Maharani of Jaipur and a closer insight into her glamorous life leaves me with more admiration for her persona.
Equipped with a lot of power she pushed herself to utilise it and give back to the people in whichever way she could.
She wasn't perfect by any means, which she acknowledged.This is what made her stand out from other prominent public figures.

[Aditi Kudalkar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, fascinating, warm, exquisite, emotional, heartbreaking.

And how do they say it,
"दिल को छू लिया"

[Anne Pickering · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first part of this book but was surprised, like others, that there was little mention of life in India during WW2 and at Partition.

[Laju · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book randomly at a sale for $4 and fell heads over heels in love with it. The Maharani’s vibrant writing brings to life an exotic and rich experience of a fleeting snapshot in time.

I’ve never read about the mid-century other than from the perspective of the US and UK. This was an unexpected delight.

100% recommend

[Aradhita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I guess the ideal way to review a book would be to mention how it made you laugh and cry with the narrator, how it was so well written, you felt you could relate with her even though she was a Maharani, actually quite unrelatable with your mundane life.

But I'll take the easy way out and just say that this is hands down one of the best autobiographies I have ever read.

[Neha Gupta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mata Gayatri Devi probably had a life close to a Disney prince, with a royal love affair with a prince, with best of things to wear, balls to attend, maidens and service men, with horses to ride, an education in London, featuring on page 3 tabloids, host international celebrities and be famous for the beauty and grace. I have always been fascinated by her chiffons, Pearl necklace and the grace with which she carried herself. Well now I know it was designed to fit her political image. But still keeping up an image is a lot of effort. That’s what a princess job is to keep up the pretences. However Gayatri Devi was a smart woman who lived a good life on her own terms.

Read more: https://storywala.blogspot.com/2023/0...

[Sonam Dubey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and was able to view and picture how royals used to live. Start of this book was very fascinating than the end. This book has beautiful photographs as well.
However I feel not much information has been shared about Gayatri Devi's son in this book. Overall a good read and a must book in your shelf.

[Lakshmi]

A great recount of that magnificent life.
It gave glimpses to royals' pre-independence and the changes which they went thru.