07-30-2009, 07:10 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Gayatri Devi passes away, India loses its icon of beauty</b>
pioneer.com
Lokpal Sethi | Jaipur
Known for her stunning beauty worldwide, Rajmata Gayatri Devi, the Maharani of former Jaipur royal family, died on Wednesday in a hospital here where she was admitted a week ago for treatment of stomach infection and respiratory problem.
The 90-year-old Rajmata was recovering well, but on Tuesday she again developed respiratory problem, and the end came in the afternoon on Wednesday.
A princess of the former Cooch Behar royal family, Gayatri Devi married Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II in 1939. They had a son, Jagat Singh, who died in 1997. She is survived by her two grand children, Rajkumari Lalitya Kumari and Dev Raj Singh.
Born on May 23, 1919 as Princess Ayesha of Cooch Behar, she was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 through her marriage to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. Her father, Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, was the younger brother of the Yuvraj. Her mother was Princess Indira Raje of Baroda, an extremely beautiful princess and a legendary socialite.
Early in Gayatri Deviâs life, her uncleâs death led to her father ascending the throne. Gayatri Devi studied at Santiniketan and later in Lausanne, Switzerland, then studied secretarial skills in London School of Secretaries.
Celebrated for her classical beauty and who became something of a fashion icon in the 1960s, Gayatri Devi was a particularly avid equestrienne. It is a tragic irony that Gayatri Devi passed away just a day after actress Leela Naidu died in Mumbai after a prolonged illness. The fashion magazine Vogue had named Gayatri Devi as one of the 10 most beautiful women in the world along with Leela Naidu.
Gayatri Devi picked up a stomach infection in London, where she spent the summer every year, and was admitted to King Edward Hospital in the first week of this month. During her stay in London she celebrated her 90th birthday on May 23.
While being treated for her infection in London, she wished to be taken to Jaipur. After arriving here she was admitted to Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital and, according to Dr SC Kalla, had begun responding to the treatment.
According to a family member, her grandson, Devraj Singh, and granddaughter, Lalitya Kumari, who live in Bangkok with their mother after she divorced Jagat Singh, are expected to arrive here by Thursday morning for the funeral.
The last rites will be conducted on Thursday afternoon. The Rajasthan Government has decided to accord the Rajmata a state funeral.
A co-founder of Swatantra Party, Gayatri Devi entered active politics in 1962 and was elected to the Lok Sabha thrice. She spent five months in jail during Mrs Indira Gandhiâs Emergency and after that she quit politics.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
pioneer.com
Lokpal Sethi | Jaipur
Known for her stunning beauty worldwide, Rajmata Gayatri Devi, the Maharani of former Jaipur royal family, died on Wednesday in a hospital here where she was admitted a week ago for treatment of stomach infection and respiratory problem.
The 90-year-old Rajmata was recovering well, but on Tuesday she again developed respiratory problem, and the end came in the afternoon on Wednesday.
A princess of the former Cooch Behar royal family, Gayatri Devi married Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II in 1939. They had a son, Jagat Singh, who died in 1997. She is survived by her two grand children, Rajkumari Lalitya Kumari and Dev Raj Singh.
Born on May 23, 1919 as Princess Ayesha of Cooch Behar, she was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 through her marriage to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. Her father, Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar, was the younger brother of the Yuvraj. Her mother was Princess Indira Raje of Baroda, an extremely beautiful princess and a legendary socialite.
Early in Gayatri Deviâs life, her uncleâs death led to her father ascending the throne. Gayatri Devi studied at Santiniketan and later in Lausanne, Switzerland, then studied secretarial skills in London School of Secretaries.
Celebrated for her classical beauty and who became something of a fashion icon in the 1960s, Gayatri Devi was a particularly avid equestrienne. It is a tragic irony that Gayatri Devi passed away just a day after actress Leela Naidu died in Mumbai after a prolonged illness. The fashion magazine Vogue had named Gayatri Devi as one of the 10 most beautiful women in the world along with Leela Naidu.
Gayatri Devi picked up a stomach infection in London, where she spent the summer every year, and was admitted to King Edward Hospital in the first week of this month. During her stay in London she celebrated her 90th birthday on May 23.
While being treated for her infection in London, she wished to be taken to Jaipur. After arriving here she was admitted to Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital and, according to Dr SC Kalla, had begun responding to the treatment.
According to a family member, her grandson, Devraj Singh, and granddaughter, Lalitya Kumari, who live in Bangkok with their mother after she divorced Jagat Singh, are expected to arrive here by Thursday morning for the funeral.
The last rites will be conducted on Thursday afternoon. The Rajasthan Government has decided to accord the Rajmata a state funeral.
A co-founder of Swatantra Party, Gayatri Devi entered active politics in 1962 and was elected to the Lok Sabha thrice. She spent five months in jail during Mrs Indira Gandhiâs Emergency and after that she quit politics.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->