Rajmata

Prashun Bhaumik |

Jaipur’s Rajmata and former MP Gayatri Devi

By Sanghita Singh

It’s been a year since Jaipur’s Rajmata and former MP Gayatri Devi passed away. Her death anniversary has been marked by a legal scramble by her successors (grand-children and step-sons) over her multi-crore property that she has left behind! While none of her successors seem to share her charisma or her talents, property is the only one thing they can lay claim to. During her lifetime Gayatri Devi contributed to women’s education, enjoyed the hi-life and also was an immensely well-read woman.  Not many may know that she even travelled to Pakistan for lectures on Ismat Chugtai. Her Bengali genes (inherited from her Cooch Behar background) gave her personality a different hue – she could sing hunting songs in Bengali and when no one was around at home, she even tried domestic chores like ironing her clothes. Even in the late years of her life she loved reading and dedicated a major part of her time digging into books and knowing about the world. Sadly, the good is interred with her bones. Long live the Rajmata and her spirit!