Rajmata Gayatri Devi Birth Anniversary Special: Five Reason What Made the Queen of Jaipur a Feminist Much Ahead of Her Times

In the by-lanes of Jaipur city, even today, after thirteen years of her death, the name Rajmata Gayatri Devi is uttered only with a lot of respect and warmth. The Princess of Cooch Behar (West Bengal) married the King of Jaipur, Maharaja Sir Sawai Man Singh II. Though in the 1940s, it was rare for a woman, and that too one from a highly positioned, royal family, to come out in the open and match shoulder to shoulder with the men, Gayatri Devi effortlessly assumed such a role and made a mark for herself. She isn't remembered because she married a King or was born to one, but because of the things she did and the life she lived. May 23, marks the birth anniversary of this Princess who was much ahead of her times.

Rajmata Gayatri Devi was born on May 23, 1919, in the royal family of Cooch Behar, West Bengal. In the course of the ninety years of her life, she actively participated in the affairs of the royal family as well as the outer world. She is also regarded for her exceptional beauty and grace. We list down some instances from Gayatri Devi's life that are definitive of how and why she was a woman much ahead for her times:

Huge Political Victory

Gayatri Devi got her name inked in the Guinness Book of Records. She ran for Parliament in 1962 and won the constituency in the Lok Sabha in the world's most massive landslide victory, winning 1,92,909 votes out of 2,46,516 cast. Men have mostly dominated the Indian political scene. In that time, Indira Gandhi was famous, however, Rajmata was engaged continuously in conflicts with her. In such a situation, it was phenomenal for her to garner popularity and achieve victory. She was a member of parliament from 1962 to 1975.

Her Lifestyle

She opted for a liberal lifestyle, traveled around the world and also studied abroad in London and Switzerland. She shot a panther at the tender age of twelve, which was an activity unlikely both for a child her age and a woman. She didn't restrict herself to wearing Sarees or traditional clothes 'meant' for a Princess. She instead opted for western attires at times and dressed in shirts and trousers.

Movement Against Purdah System 

She was the third wife of Maharaja Sir Sawai Man Singh II, and it was not an easy position to be in. After entering the royal palace, she was subjected to a lot of restrictions that were served to her in the name of royal customs. Though Gayatri Devi made some adjustments, she refused to adopt to some of them, like the Purdah system. She instead started a movement against it and was successful in abolishing it entirely in Rajasthan.

Fight for Women Rights

Apart from rebelling against the concept of the Purdah system, Gayatri Devi also actively participated in several other causes for the benefit of women. In 1943, she started an English medium school, Gayatri Devi School for Girls in Jaipur to further propagate the rights and education of girls. In 1975 after the declaration of emergency, she was sent to jail. She made the best of her term in Tihar jail. During that time she started working for the rights of prostitutes.

Her Choice of Husband

In a time when love marriage was frowned upon, she married a man of her choice. At the age of twenty-one, she married Maharaja Sir Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur. Maharaja Man Singh was not only seven years older to her but also already twice married. Gayatri Devi chose to be his third wife despite opposition from both the families. After marriage, she didn't confine herself to a life of luxuries in the palace but stepped out and participated in politics and activism.

In a time when women didn't have much say even in the household, a royal Princess called Gayatri Devi lived life on her terms, fought the patriarchy and established a name and recognition for herself in the society. She graced her femininity and clubbed it with strength, becoming an excellent role-model for the modern day women.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2018 12:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).