Jaipur royal Gayatri Devi dead

Jaipur: Gayatri Devi, the elegant former princess of Cooch Behar who became the maharani of Jaipur and was once considered among the world's most beautiful women, died on Wednesday, an official said. She was 90.

She was admitted to the Santokba Durlabhji Memorial Hospital (SDMH) in Jaipur on July 17.

"She developed gastric problems in London and was admitted to a hospital there. She expressed her desire to return and was flown in an air ambulance to Jaipur. She was in SDMH since then," an administrative officer of SDMH said.

Gayatri Devi's death comes a day after the death of actress Leela Naidu, both of whom were named by Vogue magazine as amongst the 10 most beautiful women in the world.

Jaipur’s beloved queen

• Maharani Gayatri Devi was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970.
• Known for her ethereal beauty and style, the Rajmata, as she was popularly known, had her early education at Shantiniketan in West Bengal. She also studied in Europe where she travelled with her mother and siblings.
• Gayatri Devi funded and established several schools for girls, the most prominent being the Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Public School.
• After the abolition of royal rights and privy purses in 1971, Maharani Gayatri Devi opted for a career in Parliament in 1962 contesting on behalf of the Swatantra Party and winning from Jaipur by a celebrated margin.
• She retained the seat in 1967 and 1971, taking on the ruling Congress party and then prime minister Indira Gandhi, who retaliated in 1971 by abolishing all privy purses and stopping all royal rights.
• However, her political stint was mired in controversy and she was linked up with the violation of tax laws, and had to serve five months in Tihar Jail. She sought retirement from politics after that bitter experience.