World

Gayatri Devi Dies at 90, Funeral Held Thursday in Jaipur

by Alyzee | July 29, 2009 at 09:41 am

800 views | 5 Recommendations | 1 comment

Rajmata Gayatri Devi, former princess of Cooch Behar who later became the maharani of Jaipur, died at the age of 90 today. Devi was once named among one of world's ten most beautiful women by Vogue magazine, according to The Times of India.

A funeral for Gayatri Devi will be held Thursday in Jaipur.

Devi was born in London and was the Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970. She was later known as Rajamata or Queen Mother.

Devi was suffering from paralytic ileus, a condition where one's intestines cease to move. She developed gastric trouble in London and after being admitted into King Edward's Hospital she asked to be flown back to Jaipur. Devi was flown to Satokben Durlabh Memorial Hospital in an air ambulance and where she arrived on July 17. She was discharged a few days later but returned on Tuesday with a chest infection.

Devi was an active participant in Indian politics:

She entered active politics on an anti-Congress plank in 1962 when she founded the Swatantra Party in Rajasthan. She won a landslide victory from Jaipur Lok Sabha seat in 1962 and again emerged victorious in 1971. She was lodged in Tihar Jail in Delhi during Emergency.

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

raniremesh (not verified)

at 23:42 on July 30th, 2009

Dear editor,

Nice to see the last Voyge of Rajmatha Gayathri devi , and it is a boon to those staying in a difft state.We had the feeling of being there when we saw the u tube.it is realistic.Keep it up and rally Rajmatha Gayathridevi has brought laurals to india by her enthralling charisma and courage and I envy her beauty even at the age of 90....

Best regards

Raniremesh