Maharani Gayatri Devi

Maharani Gayatri devi, the rajamata of jaipur was a social reformer and three times Member of parliament. She was known for her sharp criticism of congress party and Indira gandhi Government. The year was 1975. The monsoons failed. Banks, general insurance, the coal mine, and the wheat trade were nationalized. Food prices soared and so did the unrest. In 1974, Jayaprakash Narayan launched a popular agitation movement in Bihar. George Fernandes, a Member of parliament and former leader of the Railway Workers Union, led a three week railway strike. The country was disillusioned under her leadership. Failing to recognize the grassroot support of these protest movements, she interpreted them as a "Get Indira" campaign. She retaliated and sought to divert public attention by ordering a series of raids on business houses and on members of the Opposition. The former royal families of Gwalior and Jaipur were singled out for these raids because the Rajmata of Gwalior and Mahrani Gayatri Devi were members of the Opposition in Parliament. February 11, 1975 was the day she had the most unexpected and traumatic experience. After a long time, Maharani Gayatri had felt a happier ever since her husband died. Little did she knew that her happiness were short lived as the great Prime Minister of India had ordered a raid on the residences and offices of the royal families of Gwalior and Jaipur. The Imposed Emergency brought drastic change in her life. She was forcefully imprisoned in the Tihar jail under the C.O.F.E.P.O.S.A {Conservation of foreign exchange and prevention of smuggling activities act}. Tihar was not for women. It was only for undertrials. She was accommodated in a small building with a room and verandah. She shared her cell with a political prisoner, Srilata Swaminathan. It had only one bed, open sewers running along its side filling the air with putrid stench. She was imprisoned without trials like so many others by the revengeful Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. A month later, Maharani Vijara Raje Scindia, The Rajmata of Gwalior was sent to jail. They both shared the room since there was not decent place for her to accommodate. Even though being jailed, Maharani Gayatri devi worked for the welfare of the women prisoners. She would intervene on their behalf for help and justice to the jail authorities. She had sent textbooks and states to start a school in prison. She also brought them a cricket bat and football and taught them how to play games. She had set up a badminton court and played with the younger women prisoners, most of them were prostitutes and pick pockets. Eventually due to her health complications, in 1976, she was exempted from jail on parole. In 1977, Elections were held again. Indira Gandhi and her party had brutally lost the elections. Janata party formed the Government at the Center with Moraji desai as the Prime minister. On the day of counting, the people of jaipur had shouted profusely in the collect rate that "they had taken revenge for what gandhi did to their Rajamata". Post this she was appointed as the chairman of the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation. Rajasthan was a kaleidoscope of colours with its brightly dressed people. The arts, crafts, songs, dances and folklore of Rajasthan are fascinating, Maharani Gayatri devi knew this and she had decided to work on this opportunity with all her heart and mind. Unfortunately, she was forced to resign as the congress again came to power. With this her political career came to an end. After retiring from public life, she secluded herself in her house lily pool, though she never stopped helping her people by being their voice. She was always under despair due to the deteriorating conditions of the culture and beauty of cooch behar. But She was contented with the fact that she was able to give her services to the people through the institutions that she had opened. She was always ahead of time. Though she is not with us anymore, this charming face of jaipur will always remain a mother to it's people, stealth wall to its critic and an inspiration to masses in numerous ways. After all she is THE MAHARANI GAYATRI DEVI of JAIPUR.