For voicing her dissent against the Emergency, Rajmata Gayatri Devi was sent to Tihar Jail by Indira Gandhi’s government in July 1975.
Our society has always been deeply patriarchal. And in a society built to sideline women, it's often the men who get credited for challenging the system. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and B.R. Ambedkar, among others, are all rightfully remembered for pushing back against patriarchy. But when a woman rises to challenge that same system, the fight becomes twice as hard and often, twice as overlooked. We don’t talk enough about those women who fought patriarchy, not just as reformers, but as survivors of it. And that’s exactly why Gayatri Devi’s story matters and deserves to be told. Born into royalty as the Princess of Cooch Behar and later crowned the Maharani of Jaipur, Gayatri Devi not only broke the mould; rather, she never believed in one. The world expected her to smile and stay silent. However, with unmatched elegance, she redefined what it meant to live on her own terms, in silk saris and with steel in her spine. She ruled fashion pages across the globe. Then, she took on politics and even stood up to Indira Gandhi during the Emergency, landing herself in Tihar Jail.
So, in this story, we look back at the life of Gayatri Devi.
Born on May 23, 1919, in London, Gayatri Devi belonged to the royal family of Cooch Behar in Bengal. Her father, Maharaja Jitendra Narayan, was known for his progressive ideas, and her mother, Indira Raje of Baroda, had already earned a reputation for breaking conventions. Indira had chosen to marry for love rather than follow through with an arranged marriage, and according to many, her bold choices left a strong impact on her daughter.
Gayatri Devi, known as Ayesha to close friends and family, was raised in a palace where luxury was a given, but so was independence. Her early education was spread across continents. She studied at Glendower Preparatory School in London, spent time at Shantiniketan in West Bengal, and later trained at finishing schools in Switzerland and England.
Her life took a decisive turn at the age of 12, when she met Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur during a polo match in Calcutta. He was 21 and already married, but the two developed a bond over the years. What followed was a long courtship carried out away from public view. Despite her family’s concern (especially about Jaipur’s conservative traditions and purdah customs), she married him in 1940 and became the third wife of the Maharaja.
Full-length photograph of H.H. Rajmata Gayatri Devi of Jaipur wearing a sari, taken by Cecil Beaton, c. 1944. pic.twitter.com/jBCV2YguWX
— Indian Historic Photographs (@IndHisPho) March 19, 2022
(Credit: Indian Historic Photographs)
Gayatri Devi didn’t ease into royal life in Jaipur; rather, she shaped it on her own terms. Rejecting purdah, she began making public appearances and involving herself in charitable and cultural work. Alongside her husband, she helped modernize Jaipur, hosting international dignitaries and promoting traditional Rajasthani crafts. She brought with her the polish of European education, but her commitment to local culture remained strong. And she straddled the line between East and West with uncommon ease.
If there’s one image that defined Gayatri Devi for many, it was her effortless style. Pastel chiffon sarees, simple pearl strings, and an understated elegance that drew attention without ever asking for it. Her mother, Indira Raje, had first introduced chiffon sarees to Indian royalty, and Gayatri made them her signature.
In 1967, Vogue named her one of the most beautiful women in the world. She didn’t make much of it, saying, “Physical appearance doesn’t bother me. It never has, it never will.” For someone so admired for her looks, she remained surprisingly indifferent to them.
Designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee have often acknowledged her as an influence, referring to the simplicity and fluidity of her wardrobe. She also wore riding breeches and tailored shirts when the occasion demanded, proving that royalty didn’t mean rigidity. Even details like her signature Shalimar perfume and classic bob haircut became iconic. Yet, none of it felt curated. Her fashion sense was an extension of who she was.
In 1962, Gayatri Devi entered politics, something few expected of a former queen. She joined the Swatantra Party, launched by C. Rajagopalachari as a centre-right alternative to the Congress, and contested from Jaipur.
Campaigning in rural Rajasthan, often in a jeep or her Buick, she stood out not just because of her royal background, but because of how sincerely she connected with people. Despite being more comfortable in English than Hindi, she addressed gatherings across the region and quickly earned their trust. She won the election by a massive margin (192,909 out of 246,516 votes), earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest electoral victory at the time. She retained her seat in 1967 and again in 1971.
Her Highness the Rajmata Gayatri Devi of Jaipur pic.twitter.com/ONQ4rNx7hv
— Royal Archives (@oroyalarchives) June 22, 2025
(Credit: Royal Archives)
While most royals chose to retire after India’s independence and the abolition of princely states, Gayatri decided to engage with the system. She wasn’t impressed with the direction the Congress Party was taking and wasn’t shy about criticising it. During the 1962 Sino-Indian war, she reportedly told Prime Minister Nehru, “If you knew anything about anything, we wouldn’t be in this predicament.”
Gayatri Devi’s political journey brought her into direct confrontation with Indira Gandhi. The two women had once studied together at Shantiniketan, but their paths and ideologies couldn’t have been more different.
As Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi ran a tightly controlled government, and critics were not always treated kindly. Gayatri Devi’s popularity (combined with her open criticism of the Congress) made her a target.
During the Emergency in 1975, when civil liberties were suspended and opposition leaders jailed, Gayatri Devi was arrested under the COFEPOSA Act. Most saw it as an excuse to silence her.
She was 56 at the time, and spent around six months in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Her fellow inmates included political prisoners and petty criminals. But she adjusted without tantrums. She played badminton with inmates, taught children, and stayed composed throughout. In her memoir, 'A Princess Remembers', she wrote, “There were rumours I was being ill-treated, but this was not true.”
1975 :: Gayatri Devi , Maharani of Jaipur Arrested , Jailed pic.twitter.com/IcOsIT4DqI
— indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) September 10, 2017
(Credit: indianhistorypics)
If the arrest was meant to intimidate her, it didn’t work. Instead, it drew more public sympathy. People sent her letters, books, and in one case, a marriage proposal from a man in Europe offering to marry her to secure her release. When Indira Gandhi lost the 1977 general elections, her supporters in Jaipur celebrated by saying, “This is justice for what she did to you.”
After her release, Gayatri Devi chose not to return to politics. But her time in jail had already sealed her place as a symbol of resistance.
Gayatri Devi didn’t speak in the language of modern feminism. She simply lived it. In 1943, she founded the Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Public School in Jaipur, at a time when girls’ education was not a priority. The school has since educated tens of thousands of girls, becoming one of the leading institutions in Rajasthan.
She later founded the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya, a co-educational school, in memory of her husband after his death in 1970. Her work wasn’t limited to education, as she also supported healthcare initiatives and women’s empowerment projects in rural areas, especially those related to traditional crafts and self-employment.
She drove her own car, went horseback riding, and led a life that challenged gender roles without turning it into a statement.
Now, when we study Gayatri Devi’s life, we realize that it had many layers. She was a former queen who stood for elections, and a style icon who found herself in jail.
She remained active in Jaipur’s social and cultural life well into her later years, even as her public appearances became less frequent. She stayed away from political commentary after her retirement but remained a respected figure across the country. What made her memorable was her ability to remain grounded. She could have chosen an insulated life, but she didn’t. She remained connected to people, to culture, and most importantly, to purpose.
Gayatri Devi may not have used the word “feminist” to describe herself, but everything she did spoke for itself. Yet, she is often remembered only for her beauty or her royal background. Her deeper legacy as someone who engaged with democracy, empowered women, and stood up to political power deserves more recognition.
She passed away on July 29, 2009, at the age of 90.
