A few
years ago, one popular English news magazine in India carried
a story regarding display of royal Indian jewels across the world.
The story further added six royal style
icons and their jewelry that made news.
Top on the list is Maharani Gayatri Devi
who was admired for her charm and beauty and featured in the list of Vogue's Ten Most Beautiful Women of the World.
Natural beauty attracts instantly. When such beauty is from royal
family, the curiosity doubles. Exactly
the same happened in 2004 when I saw a review of the book " Rajmata Gayatri Devi.....
Enduring Grace by Dharmendar Kanwar, published by Roli Books.
Roli Books brought out the book in celebration of their 25 years
in the publishing business. The book is a collector's edition worth
to be read again and again. The author did a fantastic job in
taking the reader to the regal palace life with rare photographs of
queen’s life. The more interesting part
of the book is the twists and turns in Gayatri Devi's personal life
in her marathon journey of 90 years, enduring the personal
tragedies of loss of husband and son in front of her eyes.
Indira Gandhi had once described Gayatri Devi as a 'glass doll'. Being a Maharani of Jaipur in 1940
shortly before turning twenty-one, she played a key role in
emancipating women of erstwhile Jaipur State and bringing them out of the purdah.
The interesting thing is the author of the book, Dharmendar Kanwar is an alumnus of
Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls School which speaks her contribution in empowering women
through education. Reading her biography gives glimpses of history of
India beyond the personal life of one of the most exquisite women
on this planet !
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