Indian Royalty. A thoroughly Anglicized Princess, she defied her family's wishes in marriage, and later became a sucessful political leader in her own right. Born into the royal family of Cooch Behar, she was educated at Shantiniketan, later in Lusanne, Switzerland, and finally at the London School of Secretaries and the Monkey Club of Knightsbridge. At 12, she fell in love with 21 year old Sawai Man Sing II, Crown Prince of Jaipur; her family opposed the match, fearing that Gayati was too independent for a royal marriage. Nevertheless, the couple did marry in 1940, and had a successful union that endured almost 50 years until the Maharaja's death. The Mahrani, as she became, was an accomplished equestriene, was active in promoting education for girls, and was once named by "Vogue" magazine as one of the world's ten most beautiful women. In the years following independence, Gayati became active in the Swatantra Party, and, in 1962, stood for Parliament from Lok Sabha; she won by a margin that gives her a place in the "Guiness Book of Records" for the greatest landslide victory ever. She was reelected in 1967 and 1971, but the 1971 abolition of royal privileges lead to her spending five months in jail for tax law violation. Gayati remained an active socialite thru her retirement years, and died in Jaipur of an intestinal blockage after becoming ill in England.
Indian Royalty. A thoroughly Anglicized Princess, she defied her family's wishes in marriage, and later became a sucessful political leader in her own right. Born into the royal family of Cooch Behar, she was educated at Shantiniketan, later in Lusanne, Switzerland, and finally at the London School of Secretaries and the Monkey Club of Knightsbridge. At 12, she fell in love with 21 year old Sawai Man Sing II, Crown Prince of Jaipur; her family opposed the match, fearing that Gayati was too independent for a royal marriage. Nevertheless, the couple did marry in 1940, and had a successful union that endured almost 50 years until the Maharaja's death. The Mahrani, as she became, was an accomplished equestriene, was active in promoting education for girls, and was once named by "Vogue" magazine as one of the world's ten most beautiful women. In the years following independence, Gayati became active in the Swatantra Party, and, in 1962, stood for Parliament from Lok Sabha; she won by a margin that gives her a place in the "Guiness Book of Records" for the greatest landslide victory ever. She was reelected in 1967 and 1971, but the 1971 abolition of royal privileges lead to her spending five months in jail for tax law violation. Gayati remained an active socialite thru her retirement years, and died in Jaipur of an intestinal blockage after becoming ill in England.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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