Rajmata Gayatri Devi was the most quintessential symbol of Indian royalty. Her charm, beauty and grace forever a subject of awe and admiration, remain unmatched. She was unbelievably down to earth and disarmingly ‘real’.
Born to a life of privilege, she had the benefit of a well-rounded education ranging from Glendower preparatory school in London to Patha Bhavan in Shantiniketan to a finishing school in Lausanne. Widely travelled, she was a perfect blend of east and west and can be considered to have single-handedly hastened the advent of modernity in Jaipur.
Instead of confining herself to a life of opulence and comfort, she chose to work for causes she believed in. she was strongly motivated to take on the challenge of bringing the girls of Jaipur out of ‘purdah’ and propel them inexorably towards education . She revived and promoted the dying art of blue pottery. Her attachment to ‘my people’ won unprecedented success in the political arena.
Even today, she remains a tangible symbol of progressive thinking, courage and zeal. The schools she established, namely Maharani Gayatri Devi School, Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya and Rajmata Gayatri Devi Bal Niketan are her enduring legacy and bear testimony to her vision and spirit of service to the community.