Rajmata Gayatri Devi by Dharmender Kanwar (Hardcover)

If you like history you will treasure this first hand account of India as it transitions from the British colonial rule to self rule. The Rajmata Gayatri Devi’s first hand account of her life in that transition period and her role in the improvement in women’s rights and education is particularly interesting. Her personal popularity with the people of her home state of Cooch Bihar and that if her husband’s Jaipur permitted her to become clearly India’s most popular woman rivaling Indiria Gandhi (with whom there was much conflict). Gayatri was socially competent, poised and held people from all places spellbound with her charm and genuine interest in their lives whether it be Queen Elizabeth stopping by to shoot Tigers, a polo match with the Mountbattens, dinner with Jack and Jacqueline Kennedy or just sitting on a mat with village elders learning about their concern about taxes, water or the most recent harvest. She served as friend, mentor and counselor to hundreds.

This is a love story the describes her devotion to her husband the Majaraha of Jaipur, her love of family, and her live for the people of India. It is no wonder the world hailed her as one of its 10 most beautiful women.