How Maharani Gayatri Devi’s Iconic Style And Persona Made Her The Queen Of Our Hearts
Icons never die but live in our hearts forever. One of the many popular names that weaved the glorious past of pre-independent India was Maharani Gayatri Devi who was born on May 23, 1919. The third and last ruling empress of Jaipur. A figure of inspiration and style for many who witnessed her aura in person and through the many pictures that now settle in the deepest pockets of the internet, Maharani Gayatri Devi was a luminary in many ways. An image that always rushes through my mind is her portrait shot that painted her elegance and iconic chiffon saree collection with utmost intricacy, just like her taste in fashion. “Emeralds should never be worn with a green saree since they look so much better with a pink one” is a line by Maharani’s grandmother Chimnabai that talks about the style icon’s true inspirations- her mother, Indira Raje (a Maharashtrian princess), and grandmother.
Also the two most important women in her life, who nurtured the very being of the Maharani and her unconventional principles, she advocated against the unforgiving attitude towards the women then.
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Marinating her strong ideologies towards the society that was yet to open its arms in favour of its women, Gayatri Devi made way for every girl’s dream during her glorious reign. A politician and avid equestrienne, Maharani’s life was a topic of great interest amongst the world ever since her much-talked-about love affair with Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. As a person who only knows the Maharani through the many glossy images that still rest on the world’s biggest magazine covers and books of history, the Maharani’s eyes and iconic sartorial style speak about the unheard tales in lengths to me.
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A keeper of delicate chiffon sarees, with detailed prints, royal Basra pearls and sunglasses specifically cat-eyes, Gayatri Devi brought a sense of individuality, freedom and glamour to the signature royal style. Replacing gotta laden ghaghras and Rajasthani Borlas (traditional maang tika) with sparkling pearls and khakhi pants for time on polo grounds and sarees to welcome guests from overseas, Gayatri Devi redefined Royal for the world. Her collection that breathes in vintage photographs for the fans of her style like myself, takes us through her collection of tapestry bags, her eye for minimal borders, to portraying the power of red lipstick. Even her growing love for the European fabric–chiffon was a loaned interest from her mother Indira Devi. Chiffon soon became an important aspect of her closet and something the world remembers her by even today. Maharani’s sartorial taste changed the landscape of India’s traditional silhouettes, with a growing love for sarees reaching every new country in the world possible.
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At the time when women were suggested to keep their distance from the western way of dressing up, maintaining short hair and most importantly falling in love, the Maharani made sure to carve her own way.
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I remember a line by former US President John F Kennedy, who quoted her as the “woman with the most staggering majority that anyone has ever earned in an election.” What also defined the popular ‘people’s princess’ persona was her relentless contribution toward education for girls and fading away of the purdah system. Her hold in Indian politics under Indira Gandhi’s governance, and at a time when a handful of women leaders were striving to change the face of the nation, brought home many accolades, one of which was The Guinness World Record for a majority win, after she won the world’s largest landslide poll win bagging 192,909 votes of 246,516 cast in the early 1960s. As we remember Gayatri Devi on her 103rd birthday today, we cherish all the stories that rest in history as a memoir of her legacy and life. I mean, I still remember discussing her much-talked-about persona and early life with my grandmother, who was witness to the time of her popularity. Skimming through her faded memories of the Maharani, she said “from the folds and drapes of her saree to the way she walked through the crowd, I remember glancing at her pictures on the front pages of the newspaper that paid weekly visits.”
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While fashion seems like a fragile concept that manages to live through bracketed and short-lived trends today, Rajmata’s iconic style reminds us of the many iconic female personalities, who weaved their thoughts and ideas with every piece that they hoarded in their closet. Her influence was such that many including India’s most celebrated designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, curated a special collection of sarees dedicated to her iconic style.
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Also Read: Was Emma Chamberlain’s Cartier Choker At Met Gala An Original Indian Treasure? Here’s What We Know
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Her distinct taste also brought a new wave in the politics of Indian fashion that replaced the usual crisp khadi with ethereal silk and her favourite colours like Turquoise and Dutch blue making pretty also look powerful. To many stories that will live for years to come, Maharani Gayatri Devi will always remain an epitome of elegance, power and beauty for many of us.
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