Publication: Times Of India Jaipur; Date: Jul 31, 2009; Section: Times City; Page: 2
ADIEU RAJMATA
THE QUEEN OF HEARTS: The Poor And Rich, The Famous And Powerful, All Come Together To Pay Their Last Respects To Gayatri Devi
Rachna Singh | TNN
Jaipur: She came to the City Palace as a princess and parted as ‘Rajmata’. A pall of gloom permeated the Pritam Niwas where she rested before the final journey. And even in death, she seemed a princess in deep sleep — as calm, peaceful and graceful as she always had been.
The fragrance of rose petals showered as homage by the swarming crowds wafted in the breeze. Huge wreaths surrounded her as a mark of respect for the former queen who was so dear to the commoners.
People from all walks of life, age and communities thronged to get a last glimpse of their ‘princess’. As continuous stream of mourners kept moving in, close family, associates and friends just sat through the entire morning, reminiscing the moments they spent with her.
Pensive, in deep thought all through and at a loss of words, all that Opposition leader Vasundhara Raje shared was, “I feel a great sense of loss. Rajmata, a role model, played a significant part in bringing the women out of the purdah. Girl education clearly is her contribution to the society.”
For Manju Singh, wife of governor S K Singh, “Rajmata had a great vision and played a significant role in education of girl in India and brought them out of the closet into the mainstream. She was full of life and we shall continue to find inspiration and strength from her life.”
Begum Noor Bano, former member of Parliament from Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, said, “I was very young when I saw her at MGD (school). She was an example for every MGDian, deeply rooted in culture and tradition who also taught women the ability to accept change.”
“I don’t know how, but she managed to take personal interest in every student. And this wasn’t restricted to just school. The bond continued well beyond the school gates to professional career, engagement, marriage and children. I am at a loss of a guide today,” she added.
For Rashmi Dickinson, a former British bureaucrat, Gayatri Devi was a “god’s gift”. “I specially planted olive trees because of her and some of them fortunately have survived.” But for sister Hyacinth, the association goes back 28 years.
“Rajmata had great concern for The Mother Teresa home. In fact, she was there with Mother Teresa when the foundation of the home was laid.”
Other dignitaries present were Sunita Gehlot, wife of chief minister Ashok Ghelot, tourism minister Bina Kak, Diya Kumari, Savitri Kunadi, former ambassador to France, Begum Fauzia, Vandana Singh Nadgar, who is a great grand niece of Thakur Jaswant Singh and now settled in New York. Also present were Roshan Seth, an equestrian who did the stunts for Hema Malini in Razia Sultan and had specially come down to pay her last respects to ‘Aunty Ayesha’, as she used to call the Rajmata. But outside, a sea of curious onlookers jostled for space. Several tourists were taken by surprise with the rituals at the City Palace.
“This has been a special experience for us in India to be able to get the last glimpse of one of the most beautiful women in the world. She was the best queen in the world,” said tourists from Taipai, Taiwan.
Her love for city brought her home
Jaipur: After paying homage to Gayatri Devi, chief minister Ashok Gehlot said, “The very fact that she came back from London to Jaipur and breathed her last in the Pink City is a message in itself.” Speaking to mediapersons at the City Palace, Gehlot said her decision to be in Jaipur in the last days of her life indicated the love and affection she had for the Pink City. “I visited her in the hospital too. I am personally grieved by her demise. She was popular in the country and also around the world. Her death has saddened people from all walks of life,” he added. “She was a multi-faceted personality but her contribution in the fields of social service, education, art and sports are worth remembering. I pray for her eternal peace,” the chief minister said.
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