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She was 90.
Once listed among the 'World's Ten Most Beautiful Women' by Vogue magazine and a style icon during her time, Devi was the founder of the Swatantra Party and a member of the third and fourth Lok Sabha.
She was admitted to Satokben Durlabh Memorial Hospital early this month and was discharged a few days ago but was readmitted yesterday for chest infestion.
"She recovered from her gastrointestinal problems but yesterday she was detected with a lung infection. Her condition deteriorated this morning and she succumbed to her illness," Dr Subhash Kala, who was attending on her, said.
The London-born princess of Cooch Behar was the third Maharani of Jaipur from 1939 to 1970 after her marriage to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II and was later known as Rajmata or Queen Mother.
She entered active politics on an anti-Congress plank in 1962 when she founded the Swatantra Party in Rajasthan. She won a landslide victory from Jaipur Lok Sabha seat in 1962 and again emerged victorious in 1971. She was lodged in Tihar Jail in Delhi during Emergency.
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I surprised To hear That Beloved Rajmata Of coochbehar No more with us.She left us for evere yesterday(29/07/09).Her death seems to me that I lost my the most beaufull thing in the world. Hiratan Das vill.Madhya Haldibari P.o.Kumargramduar Dist Jalpaiguri West Bengal
Another icon -- this one a glamorous, elitist yet nonetheless a feminist and subaltern-oriented one -- passes from the Indian public life. And in that oximoronic statement lies her quintessential representation of India's hybridity!
It is sad that within a short span of time India has lost two of her most beautiful women- women with grace, dignity, and brains. Though in their twilight zone now, many will miss Leela Naidu and Rajmata Gyatri Devi. May their souls rest in peach!
She was a great princess and did India proud. The days of Maharajas and Maharanis are long gone, but she survived the transition without complaints. She lived a full and useful life. GOI should bring out a well-designed postage stamp in her honor.
Sir, I pay my respectful homage to Maharani Gayatri Devi.Apart from being world's one of the most beautiful women she possessed a very strong will power and steely nerves. During Emergency when Indira Gandhi lodged her in Tihar Jail she was placed in the cell of prostitutes and some hardened criminals to break her will power. Be she displayed exemplary courage and forbearance.May her soul est in peace.