Shekhawat pays tribute to Jaipur Rajmata Gayatri Devi on her death anniversary
Synopsis
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat marked the death anniversary of Jaipur Rajmata Gayatri Devi on 29 July 2026, honouring her as a champion of women's education and public service whose institutions continue to shape lives in Rajasthan.
Key Takeaways
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat paid tribute to Jaipur Rajmata Gayatri Devi on her death anniversary, 29 July 2026 .
Shekhawat described her as 'an embodiment of public service and a strong advocate of women's education and empowerment.' Maharani Gayatri Devi founded the Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls' Public School in Jaipur , a landmark institution for girls' education in Rajasthan.
She was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1962 and again in 1967 , among the early women from royal backgrounds to enter democratic politics.
The tribute reflects the BJP's broader practice of linking party figures to regional historical icons associated with education and social reform in Rajasthan .
On her death anniversary, Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat offered tribute on Wednesday, 29 July 2026 to Jaipur Rajmata Gayatri Devi, hailing her as a symbol of public service and a fierce champion of women's education and empowerment.
Shekhawat wrote, 'जनसेवा की प्रतिमूर्ति, महिला शिक्षा और नारी सशक्तिकरण की प्रबल पक्षधर' — 'an embodiment of public service, a strong advocate of women's education and women's empowerment' — offering kotishah naman (countless salutations) to the Rajmata's memory.
Gayatri Devi's legacy in women's education
Maharani Gayatri Devi remains one of Rajasthan's most enduring icons. She founded the Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls' Public School in Jaipur, which became a landmark institution for girls' education in the region at a time when such opportunities were scarce. Her commitment to bringing women into public life extended well beyond philanthropy.
In 1962, she entered electoral politics and was elected to the Lok Sabha, winning again in 1967 — a rare achievement for a woman of royalty stepping into democratic contest. Her victories signalled a broader shift in how educated, reform-minded women from traditional backgrounds engaged with independent India's political life.
BJP's Rajasthan roots and the politics of remembrance
BJP leaders from Rajasthan have long marked the death anniversaries of pre-independence royalty and social reformers through public statements, weaving regional historical icons into the party's cultural and political identity. For Shekhawat — a senior BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Jodhpur — invoking Gayatri Devi's legacy connects his ministry's cultural mandate to a homegrown tradition of women's uplift rooted in the state.
Gayatri Devi's story is not merely historical pageantry. The institutions she built continue to educate thousands of girls in Jaipur. Her legacy is a living argument for what sustained patronage of women's education can produce across generations.
Point of View
Particularly those associated with education and women's rights. For a Union Culture Minister, invoking Gayatri Devi's legacy reinforces the ministry's stated commitment to India's heritage of social reform. It also signals continuity — framing the party as the natural heir to a tradition of women's empowerment that predates independence. The gesture is routine in form but carries weight in a state where Gayatri Devi's institutions remain active and her name commands genuine public affection.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jaipur Rajmata Gayatri Devi?
Gayatri Devi was the Maharani of Jaipur, a prominent advocate for women's education who founded the Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls' Public School in Jaipur. She was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1962 and 1967.
When is Gayatri Devi's death anniversary?
Gayatri Devi's death anniversary falls on 29 July. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat paid tribute to her on this date in 2026.
What did Gajendra Singh Shekhawat say about Gayatri Devi?
Shekhawat described her as 'an embodiment of public service and a strong advocate of women's education and women's empowerment,' offering countless salutations on her death anniversary.
What is the Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls' Public School?
It is a girls' school founded by Maharani Gayatri Devi in Jaipur, Rajasthan, established to promote education for women at a time when such institutions were rare in the region.
Why do BJP leaders tribute Gayatri Devi?
BJP leaders from Rajasthan regularly mark the anniversaries of pre-independence royalty and reformers to connect their political identity to regional icons associated with education and social reform.
