Maharaja Man Singh II & Gayatri Devi of Jaipur
A third wife who became a political legend -- until the state seized everything.
Key Facts
What Happened
Maharani Gayatri Devi, born a princess of Cooch Behar, married Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur on May 9, 1940 -- becoming his third wife. In the princely states of India, polygamy among royalty was common and culturally accepted. The Maharaja's first two wives were Rajput princesses from Jodhpur, arranged marriages that had produced sons. Gayatri Devi's marriage was different -- it was a love match that defied both British colonial authorities and the other wives' families.
Despite the unusual arrangement, the three wives reportedly maintained a 'civilized and mannerly relationship,' though Gayatri Devi acknowledged the challenges of sharing a husband. She became the Maharaja's favorite and the public face of the Jaipur royal family. After Indian independence in 1947 and the merger of princely states, the couple navigated the transition from absolute rulers to private citizens with varying degrees of success.
When Maharaja Man Singh died in a polo accident in England in 1970, Gayatri Devi was thrust into the role of Rajmata (queen mother). She had already entered politics, winning a seat in the Lok Sabha (Indian parliament) in 1962 by the largest margin in world history -- 175,000 votes -- running against Indira Gandhi's Congress Party. This made her a political target.
In 1975, during Indira Gandhi's Emergency, Gayatri Devi was arrested on trumped-up foreign exchange violations (authorities found small amounts of foreign currency during raids) and imprisoned in Delhi's notorious Tihar Jail for five months. The imprisonment was widely seen as political retribution. She lost much of the family's remaining wealth to government seizures and tax claims. Her story illustrates how marital wealth can be destroyed not by divorce but by political persecution and inadequate estate planning.
Legal Breakdown: Polygamy, political persecution, and asset seizure
Polygamy and Inheritance Complexity
With three wives and multiple children from different marriages, the Jaipur estate was enormously complex. Each wife and her children had competing claims to royal property, jewels, and income. Modern estate planning tools -- trusts, prenuptial agreements, and clearly drafted wills -- can prevent the kind of disputes that plagued the Jaipur family for decades after the Maharaja's death.
Political Persecution and Asset Protection
Gayatri Devi's imprisonment demonstrated how political enemies can use tax and regulatory powers to destroy a family's wealth. This applies in modern contexts as well -- divorcing spouses sometimes weaponize tax authorities, regulatory agencies, or business partners against each other. Offshore trusts, diversified asset structures, and proper documentation provide protection.
Estate Planning as Marital Protection
The Maharaja died without adequate estate planning for the post-independence era. His sudden death in a polo accident left three wives and their children to navigate a hostile political environment without clear legal structures. This underscores the importance of updating estate plans after major life changes -- marriage, political transitions, or changes in law.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Complex family structures (blended families, multiple marriages) require meticulous estate planning.
- →Wealth can be destroyed by political or legal adversaries as easily as by divorce -- diversify and protect assets.
- →Update your estate plan after every major life event: marriage, birth, death, political change, or new legislation.
- →Even in non-divorce situations, the same principles of financial protection and documentation apply.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.