Indira Devi Biography: Siblings, Parents, Age, Net Worth, Height, Obituary, Husband, Children

Indira Devi, born Indira Raje, was a prominent Indian royal and socialite, celebrated as the Maharani of Cooch Behar, British India.

Renowned for her bold defiance of tradition, she broke off an arranged engagement to marry Jitendra Narayan, becoming a trailblazer for personal choice in Indian royalty.

Her elegance and progressive outlook, particularly in fashion, made her a global icon, notably for introducing chiffon sarees to India.

Indira’s legacy endures through her influential role as regent and her daughter, Gayatri Devi, the famed Maharani of Jaipur.

Profile

• Full Name: Indira Raje
• Stage Name: Indira Devi
• Born: 19 February 1892
• Age: 76 years old
• Date of death: 6 September 1968,
• Birthplace: Vadodara, Baroda State, British India
• Nationality: Indian
• Occupation: Maharani, Regent, Socialite
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Sayajirao Gaekwad III and Chimnabai II
• Siblings: None
• Spouse: Jitendra Narayan (m. 1913–1922)
• Children: Ila Devi, Jagaddipendra Narayan, Indrajitendra Narayan, Gayatri Devi, Menaka Devi
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: Unknown

Early Life and Education

Indira Raje was born on February 19, 1892, in Vadodara, Baroda State, to Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III and Maharani Chimnabai II. She was their only daughter, with several brothers, though specific names are not widely documented.

Raised in the opulent Lakshmi Vilas Palace, Indira benefited from her parents’ progressive views, becoming one of the first Indian princesses to receive a Western education.

She attended school and pursued higher education, an uncommon privilege for women of her era. She is of Maratha descent and practices the Hindu faith.

Career

Indira Devi began her public life as a princess of Baroda, where her beauty and intellect drew attention at events like the 1911 Delhi Durbar. Initially betrothed to Madho Rao Scindia, Maharaja of Gwalior, she made headlines by breaking the engagement to marry Jitendra Narayan, the younger brother of Cooch Behar’s Maharaja, in 1913.

This decision, executed with a daring letter to her fiancé, shocked Indian royalty and marked her as a figure of agency. After Jitendra’s brother died shortly after their marriage, Indira became Maharani of Cooch Behar, stepping into a prominent role in a princely state.

Following Jitendra’s untimely death in 1922, Indira assumed the role of regent for her young son, Jagaddipendra Narayan, from 1922 to 1936. As regent, she managed Cooch Behar’s affairs during a transformative period, though her administrative skills were considered modest.

Her social influence, however, was profound; she spent significant time in Europe, forging connections with global elites and earning recognition for her style, notably introducing chiffon sarees to India after discovering the fabric in Lyon, France.

Her collaborations with designers like Salvatore Ferragamo and her sartorial choices, including pastel-hued sarees paired with gem-encrusted shoes, set fashion trends and earned her a spot on Vogue’s list of the world’s most beautiful women.

Indira Devi’s legacy is defined by her defiance of societal norms and her cultural impact. Her role as a fashion innovator reshaped Indian style, blending tradition with European elegance. As a mother, she raised five children, including Gayatri Devi, who carried forward her progressive ideals as Maharani of Jaipur.

Indira’s later years were spent in Mumbai and Europe, where she continued to engage in high society, leaving an indelible mark as a pioneer of personal freedom and sophistication in Indian royalty. Her influence persists in the enduring popularity of chiffon sarees and the stories of her trailblazing life.

Social Media

Indira Devi does not have social media accounts.

Personal Life

Indira Devi married Jitendra Narayan in 1913 in a London ceremony, defying her parents’ wishes and navigating significant social and diplomatic challenges.

Widowed in 1922, she never remarried but was linked to figures like Hugh Molyneux, Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Edward VIII, sparking speculation that prompted a discreet request from King George V for her return to India.

She was a devoted mother to her five children: Ila Devi, Jagaddipendra Narayan, Indrajitendra Narayan, Gayatri Devi, and Menaka Devi, though she faced tragedy with the early deaths of Ila and Indrajitendra. Indira lived vibrantly, embracing European culture, rejecting purdah, and maintaining a cosmopolitan lifestyle until she died in Mumbai in 1968.

Net Worth

Indira Raje’s net worth is not precisely documented due to the historical context and lack of public financial records for Indian royalty during her era.

Her wealth stemmed from her status as a princess of Baroda and Maharani of Cooch Behar, affording her access to substantial family resources, including the opulent Lakshmi Vilas Palace and Cooch Behar’s princely treasury.