Earlier, I wrote a note on Sitadevi, the Maharani of Baroda. She was the youngest of the 3 daughters of Raja Rao Venkata Surya Rao of Pithapuram. The elder daughter Kamaladevi also got married into another Princely state of Cooch Bihar in West Bengal which is adjoining Bhutan.
COOCH BEHAR PALACE
INDRAJITENDRA & KAMALADEVIShe married Indrajitendra Narayan the 2nd son of the Maharaja of Cooch Bihar born to Indira Raje, the Princess of Baroda. Of course Kamaladevi did not lead the hectic and glamorous life of her younger sister Sitadevi and was steadier in her life despite a tragedy striking her at an early age which took away her husband. Unfortunately for her, Indrajitendra Narayan died at a very young age of 33.
Her mother-in-law and the mother of Indrajitendra Narayan was Princess Indira Raje of Baroda. Indira Raje's marriage was initially fixed with Madho Rao Scindia (Grandfather of Madhavrao
Scindia) of Gwalior, but when the marriage was fixed she wrote to him saying
that she did not want to marry him and the marriage was called off. For that time
in Princely houses that was a daring act by her.
INDIRA RAJE
She later married the 2nd son of the Raja of Cooch
Bihar Jitendra Narayan who became King later as his elder brother died at an
early age probably due to overconsumption which was the wont of that Princely
house.
Her parents initially did not consent to the marriage at home
as they considered Jitendra Narayan as a reckless playboy. Still, Indira Raje was
adamant and they finally reluctantly consented to their marriage in London.
They married in London under the rites of the Brahmo Samaj which is followed by
Jitendra Narayan's mother Rani Sunita Devi. Sunita Devi was none other than the
daughter of Keshub Chandra Sen, the religious reformer from Bengal. None of
Indira Devi’s relations were present at the marriage.
Jitendra Narayan too died at an early age and Indira Raje was
forced to look after the affairs of the state till her elder son attained
majority. She had 2 sons of which Indrajitendra Narayan was the younger.
Indira Raje also had 3 daughters of whom the eldest Ila, married a Prince
of Tripura. Her son married actress Moon Moon Sen. The next was Gayatri Devi who
married Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur and was a glamorous
Princess. The third was Menaka who married the Raja of Dewas.
MAHARANI GAYATRI DEVI
It is most unfortunate that the Princes and Maharajas of Cooch Behar died of over consumption.
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