Born: 1919 (Simraungadh, present-day Madhesh Pradesh, Nepal)
Died: 2001
Biography:
Vijaya Raje Scindia (12 October 1919 – 25 January 2001), born Lekha Divyeshwari Devi in Nepal and known popularly as the Rajmata of Gwalior in India, was a prominent Indian political personality. In the days of the British Raj, as consort of the last ruling Maharaja of Gwalior, Jivajirao Scindia, she ranked among the highest royal figures of the land. In later life, she became a politician of considerable influence and was elected repeatedly to both houses of the Indian parliament. She was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Vijaya Raje Scindia was born in 1919 at Simraungadh in present-day Madhesh Pradesh, the eldest child of Thakur Mahendra Singh of Nepal, a government officer, by his second wife, Chuda Devashwari Devi. She was named Lekha Divyeshwari Devi at birth. Her father was a deputy collector in the provincial administration. Her mother was the daughter of former Commander-in-chief of the Nepalese Army Commanding-General Raja Khadga Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, the nephew of the founder of the Rana dynasty of Nepal, Jang Bahadur Kunwar Rana. Unfortunately, her mother died at Vijaya Raje’s birth. She had a brother, Dhyanendra Singh, who went on to marry Maya Singh.
In February 1941, at the age of 22, Lekha was married to Jivajirao Scindia, Maharaja of Gwalior, one of the largest, richest and highest-ranking princely states in India.
Vijaya Raje Scindia’s journey into politics began in 1957 when she contested and won the Guna Lok Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh on a Congress ticket. She gained further popularity and influence when she won again from Gwalior as a Congress candidate five years later. However, she later quit the Congress and won the Guna seat in 1967 on the ticket of the Swatantra Party. She then joined the Bharatiya Jan Sangh and resigned from the Lok Sabha to focus on state politics. In 1967, she won the Karera assembly seat in Madhya Pradesh as the Jan Sangh candidate and began her active involvement in state politics.
During the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, the Jan Sangh defied the Indira-wave in the Gwalior region and won three seats – Vijaya Raje Scindia from Bhind, Atal Bihari Vajpayee from Gwalior, and her son Madhavrao Scindia from Guna, although he later left the party. In 1977 and 1984, Vijayaraje Scindia did not contest Lok Sabha elections and lost to Indira Gandhi in Rae Bareli in 1980.
In 1989, she won from Guna as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and retained the seat in 1991, 1996, and 1998. However, due to old age, she did not contest the elections in 1999. Throughout her political career, she faced numerous challenges, including imprisonment during the Emergency. She was jailed by Indira Gandhi and shared a cell with fellow Rajmata and MP, Gayatri Devi, in Tihar Jail.
Vijaya Raje Scindia played a significant role in Indian politics and women’s history, serving as an inspiration for many. Her contributions to the Bharatiya Janata Party and her fight against injustice left a lasting impact on the political landscape of India. She remains an influential figure in Indian history.
Awards:
– Omit this section as there are no official awards or recognitions mentioned in the provided information.