Maharani Gayatri Devi, who died last week, was perhaps the last symbol of the country’s princely past. Considered one of the most beautiful women in the world, she was also a three-time MP, having won with a record margin. In an interview with The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta on NDTV 24x7’s Walk the Talk in 2006, Gayatri Devi spoke about her public and political life, her admiration for C Rajagopalachari, what she disliked about Nehru’s policies, Emergency, and how life remained the same even after the privy purse was withdrawn

•Shekhar Gupta: My guest today is one of the most beautiful women in the world. Maharani Gayatri Devi, welcome to Walk the Talk.

Maharani Gayatri Devi: Thank you very much for asking me to be on it.

•Shekhar Gupta: You are not only an incredibly beautiful woman, you are also an incredibly brave woman. You’ve handled challenges and tragedies.

Maharani Gayatri Devi: Many tragedies and I was a Member of Parliament for three terms which is quite challenging.

•Shekhar Gupta: You’ve handled personal tragedies — your husband and son both leaving you early.

Maharani Gayatri Devi: I don’t want to talk about those things.

•Shekhar Gupta: I believe you were in this building when the Income Tax officials came here during the Emergency.

Maharani Gayatri Devi: Yes, I was.

•Shekhar Gupta: Can you describe those moments?

Maharani Gayatri Devi: Well, they just came and told me there are some people wanting to talk to me. I said that I wasn’t expecting anybody. Then the Income Tax Department people came. Everybody in the Opposition was raided. But nobody in the Congress was raided. The Rajmata of Gwalior, myself, all of us who were in the Opposition were raided. They raided all the palaces here and found nothing.

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