Tribute : Meenakshi Devi a multi-faceted personality

Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders
Seen in the picture are (standing) The Maharaja of Mysore Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and H.H.Thakur Saheb of Sanand; (sitting from left): Rajkumari Maya Devi, Rajkumari Usha Devi, Thakur Rani Sujaya Devi of Sanand, Tripura Sundarammanni, Rani Vijaya Devi of Kotada, Maharajkumari Gayatri Devi, Rajakumari Geetha Devi and Rajkumari Urmila Devi; (squatting from left): Maharajkumari Kamakshi Devi, Maharajkumari Meenakshi Devi, Yuvaraja Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, Rajkumari Shakuntala Devi and Rajakumari Indrakshi Devi. (File photo)
Seen in the picture are (standing) The Maharaja of Mysore Sri Jayachamaraja Wadiyar and H.H.Thakur Saheb of Sanand; (sitting from left): Rajkumari Maya Devi, Rajkumari Usha Devi, Thakur Rani Sujaya Devi of Sanand, Tripura Sundarammanni, Rani Vijaya Devi of Kotada, Maharajkumari Gayatri Devi, Rajakumari Geetha Devi and Rajkumari Urmila Devi; (squatting from left): Maharajkumari Kamakshi Devi, Maharajkumari Meenakshi Devi, Yuvaraja Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, Rajkumari Shakuntala Devi and Rajakumari Indrakshi Devi. (File photo)

by Dr. M.R. Bharathi

She was a lifetime connoisseur of classical music, an entrepreneur, a photographer and a philanthropist. Meenakshi Devi, the second daughter of late Jayachamaraja Wadiyar, and late Tripura Sundarammanni, was an apostle of a brave and independent woman. Though shy, Meenakshi Devi was straight forward, refined and a lovable person.

Meenakshi was called “Miniput” by her father, which meant, ‘my beloved little one.’ She was strongly attached to her father. The death of her parents and her husband — Sirdar M.R. Lakshmikantha Raj Urs, an advocate at High Court of Karnataka — transformed the playful and mischievous Meenakshi into a strong and matured woman.

An ardent aficionado of both Indian and Western Classical music, Meenakshi was a piano player and saw to it that she never missed the “Beating Retreat” of Republic Day celebration. She was a student of history and tried to update herself about Mysuru history in general and about the Wadiyars of Mysuru in particular.

Meenakshi’s travel across Europe, Japan, Africa, USA, Canada and India, encouraged the hidden entrepreneur in her that made her open a boutique called “Duckling” and a travel agency called “Regal Voyages” at Bengaluru. Her love for horse-riding made her start the “Princess Academy,” a horse riding club. She was instrumental in organising the South Indian Equestrian Championship and Horse Safari to promote tourism in Mysuru.

Her interest in photography and wildlife made her visit Kabini, Bandipur and Ranathambore National Parks and learn photography under the guidance of her father.

As a philanthropist she helped a number of Institutions and was the President of ‘Altrusa Club’ and was on the committee of Philomena Hospital, Bengaluru. She was a member of the Karnataka Social Welfare Board. She offered her grounds in the Bangalore Palace, free of cost to ‘Awake,’ a women’s organisation for a programme to educate its members on global marketing.

Despite her failing health, Meenakshi tried to be cheerful and benevolent, inspiring the young and the old alike. She passed away on May 7, 2015. May her soul rest in peace.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Sunday – May 24th, 2015

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