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Special Article on the punyatithi of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia
Kailash Vijayvargiya
In the history of Indian politics, there are certain personalities whose identity is not defined merely by electoral victories or positions of power, but by moral courage, ideological firmness, simplicity of life, and organizational vision. Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia was one such rare political figure. She was respectfully addressed as “Rajmata,” yet she consistently kept herself above royal privileges. For her, politics was not a means to acquire power, but a test of service, struggle, and principles.
Rajmata’s personal life was marked by struggle from the very beginning. The loss of her mother just eight days after her birth, being brought up under the care of her grandmother, and prolonged widowhood following the untimely demise of her husband, Maharaja Jivajirao Scindia, at the age of 45—these circumstances did not break her spirit. Instead, they endowed her with self-reliance and mental fortitude. After her husband’s premature death, she not only fulfilled her familial responsibilities but also established an independent identity in public life.
Her journey from the Royal path to the people’s path was not easy. Despite being a Maharani, her life was marked by great simplicity. The people of Gwalior looked upon her with affection and respect. A memorable incident from 1985 stands as testimony to her simple and spontaneous personality
Her journey from the Royal path to the people’s path was not easy. Despite being a Maharani, her life was marked by great simplicity. The people of Gwalior looked upon her with affection and respect. A memorable incident from 1985 stands as testimony to her simple and spontaneous personality. During the month of Shravan, she arrived at the Indore airport on her way to seek darshan at Mahakal. At that time, the party entrusted the responsibility of receiving her to an ordinary worker like me. On seeing me, she smiled and addressed me as “Bhajan gaane wale Kailash”(Kailash who sings devotional hymns)—she often called me by this name. When I opened the car door for her, she said, “You will not open the door of your own car.” Saying this, she first closed the door and then opened it herself. Thereafter, she asked me to leave the front seat and sit with her in the back. This was her nature—simple, affectionate, and humane. Even an ordinary BJP worker felt blessed by her maternal affection.
Another incident from 1991 highlights Rajmata’s role as a people’s mother. During the Vidisha Lok Sabha by-election, she arrived at a public meeting to support the BJP candidate Shivraj Singh Chouhan. As soon as the news spread, a massive crowd gathered for her darshan, including a large number of tribal brothers and sisters. Considering the situation, a decision was taken to move her away quickly. In the car, Rajmata and Shivraj ji were seated in the back. Along the way, it was observed that people were touching the dust from the car tyres to their foreheads while chanting “Rajmata ki Jai.” Seeing this scene, her eyes filled with tears. She said to Shivraj ji, “Now that we have our own government, it is our duty to remove the poverty of these people.” In the truest sense, she was a Lokmata.
Her entry into politics was reluctant. At that time, national politics revolved around Jawaharlal Nehru, and there was a strong sense of mistrust towards princely states. Prior to the 1957 elections, a situation of discontent arose regarding the Gwalior royal family. As the Maharaja was in Mumbai at that time, the Maharani herself went to Delhi. Nehru ji made it clear that either the Maharaja should contest the election on a Congress ticket or the Maharani herself should become the candidate. To protect the family’s honor and prestige, she contested the election on a Congress ticket and won by a large margin.
Although she remained with the Congress for nearly a decade, her ideological inclination was closer to the Jana Sangh. By 1967, her disillusionment had become evident. The death of a student during police violence in a student movement in Gwalior, and the Bastar firing incident, in which 11 tribals and the ruler of Bastar were killed, deeply disturbed her. Ultimately, she left the Congress and joined the Jana Sangh. This was not merely a change of party, but an ideological realignment.
The period of the Emergency from 1975 to 1977 stands as the most courageous chapter of her political journey. When many leaders chose the path of compromise, Rajmata accepted imprisonment but refused to compromise on principles. She rejected the suggestion to go to Nepal and instead chose to remain in the country and offer herself for arrest. She endured the hardships, humiliation, and health-related suffering of Tihar Jail with fortitude.
With the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, she became one of its founding members and served as Vice President. In this role, she provided the party with ideological clarity and organizational strength. She had special affection for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whom she referred to as her “Dharmaputra .”
With the formation of the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1980, she became one of its founding members and served as Vice President. In this role, she provided the party with ideological clarity and organizational strength. She had special affection for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whom she referred to as her “Dharmaputra .” In the 1984 Lok Sabha elections, Atal ji contested from Gwalior, while Madhavrao Scindia represented the Congress. Even in this political contest between her sons, Rajmata followed the path of principle and dharma by supporting Atal ji—regardless of the outcome, her principles remained unwavering.
Her continuous election victories from 1957 to 1998 are clear evidence of her popular acceptance. The commemorative coin issued by the Government of India on her birth centenary is not merely an honor, but an acknowledgment of a pure political tradition in which principles are placed above power.
The legacy of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia teaches us that democracy is not merely a process of winning elections, but an unceasing moral struggle. When politics tilts towards convenience and opportunism, such personalities emerge as guiding lights. Even today, if Indian politics requires ideological clarity and organizational discipline, the life of Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia and her struggle for probity remain an authentic point of reference.
(The writer is Cabinet Minister, Madhya Pradesh Government)