A liberal spirit, she was an ardent nationalist and one of the founders of the women’s movement in India. She certainly imbibed some of her non-conformist attitude from her husband Sayajirao Gaekwad. Under him, Baroda became the first princely state to discard the purdah, a move that gave Chimnabai the freedom to pursue her campaign to emancipate women. She presided over the first All-India Women’s Conference in Poona and was co-opted by Sarojini Naidu to assume presidency of the National Council of Women in 1926. [X]
Femme Formidable, Chimnabai II, Maharani of Baroda. Author of The position of women in Indian life (1912). Grandmother of Gayatri Devi. And poster woman for the nauwari.
Vintage Indian Clothing 
She is beautifully captured in this lovely old shot 🙂 simply perfect ~ Lakshmi x
Yes:)
She had attitude! What a marvelous photo.
Yes, I found myself drawn to it more than the pretty ranee photos!
This is my favorite photo of her, ever: http://www.mid-day.com/photos/specials/the-vanity-of-kings/maharani-chimnabai/ Thought you might like it 🙂
Though I feel sorry for the tiger given the context of the times it is an impressive pic!
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