Death Anniversary of Maharani Yasho Rajyalakshmi
In Memory of Maharani Yasho Rajyalakshmi who died in 2009
Jammu, May 24, 2021: Maharani Yasho Rajyalakshmi was born in Nepal as a Rana Princess to the family of the last Rana Mohan Shamser Jung Bahadur. She married Dr Karan Singh in 1950. For a period of more than 17 years after her marriage, Maharani Yasho Rajyalakshmi happily undertook the responsibilities of being the wife of the Head of State (Sadar-e-Riyasat). Many people in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and even in POK still remember the dedication and seal with which she did relief work in different areas of J&K. She was a kind and compassionate woman who did a lot of Social work. Her one of the major contributions was the creation of ‘Delhi Society for the Welfare of Mentally Retarded Children’. As a result of her initiative and dedicated fund raising efforts which essentially included a substantial personal contribution, a grand institution was set up. This institution now caters to over 300 mentally retarded children with a sheltered workshop, a vocational training centre, a diagnostic clinic and latest other rehabilitation facilities. At the moment it is a premier institution of its kind in the country.
Though born and brought up in Nepal, she was quick to pick up Dogri language, recognized in 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution as one of the recognized languages in J&K. She was fluent in Hindi, Dogri and even in Kashmiri besides English. She assisted Dr. Karan Singh at many occasions in social and even political gatherings in India and abroad.
Prof.Bhim Singh, President, J&K National Panthers Party & Sr. Advocate, Supreme Court of India had a chance to see Maharani ji in 1962 when he was released from prison. Prof.Bhim Singh conveyed in his touching message on this occasion to Maharaja Dr. Karan Singh with a hope that Maharaja Karan Singh shall succeed in the great mission which Maharaja Hari Singh had given to him to fulfill to serve the people of J&K in particular.
Several senior leaders of the Panthers Party included P.K. Ganju (Sr. Vice President-JKNPP), Ms. Anita Thakur (General Secretary), Farooq Ahmed Dar, Sr. Paramjit Singh Marshall, Bansi Lal Sharma, Advocate (Advisor-JKNPP), Yashpaul Kundal (General Secretary) paid tributes to Late Maharani Yasho Rajyalakshmi and also expressed sympathies with her family with a strong hope that Dr. Karan Singh shall complete the mission which Maharani Yasho Rajyalakshmi could not share because of her early departure for heaven.
